Parents, woul you let your kid choose their OWN religion?

Answer 1

I think that when I have children, I would want to give them a foundation in what I personally believe, and a spiritual practice that will help them in life. My girlfriend and I are both Pagan, and we intend on raising our children in the Pagan path. We want them to have a tradition, and to know that the Gods and Ancestors are there for them. I don't think there should be any compulsion in religion, though. I want my children to be free and have their own minds. They will choose their own religion whether I like it or not. But I want them to be strong, to understand what they personally believe and why they believe it, and to be able to stand up to spiritual bullies who may try to force their beliefs on them. I want them to be happy, healthy, spiritual people who think for themselves -- neither rebels nor sheep.

Answer 2

Should a parent allow their 5 yr old to pick a religion? probably not. There is nothing wrong with teaching children your religion. When they are older they can pick wether they like that religion and believe its teachings. With exception to the cults like the polygamists have religion is not necissarily a bad thing and neither is its teachings. It may help give the small child a moral compass and foundation for teachings the parents are already trying to instill in this childs life. Its easier to make a message clear if it is coming from more then just the parents. Its doesnt matter what religion it is or what its teachings are. Anything that reinforces the ethics and morals you wish to teach your child is to the betterment of that childs education. Religion is an area that should be personal choice for each person but giving them a foundation on a religion is a good thing. When the child reaches 12 or older introduce other religions and teachings and find out your childs views.

Answer 3

Well, since no one can really control the thoughts of another, a better question would be, parents, if you kid chose a religion other than the one you want him to be, would you force him to lie about it ?

Just because you force a kid to SAY he worships your particular Diety, doesn't mean they do , they are just going through the motions. Do you think God appreciates fake worshippers ?

I am an agnostic, I have explored Unity, Religious Science, Quakerism and Unitarian Universalist over the years with my son. He is now 17 1/2. Today he went to Catholic Mass with a friend. I had no problem with that. He came home today, and told me about it. He isn't going back, he thought it was "too confusing". Later on, he brought home a bible, that he found in a newsrack, labeled "free bibles". (We actually have a bible at home)

He is obviously on his own spiritual search, and while my explorations have been with more "liberal" churches, he seems to be exploring a more "conservative" brand of religion or spirituality. I will always be here to listen, if he wants to talk about it, and I will not discourage or ridicule whatever paths he explores or chooses. (I will only intervene if his BEHAVIOR becomes unacceptable, which I seriously doubt will happen) He is less than 6 months away from adulthood, so even if I was inclined to try and control his thoughts, what would be the point, since he is on the threshold of adulthood anyway ?

I trust my son on his spiritual journey, and I will love him no matter what path he chooses.

Answer 4

Absolutely. Children need to find their own way spiritually, and organized religion is just encouraging them to be sheep. How can something so personal as one's beliefs be found within a strict religion?
And what about 'faith'... how is a child faithful if they are just doing what Mommy and Daddy told them to?
Besides, I've never know someone with religiously overbearing parents who didn't end up rebelling completely or turning into a nutjob.

Answer 5

I can honestly say yes. My son is 12 years old. He was raised in Church of Christ, has attended both Seventh Day and Catholic Schools. He decided last year that he wanted to become Catholic. My only request of him was that he learn about the teaching of the church first. A year later he knows about the faith and enjoys attending Catholic Church. We are converting as a family now.

I will support my son in whatever choices he makes about religion, even if that choice was not to believe. I pray that never happens, but I love him and would support him.

Have a blessed day!

Answer 6

Yes, I certainly would. My Mom & Dad did with me. I was honestly raised to be allowed to choose my own path (I am not of the same religion as either one of my parents).

My only edicts to allowing a child the right to choose their own religion is I have to feel comfortable with the PEOPLE they are going to church, temple, mosque (whatever) with.

I don't want my child to be harmed mentally or physically. As a parent it is my job to keep my child from harm.

The religion my child choose would have to be fairly "mainstream." No church of the vampire undead or anything weird, fadish, or cultish.

The religion would also have to be willing to acept me the parent tagging along (for the safety of my child) even if it were perfectly obvious I'd never conver to their religion. In other words, I would not be accepting of a religion that tried to tell my child I was a bad person/parent for not converting.

Being supportive of a child's wishes and desires makes one a good parent, in my book. We are not raising children...we are rasing future adults. We need to teach them to think indepenantly and make choices for themselves.

I'm in my 40's. I still seek advice from my Mom (my Dad has passed on) & use her as a sounding board, because she is supportive, not judgmental.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

P.S. I'm also terribly open and welcoming of other religions, since I'm exposed to them on a weekly basis. I live on a permaculture farm in Idaho. I raise and sell meat goats. I have people from all over the world coming to my farm (mostly students at the local University). Most of my customers are Muslim, from Sadi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, most of the Central African countries, and a few island nations. I've also had Hindu (from Nepal no less!), Christians, Orthodox Christians, Jews, ect. I've met nice people from all sorts of religions. : )

Answer 7

It's all a matter of trying to steer your child in the direction that you believe to be right. The parents who don't let their children wander i actually respect a lot because they are showing true care for their child. I don't care if it's Christian, Buddhist, Pegan or anything, it just shows that the parent cares about what their child is believing in. :)

I do believe that when the child is an adult, he should have the freedom from his parents to choose which road he should take.

Answer 8

I let my son believe whatever he wants.

His mother is a Christian, so I warn him to think critically about everything he comes on contact with.

I guess I encourage him not to believe in any sort of God, but he does go to youth group with his friends and I really don't care.

He'll grow up.

Answer 9

I'm not a parent, but I would bring my children up Christian and they can do whatever they want once they move out of my house. I would still try to talk some sense into them if they wanted to follow another religion, but whatever they choose after that, oh well..

Edit: I like L.C's answer!

Answer 10

Such a vague question. Would I let my child be proselytized and cowed into an irrational dogma? Of course not. Would I allow my child to search for their own answers and come to their own reasonable conclusion? Probably. But I would know without a doubt that if they came to an irrational mainstream answer, i.e., Christianity, Islam, Judaism it would be due to proselytizing. I'd also know that if my child came to a ridiculously absurd answer, i.e, Paganism, Wicca, or Animism, that I might have to take him to see a psychiatrist for delusional thought.
So in summation, no, I wouldn't let them choose their own religion as children. I've given this some thought, but until he's an adult, and out of my house, he's not allowed to believe any nonsensical drivel.