EVERYONE - Can I have your opinion.?

Question

I have vowed to myself that I will not expose my son/daughter (when I have one) to religion until they are of age to choose for themselves what path they should follow.

For instance...when my child turns 9 (good age in my opinion) I will buy him/her books on EVERY religion (except maybe Scientology..*smiles) or lack thereof (atheism) and have him/her read them and come to their own conclusion on what truth they share with that faith.

Why? Because parental influence is very strong from the ages of 1-13. I think my child should be able to choose for themselves what religion they follow.

I don't want anybody to answer with "You need God for morality!" "You need Religion for good behavior!" because its just a really sorry excuse for a lack of good parenting (different subject entirely)

So..my question is...is this a good idea? Should I give my child a chance at religious freedom like I had?

Answer 1

i think it's a very good idea, and it's pretty much the way i raised my kids.

i started a little younger than 9 though. i let them go to sunday school (sometimes i took them myself) with my mom. i talked to them about the many different religions.

my daughter is catholic and my son is a questioning baptist. i really thought he was an atheist for a while. i'm pagan, and i don't mind at all that they chose a different path than i did.

just my thoughts.
bb

Answer 2

Everyone should have religious freedom.
Without guidance, you child will wonder. The Bible says to bring the child up with the faith and he will stay with it when he is older. Well we both know that that doesn't always happen, but it gives the child a start in a right direction and it does them no harm if it is a path of righteousness. There will be plenty time for them to read other books on religion and decide. It would be the same if you are Jewish. It will teach them a path and if you are true to your word, you will offer them a bible to read or the Quran and decide later when they want to decide. What if you die and they are left with nothing?
Rev. TomCat

Answer 3

Why is religion so important? What can a believer do that a non-believer can't do? Give them philosophy books and good literature. Get some books written by Carl Sagan and others - let them learn about the universe they are part of. Don't allow worthlessness into their essence. Give them the best gift you can - Freedom from religion.

Answer 4

I don't know if I agree with the idea of waiting until age 9. Think about it: most kids believe in Santa Claus when they're much younger than 9 and they grow out of it just fine.

Besides...if you don't teach your child about religion, someone else might. Your child could hear about various religions from any number of places, and those sources might not be unbiased and honest like you would be...

Otherwise, I think you make a very good point. It's probably what I'd do if I had kids, minus the age restriction thing.

Answer 5

Yes you have a great idea but not to be oppionated but books that relate to christianity so to speak and not books that are heretical as mormanism or Jehovahs witnesses and again not trying to be offensive but im trying to stay true to Gods Word and not add to or take away "What saith the Word of God"

Wow dude that aswered first is right. And also it is the parents job to teach your children the way of Gods will and the truth. And starting off with the truth and then letting them read about other religions is probably the best way to go. Teach them truth then let them see other sides of the controversy. As Spurgeon said "How can you argue for the truth if you havent studied both sides of the controversy"

Answer 6

not a good idea. as a christian, i srongly belive in my faith. i believe it to be the truth. if i didnt believe it, i wouldnt practice it. so why wouldnt i teach my children what i believe to be the truth? thats your job as a parent, to teach your children. why should religion be any different from any other subject. im sure youre teaching your kids the english language. why not teach them a little of every language and let them choose for themselves. maybe they dont like english. maybe they prefer chinese or french. but that would be ridiculous.
bringing your kids up in your faith does not take away their religious freedom. when they become teenagers they will question everything you taught them anyway. they will learn about other beliefs and will decide for themselves what they believe.

Answer 7

I would explain to them about God and Jesus and buy them a Bible, that is where the truth is, in the Bible. That don't mean that they have to go to church or be a certain religion. They can choose to be Spiritual, that is what it is all about. The truth is in the Bible. And I am sure that they will grow to be what they want to be. For example, I just talked to my kids about the bible and they understood and made their own choice. My daughters are adults (3). 2 of my daughters go to church and they are satisfied and Me and my youngest daughter are just Spiritual, which to me is just as good, as long as we have a close personal relationship with Jesus, Our Savior. And we don't interfer with each other's beliefs. God Bless everyone. And Good Luck

Answer 8

I think it is important to teach a child about God, and the hope of living past this life very early on. So when someone dies they have that hope they will be able to see loved ones again, and that they will not be as afraid of death after they see another friend or family member pass away.

Answer 9

You certainly should . :)

I introduced things to my children when they were very young. (I don't think you should wait until 9. Start introducing it very early on.) They had an illustrated book of stories from the Bible, books on Mythology, etc. I talked to them about things different people believed. I tried to introduce them to as much as I could. I was a believer (Christian) at the time. My son is an Atheist. My daughter is Agnostic. They are 21 and 20 respectively.

The thing is, I know that my children arrived at their beliefs on their own. And to me, that matters more to me than them swallowing a pill just because it was forced down their throats.

By the way, both of my children are very loving, kind-hearted, compassionate human beings. :)

Answer 10

I agree; however, I do think 9 is a little too young for a child to grasp such complicated issues like religion or lack of one.
It makes me mad when people say about little 2 or 3 year olds that, thats a Christian child, instead people should thats a child of Christian parents. I think you are doing the right thing. ...

As for morals if anyone bugs you tell them what Eisenstein said, "if we do good deeds for fear of punishment or for reward then we are a sorry lot indeed."