Should parents raise their children religiously?

Question News & Politics

Should parents raise their children religiously?

by Colda Posted November 17, 2009 17:55:24

68 answers
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+3 raves

I say no. And that the whole point of religion is "belief". Not the kind of belief that a parent tells you is true, but the kind that you find for yourself.

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+5 BigwayneO November 18, 2009 14:58:58

Answered: no
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ANGEL to Narcole... December 09, 2009 06:07:08

That's interesting! Did you find this helpful in choosing your own path? Would you have the same approach for your children?
Narcole... to ANGEL December 09, 2009 10:56:15

If I had kids, yeah, I might. Hard to say since I don't go to church much myself. But if you have children its a whole different thing.
+1
ANGEL to Narcole... December 11, 2009 04:03:06

I would think that it would be very educational and enlightening the way you were brought up. I kinda like that idea. Too late for me though - my kids are 18 and 21.
Smartkid2 November 18, 2009 21:47:14

Answered: no
you should let ur kids see the world for what it is before you introduce any type of religion.
+1
highlatte November 18, 2009 20:52:51

Answered: yes
It is the right of parents to raise their children they way they want. This is the core of family, values, traditon, and freedom.
The nosey should keep their noses out of other peoples family rooms and bedrooms. And please don't bother me publicly with your private sexual and family matters. Discretion
+1
xxxx November 18, 2009 18:50:59 (edited)

Answered: None of the above
xx
Colda to xxxx November 18, 2009 19:44:23

it doesnt have to be christianity
+2
xxxx to Colda November 18, 2009 23:43:14 (edited)

...
Colda to xxxx November 19, 2009 04:23:35

i think that your statement is faulty causality. the spiraling downward is your opinion. But if it really is going down the tubes, its not because god was removed from school, it may be coincedence, but the two are not related. christian values and morals are only different than regular morals or vaules in that they refer to worshipping another god or cheating on your spouse. The America that was built by chrisitian hands has evolved into a complex system of individuals who can think for themselves. A country with a universal religion is destined to fail. Take Iraq (granted not all Iraqi's practice Islam) or even the Puritan colonies of colonial america for example.
+1
Bill O'Reilly ~In Satan I t... November 18, 2009 18:23:54

Answered: no
If somebody chooses to follow a religion as an adult then they have every right to. The Abrahamic religions became so huge through the forcing of belief on anybody and everybody without it, and look how that turned out.
Mr. Joiner to Bill O'... November 18, 2009 22:08:43

How will they decide one way or the other if they are not guided?
Colda to Mr. Joiner November 19, 2009 04:24:14

the same way you make everyday decisions. its not brain surgery and you dont have to go to college to make such simple choices
ANGEL to Colda December 09, 2009 06:09:59 (edited)

Excuse me Colda - but Bill O' blocked me and I wanted to respond to him.

BILL: I actually agree with you in your responses here! I don't believe in forcing anything on a child - but in educating them (which means that they should know that there are other ways of thinking) and then allowing them to make their own decisions.
Bill O'... to Mr. Joiner November 19, 2009 20:40:11

When they are capable of deciding they will. They aren't being guided, they're being forced.
Mr. Joiner to Bill O'... November 19, 2009 22:52:30 (edited)

My parents took me to chruch, but in the long run I CHOSE to go to church and believe in God.

I am glad that my parents "guided" or "forced" me to go to church. My parents cared about my eternal destiny. Now, I have a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ which took place at the age of seven. I am married to a wonderful Christian woman. I have three wonderful children, who I intend to take to church. I am a Christian school teacher and I am heavily involved in my church.
ANGEL to Mr. Joiner December 12, 2009 20:27:26

That is wonderful for you, Mr. Joiner. I know many people who were "forced" and that actually turned them away from their religion. I agree with Bill. I don't believe in forcing things on a child - but in guiding and educating them (which means that they should know that there are other ways of thinking) and then allowing them to make their own decisions.
+1
Maria November 18, 2009 18:19:53

Answered: yes
I didn't like the word religiously sound like far fetch.. it is parent's business to raise their babies or child, children as long they're living under their roof. it been traditional it nothing wrong with that.
+2
Bill O'... to Maria November 18, 2009 18:25:12

It's also traditional to kick them half to death and marry them off for money, are those acceptable uses of children?
+1
heart of glass November 18, 2009 18:09:47

Answered: None of the above
I think it's up to the parent to raise their children how they see fit. But I did not raise my children religiously. I raised them to be independent thinkers and to believe or not to believe will be up to them.
socokid November 18, 2009 18:04:26

Answered: None of the above
I believe it's a personal matter. I won't be with my 3 year old, but if others wish to instill utterly faith based beliefs in their child, it's up to them.

I'm sticking with the classics. Santa, tooth fairy, etc... just because they're fun. But it won't go any further in our house.
+2
nic November 18, 2009 18:00:44

Answered: yes
Its within a parents rights to teach their children their religion. I see no problem with that.
+1
Thomas Rea (a Gay Christian... November 18, 2009 17:24:42

Answered: yes
In what I believe in bible. I should raise my children to believe in God. I will love my children no matter what they will believe.
+3
Lavendergrl November 18, 2009 16:18:29

Answered: None of the above
I think that should be up to each parent to decide. You can't teach something you have no faith in, and you can't help but share something you do. Kids will figure it out for themselves anyway, whether parents like it or not.
Artemis November 18, 2009 16:13:59

Answered: Undecided
I'm not sure. I think parents should tell their kids what they believe, but allow the kids to determine whether they believe it too. But then the problem comes, what if you want to go to church and you have a five year old? You can't just leave them at home by themselves. I guess what I'm trying to say is that parents shouldn't force their kids to believe what they believe, but they should try to hide their beliefs either.
+1
Lanikai November 18, 2009 16:10:59

Answered: yes
Not so much religiously, as train them to have a relationsip with God thru Jesus the Redeemer.

Proverbs 22:6 (New International Version)

6 Train [a] a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Since I did not grow up a Christian, and wish I had. I am making sure that my daughter is raised in the family of Jesus.
+5
BigwayneO November 18, 2009 14:58:58

Answered: no
-1
Mr. Joiner to BigwayneO November 18, 2009 22:12:37

"Oh yeah, I can see your brain too"

Can I see your brain? No. Then how do I know you have one? By the evidences that you give in the ability to articulate and think. How do I know there is a God? First, the Bible tells me so. Second, the evidences of the wonderful and marvelous things that he has created. Can you see air? No. How do you know it exists? By the evidence of the wind in the trees.

A fool hath said in his heart there is no God.
+1
Colda to Mr. Joiner November 19, 2009 04:25:30

you can see a brain. you just have to open your head. you can probably also see the truth, if you open your eyes.
Mr. Joiner to Colda November 19, 2009 22:53:54

I see God through the world He has made. Also, I see God through the pages of Scripture. That is how He has revealed Himself to me.
+1
Jen November 18, 2009 13:25:10 (edited)

Answered: no
Every religion states that it is the "right" path, the "only" path. Well, if they are all the "only" path, aren't we all on the same path? The difference is how we experience it. Let the child decide what is right for them instead of the parent(s) forcing propaganda upon them. After all, if we were all to walk down the exact same road, at the exact same time the experience would be unique to each of us. Thus is life, thought, and belief.

Personally, I am going to keep religion from my daughter completely until she is twelve. Then, I'll have her research every religion, (Atheist, Agnostic, Catholic, Wiccan, Buddhist, Mormon, Satanic, etc.) and let her choose the path, whatever it may be, that suits her. That way, she understands them all and can make an educated choice based on her system of values. If she believes in Jesus Christ, so be it. If she believes that religion is naught but fables, then that is up to her.
+1
thepastord to Jen November 18, 2009 14:27:07

Thats a good thought, but it's not really practical.......... Kids start asking questions very young. They may see a movie, hear others talking. Just hearing a basic Christmas song may inspire a question. It could be a simple question about Noah or Mary. Sometimes things can't be separated or ignored. If the questions come up, just answer them as honestly as you can.
Colda to thepastord November 18, 2009 16:18:00

good point there
Colda to Jen November 18, 2009 16:17:12 (edited)

:) i enjoyed reading this
Talon0408 November 18, 2009 13:06:38

Answered: None of the above
As a parent I decided what's right for my child to learn. It's my right and responsibility as a parent. To bad a lot of people in the world abandon their children to the world. That's why we have so many problems with minors today.
+2
lindz November 18, 2009 10:30:52

Answered: no
their all just myths
+3
nightlight November 18, 2009 06:46:59

Answered: no
Children shouldn't be taught to believe a bunch of rediculous myths and scary lies by those who are supposed to be taking care of them and looking out for them.
Mr. Joiner to nightlight November 18, 2009 22:14:33

Like Darwinism, humanism, and relativism, right?
Colda to Mr. Joiner November 19, 2009 04:26:21

darwinism has been proven! are you actually mentioning that??? just recently there has been an evolution of finches on the same islands that Charles Darwin once studied.
Mr. Joiner to Colda November 19, 2009 22:55:26 (edited)

That depends on what your defintion of proof is. How about humanism and relativism. Those philosphies are taught in school too. No absolutes. Not even in many math books today are there absolutes.

Based on what I learned in public school, Darwinism is just as much a myth.
nightlight to Mr. Joiner November 20, 2009 19:04:51

Like relativism yes. Like Darwinism and Humanism, no.