A Question...

I totally disagree with the radio speaker. You don't have to be Christian to raise children with good moral values. I was not raised in an overtly Christian home, although my parents did teach me about the existence of God but never took us to church. When we went, it was with the sitter or a friend. But they did teach us good moral values. I only became a Christian much later in life!

Hi wooitsmolly, I have to say I agree with this man on that. Children need to be taught about their Heavenly Father. Parents need to read the Bible to their children and teach them the stories of the Bible. They need to teach them to pray and to know that God loves them. They need to learn about God's Son, Jesus Christ. They also need to be taken to church to learn more and to worship God as well. We have taken God out of way too much! Our world is getting worse everyday and I truly believe it is because so many people think they are so smart that they do not need God. How foolish! We all need God...more than ever right now. I try and seek God's wisdom for every aspect of my life. God loves me and He cares. I am imperfect. God is totally perfect in every way. I want His best for my life and since I gave my life to Jesus Christ, my life has not been the same! He has blessed me beyond measure! I would not want to go for a split second without God in my life! So, yes. It is VERY important to teach children about God and raise them in a godly, Christian home. God bless you!

I am not saying religion doesn't provide any good lessons for children and people in general, but those same exact lessons can be taught without the biblical references and religious aspect. It happens every day, does it not? Of course it does and as far as i'm concerned that guys comment was WRONG and he's an idiot I have NEVER raised my children with any sort of religion rammed down their throats...Yes I've answered their questions, I've shared with them my beliefs and explained the beliefs of others in our family and I've given them and always will give them all the resources they need to learn about all religions which IMO is as it shoudl be...My kids are VERY wonderful ppl with morals, respect, compassion for others and so on....they are polite, intelligent, educated, loving, helpful and the list goes on...

I totally disagree with that man too. I certainly don't intend any offense to anyone who is a devout Christian or who agrees with what that person said but in my opinion you can definitely have good morals, family values, or whatever you want to call it without getting it from the Bible or going to church. I hate to say this but the Bible has some stories in it that I wouldn't want my children to learn from, many don't stop and think how violent the Bible is in parts. Annie

When I read your discussion...the thought comes to mind: "What are good moral values?" Most people would reply that it means not to cheat, steal, lie, hurt other people, so on and so on.... So why is it that this man and other people that only Christians do not lie, cheat, steal, and hurt other people? He, and anyone else who thinks like that, is violating the teachings from their very own Bible - "Not to judge others" "Pointing out the speck in someone else's eye when you have a thorn in yours" Those, Christian or not, who feel that they have the one way - the only way to be a good person, are full of sh*t. lol....okay, time for some coffee... Thanks for the discussion!!

That's stupid and ignorant! Unfortunately, many Christians tend to be judgmental and think that their way is the only way. I've known many people who aren't Christians that raise wonderful children and many Christians who have horrible children that are always getting into trouble. It's the core values of the parent and what they actually teach the child that matters. Christian or not. btw, I've been meaning to tell you I just love your screen name. I always think "Woo, it's Molly!!" whenever I see it.

Well, if that is true then either I am a Christian without knowing it or my kids are devil children! I agree with you. My toddler was showing off today (in a good way) and two people said how clever he is and what a fantastic mum and teacher I have been to him. Both of my kids are bright, loving, intelligent, thoughtful, and all of the other things any parent would want their child to be. I think there are some people of certain religions who do not understand that children can be brought up with good morals and manners without religion. The way I see it is morals and manners boil down to common sense and courtesy, not which religion someone belongs to. I've never been religious but my kids know the difference between right and wrong. They are complimented on how polite and well-behaved they are. What this man says compares to, say, assuming someone can not be educated or intelligent because they come from a council estate. Any parent can bring up a child perfectly well, it depends on the person themselves, not their background, their religion, their upbringing or anything else.

I'm not a christian. I was born Hindu...but I don't practice all the rituals that I grew up watching. But that doesn't mean that I cannot teach my children the right morals. I do....and I believe all the religions teach the same values....and religion has nothing to do with raising a child to be a good person. When I teach my child right from wrong...I don't tell him..'That's what it says in the [religious book]' I say...it isn't right and give reasons for it based on his age.

Weel wooitsmeister, I have to say that, when you see a kid in a shopping trolley whose head spins 360 degrees while projectile vomiting green and orange slime all over innocent bystanders, you have to be suspicious about what sort of household the kid is being raised in. Certain extreme Satanist cults actually file their kiddies' teeth down into points so as to better tear Bibles to shreds (guess they don't like reading). At least that's what I've heard. But here's the thing - getting past any of that dogmatic, one-eyed nonsense that you're all going to Hell (the burny place) if you don't dance to my tune, or that sort of thing, in principle I'd suggest that MOST households where kiddies are raised in a healthy, wholesome, caring, loving environment are Christian, whether they know it or not. Because on the Day of Judgment, the ones who are pointing fingers and spouting fire and brimstone at the rest of us here won't be the ones calling the shots. There'll be someone else deciding who did the right thing, not them. And that someone else will decide who's been Christian and who hasn't. And He'll probably turn them over to Santa Claus to decide who's been naughty and who's been nice, and the naughty ones will get their butts barbecued big-time!

i guess if parents know what is morally right and wrong..then surely they can raise a good children ...but i guess religion is like book where all the moral laws are being written...and its up to us to interpret it correctly although i can say that others have literally interpreted it..thus some people have their own versions of what was written...can i ask something ? just curious i guess for those people who had no religion or shall we say atheist? am i correct?where did they base their knowledge or practice their morally right behavior?

You have a very good point here, but I think I can see what he was trying to say also, though he might have phrased it a bit better. This is kind of like people saying you can't be a good Christian without going to church. I feel that Christian families can weather the bad times a little better, and I say this from experience, because I have been in both positions. The bible gives us a good base for problems when they arise, there is just about no situation that you can face that is not referenced in the bible. Now lets be honest, how many non Christians read or study the bible, to get these helps. I hope this example helps, I do think there are many good non Christian parents who do every thing they can to raise their children the right way, with good morals, but just as well there are Christian parents who spend their whole life trying to teach their children good values, and their children are sitting in prison. No matter how you raise your family, there come a time when those children become adults, and make their own decisions, good or bad. One thing the bible does do though is give us hope, It says if we raise our children in a Godly manner, though they turn from it, they will turn back. Blessings Marilyn

No, I don't believe this, but what he should have said was in a non-Christian home, they could easily go with what the world is doing rather than have a higher standard to go by..But I have known non-Christians who are better parents than I and their children are better behaved than some Christian children.. Then you get those one Christians that seems like they have a "children should be seen and not heard" mentality and they scare me..... It all comes down to, what is right and wrong and what are you looking at to determine if it is right or wrong??

I think that is disgraceful. Religion is belief and morals are completely different. Okay the 10 commandments are basically morals, so people know what is right and wrong, but as is the law and personal opinion of an individual. I think it is wrong for children to be brought up religiously as they do not have the freedom of choice to choose a religion for themselves. There is also the issue that some religious people do bad things with "god told me to" as their defence, because yes that is a good message to give your children "do whatever you want, just say it was someone else".

Molly being a christian does not means that we know everything. Christians are sinners save by grace. There are many christian minded person out there who grow their children by the rules of the bible. I think the way he says it will cost alot of negative. There are pastors whose children who are so rude that the communities that they are living in look down on them. Moral values are not about christianity alone. It is there for everyone.

When you consider how many different religions there are, and the families have good morals that they pass down to their kids, what the minister says can't possibly be true. Knowing the good news about Jesus is the icing on the cake--plus a whole lot more!--of good morals, but families can instill good morals in their kids no matter how they worship. Knowing Jesus gives us even more motivation to want to be the best that we can be. It's nice to know that He's there, He believes in us, and, most importantly, He loves us, and we want to show that kind of love and caring to others. The better our morals are the better we can do this. But the morals are a separate thing that comes from wanting to do the right thing--in other words, to make the kind of decisions that make life better for ourselves and others. That's why those morals are part of the Christian religion---plus part of most other religions--and part of society in general.

I don't believe that at all. I think that as long as people love eachother and themselves, treat people equally, and don't intentionally hurt or kill, or steal, and have common sense, religion does not matter. Sadly religion still has a powerful hold on people, Christians and non-Christians alike (read about the radical Muslims lately?), and they unfortunately think that if something isn't of their religion, it's not right. That bothers me tremendously.

No I dont think its impossible but I do think its harder. Church/religion does provide a social setting for higher morals, well some do anyways...lol. Its not enough to just teach your kids the right things, sometimes they need a good foundation like friends with the same ideals. But it doesnt mean its a cure all either it takes parents that are interested in their kids to make it happen.

Yikes, I get so steamed about this. I have no idea why some Christian sects and beliefs, hold to the idea that if you aren't following their particular dogma that one can't go to heaven without seeking the salvation through Christ and go to heaven--anyone not believing as they do, are doomed to hell...well, gee then an awful lot of people are going to hell then. Also, just like if you're not of a particular Christian religion that you can't have proper morals, or raise a family the "right" way. I mean look at that recent incident with that sect in Texas with the polygamists--where young girls were forced into marriage and producing children at such a young age, yet I suppose THEY think they are raising families the right way and have impeccable morals

I am a Christian but I do have to say that I don't agree with that statement. If you are talking about raising kids to be Christ-like, then yes, obviously a Christian home is important, but that is not what I heard here. If you are quoting it correctly, he is wrong. People can be good without being Christians, absolutely! Might not earn them salvation, but being good has nothing to do with that. Good is good - doesn't mean Christian.

wow well i have to relate from the lifestyle i live and am proud to live..i am a very out and open lesbian. my family and friends love and support me. which brings me to this fellow. some of the biggest breeders of hate come from the "christian" movement. and pardon me if i am wrong, but aren't there priest out there raping young boys??? so i don't know think this guy should really engage brain before opening is mouth.