Why do religious folks not let their CHILDREN grow up and decide for themselves what they want to BELIEVE?

Question

It is immoral to force them to believe in Gods/Goddesses without giving them a chance to make their own minds; it is commonly called BRAINWASHING.
Are you a good parent?

Answer 1

Yeah, children should not be taught to believe in a certain religion. They are too young to understand. I would prefer to teach my future children religion comparation. Teach them to see what each of them has to offer. So they will not feet like they're out of the loop, and able to join in any kind of conversation, even the religious ones...or something like that. As they grow up they can decide what they want to believe, Jesus, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha, or decide not to believe any of those at all.

It's a choice that they have to make for themselves.

Who's that guy above me? he compared teaching religion with potty training... religion equals shitting in your pants.... *chuckles*

Answer 2

What parents do is usually relfected in their children. The
same with atheists. If parents believe in nothing, their
children probably will have the same beliefs. What teachers
in school teach the children is probably what they'll follow.
Peer pressure from other students may influence other
children to do what they do, act how they act, dress like all
the others do, and talk like they do. Children aren't forced
to do these things, they choose as they mature....some
make wrong choices and pay for it later; others make good
choices and become fine citizens. It's all a matter of choice
when kids mature, so religious folks don't push their kids
any more than all other folk. I chose to be a Christian on
my own (my father was a bartender).

Answer 3

Because it is a parents job, responsibility, and duty to bring their children up in the eyes of God. To teach right from wrong. I'm sorry your parent(s) where such miserable examples of good parenting.

Who are you to say what is moral or immoral? Did you set the stars in heaven on their due course? Can you call forth the rain and thunder from their store house. What measure of time have you set fourth before a sparrow can leave the nest? What understanding do you have in the ways of the ancient? What crown of wisdom is placed above your forehead?

It cracks me up that little *hits like you think you have the authority on the workings of God.

Answer 4

I remember one thing my father said to me that I will remember for the rest of my life. " If anyone did to you what I have done it would be called brainwashing, but since it was me it is called parenting"

It is the job of a parent to teach their children a system of values and beliefs that will make up the foundation of their lives. It is only once they have that foundation can they grow and mature and have different views from their parents.

I do not share many of the beliefs of my parents (theological and otherwise) but without them I would not be the person who I am today.

Answer 5

But here's the thing that you clearly are not aware of:

Those kids who don't receive some kind of religious instruction often, by the time they are theoretically old enough to make a decision, simply have no information to make a decision with. They know nothing of religion at all, and so wind up being completely lost and can't figure it out.

I've seen it happen.

Answer 6

Well you are certainly getting alot of answers from parrots....simply squawking back what they were told from their parents or pulpit. However, I myself was raised by a Southern Baptist preacher and his wife.....and boy do they know how to spoonfeed (brainwash) their children. I am now Pagan. I no longer speak to my parents. The irony of all this....my 16 yr old son has chosen to be a christian. My 12 yr old daughter is unsure of her path and my 2 1/2 yr old wants to be Strawberry Shortcake. Ah, such is life. I teach my children moral ethics and manners from a place of common sense, as for religion they are exposed to all paths.

Am I a good parent? You better freaking believe it.

Answer 7

In other words, don't teach your children to cross the street safely, or eat poison, or potty train them, or any thing else of value. Let them figure it out on their own. Morality, God, all good things should be taught by loving parents. If parents have no beliefs, they are teaching that to their kids, too. If kids were so smart to figure everything out on their own, they could be kicked out of the house and let them figure it out. Not a good idea.

Answer 8

The bible places the religious training on the father.
Many scriptures point to this.
Would you allow your child to stand in the middle of a busy street?
Allowing the child to grow up and make religious choices is neglect. As a parent it is up to you to learn the truth, and teach the child.....According to God!

Answer 9

All parents with beliefs in a god or lack thereof will play a HUGE part in what their child believes. What is done and spoke about in the home will have a great effect on what is learned.

Answer 10

Religion is a giant money-making machine. Parents are expected to teach children the ways of their church so that the kids will grow up and continue to contribute money and time to the church. It's a form of self-preservation.