Christians, do you allow your children to study other religions and other beliefs to widen their perspective?

Question

about other people's beliefs and why other people believe the things they do?

if no, why not?

if yes, why yes?

thanks in advance for answering.

Answer 1

Yes, just as I have studied other beliefs. Why? In order to truly communicate with people, you need to know their perspective on things.
I was taught that in order to fully engage someone in a logical debate, you must know the other side of the argument. Not just know it cosmetically, but to know it in depth. Almost to a point of being an expert in the other side. I can then answer any question my child asks on a subject, to give them a better perspective on what they are trying to figure out.
I own a copy of the Koran. I own a copy of the Book of Mormon. I have a New World Translation Bible. I have books by Nietzsche, Balzac, Voltaire. A good friend of mine is the Bishop of the Diocese where I live (though I am not Catholic), and it's hilarious (if it wasn't so sad) what people assume is Catholic tradition, when under no circumstances do the Catholics teach what is being said.
While some will call me Pastor, others will call me Preacher, I refer to myself as an Evangelist, spreading the Gospel message. I, therefore, need to know the culture of the people I am reaching, the language of the people I am reaching, and the attitudes of the people I am reaching.

Answer 2

If I had children, I would _require_ them to learn about other beliefs, as well as the ones I was raising them with.

I would do that because they are going to encounter other religions and other cultures in school and as they grow up. If they know about other cultures, they'll also know how to be polite and respectful according to the rules of those other cultures. Politeness may ruin conversations, but it also prevents wars.

Once they grow up, if they decide that they want to follow a religion other than Catholicism or the brand of Deism that I would teach them, then they would at least be able to make an informed choice.

Answer 3

Yes I would, infact I would encourage it - how can they gain their own testimony of Christ if they don't! I took a comparative religion class in my early twenties which was fantastic cos it didn't say this what this religion believes and this is what is wrong with those beliefs, instead after looking at the history and basic beliefs of each religion and then looked for the points of commonality - the theory being that all religions have elements of the truth.

Answer 4

It's very interesting to see the range of responses you get to a question like this. Everything from 'all religions are lies' to the other extreme, 'all OTHER religions are lies!' 8^)

I was raised Jewish in a Christian country. Of course my Christian friends all invited me to go to church with them, and my parents always encouraged me to go--since, after all, Christianity is one of the foundations of Western Civilization.

I found it fascinating to compare and contrast. I learned the difference between Catholics and Protestants, between Apostolic and Congregational, and how the New Testament can be viewed from different perspectives. I learned that some Christian traditions were very conservative and hidebound and some very liberal and open. And today I think I know more about Chrisitanity than I do about Judaism!

If I had kids (which sadly, in this lifetime, I didn't), I would certainly encourage them to explore ALL other religions, and to think about these things for themselves as soon as they developed the intellectual capacity to do so. We Jewish people see our tradition more as a cultural heritage than a belief system, and in fact we tend not to 'believe' in belief to start with.

In my 20s I joined a Christian youth group and began attending a fundamentalist church. (Well, you see, there was this girl . . . ). When my mom learned of this she was concerned. "Don't worry," Dad told her, "He asks too many questions." Turned out, he was right. 8^)

Answer 5

Depending on the age of the child but yes I do. You also have to know something about religion to understand anything about most academic topics. To know anything about American history, for example, Judaism and Christianity are essential subject matter. Could it be that some of our problems with Islamic nations is because we don not understand the basics of that religion? This material must be taught in its full complexity, not just as social and political trends but also as a history of ideas, where what people believe makes a difference.

Answer 6

Our pastor teaches our high school kids about other faiths and their contrasting beliefs with Christianity. But he works hard to build a strong biblical foundation in them. It is important for kids to know what they believe and why they believe it before they start getting exposed to false teachings. They need to understand why those teachings are false, and if they have no biblical foundation, it would only produce confusion.
I did not want to study false religions for a very long time, because I knew it would bring confusion. A wise pastor once told me that if I wasn't solid in my faith, then I shouldn't read the book of Mormon, or the Quran, because it would only raise questions about my only faith in my mind. I needed to learn why what I believed was true, and how to refute false teachings with God's word.

Answer 7

I don't have kids yet, and i probably won't for some time LOL, but I think it's fine for kids of all beliefs to study other religions as long as they are mature enough to understand each one. I study other religions so i can know more.

Answer 8

I don't have children, but I have studied other beliefs. It gives me an understanding of what others think. It also gives me a better understanding of others in general. I have also examined my own beliefs. I wouldn't object to that for my children someday. In fact, I'd encourage others to do the same.

Answer 9

As a christian woman and a mother. The answer is yes. I personally have a best friend who has been a friend for over 25 years and she we have raised our children together, she is Muslim. I do teach my children about other cultures and religions, always have. It is very important to me that they understand and appreciate other peoples perspectives about religion and many other things. Life is full of diversity. Living with a closed mind is very sad. I was raised in a very multi culture, religious area... I feel I was very blessed for this it made me personally very appreciative of others... Although I have a very different view of religion and Christianity. I feel that their is one God who created all of us, with many different ideas so being so diverse we choose different ways to worship... Who is to say what is right or wrong? Certainly not me... God bless****

Answer 10

Yes I do, I even teach other religions in my Children's Church and Youth Church, other wise how could I show them the reason they are wrong, and Christianity is the only Way of Life.