will you let your child change his/her religion?

its good to hear that even you and your husband have different religious belief, you can still manage to have a good relationship... i hope that in the near future, your children can also find the right religious path for them...and you as parents will just continue on supporting your children... thanks!

hi sedel...thanks yes there are things that parents cannot control about their children...

hi vicki...well actually i am also surprised on the results this discussion shows...that its okay for most of them to let their children change their religions...maybe it just shows that parents nowadays are more open minded? you think? coz most of the people i meet in person, for them it is not okay...i don't know why but they said that its better for their family to have one religion and one faith... but yes i think you are right that what is important is that a child will grow with faith and fear on God... thanks!

I was actually reading a newspaper article about religion in today's society, and it stated that statistics show more people who are older (55 and above) place more importance on religion, and the younger generations place less and less importance on it. I think the tides are turning and people are turning away of their own accord. Your post caught my eye because I grew up in one of the families of which you speak. Lutherans are right, and everyone else is just wrong. End of discussion. There was no arguing that "fact." I would have likely been disowned if I had even mentioned that I had my doubts. It wasn't until I left home that I was free to explore my own spirituality. My journey is still not over, but one thing I know for sure is that Christianity is not where I belong. I have never felt good about it. There are too many inconsistencies, too much that I feel is a lie, or at best, a fictitious story. I think it is inspiring how you are raising your children to be free in their beliefs. I think it really helps them grow and also helps them reach their full mental, emotional and spiritual potential.

What makes parents a devotee in the first place?? Are they being forced into it, or are they willing?? lol =D LEt's say, if one is to be forced to believe in a religion, then i dun think they will take it seriously.. Thus resulting in humiliating the religion instead.. haha =D And the main culprit for doing so, are the parents.. BEcause they used force instead of persuasion, which does not equals to the true meaning of faith.. haha =D

hello again...hehehe well that's good if all parents have the same thought as you... but like what i've said to others...what if a parent is a devotee in its religion and would want their children to have faith and belief as they are? coz they think that their religion is the right one? and so they want everybody in the family to be in that religion...and its common in some countries... let's face it, not all parents are as open minded as the most people here...:-)

well actually here in the Philippines there's a lot of parents who are very devoted in their respective religions...and wanted their whole family to embrace that religion and if one of their children or family member wishes to change their religion, then its gonna be a big deal...really!

ckyera, As I told I am not a believer of any religion. i am born a Hindu and since I have been taught to live and practice Hinduism I just accept it. i also like the idea that I am not pressurised. I have never discussed religion with my children , esp about their preferences because it never seemed an important issue to me...

aw okay! thanks!

hi kiran! thanks for participation here in my discussion... so does it mean that you will really allow your child to have a belief out of Hinduism? well that's nice of you, but if you really believes in your faith i think you will still guide your child in its path and teach them its teaching...but like what other said, sooner or later our child will get a mind of their own and if they have a good reason in changing religion, then let them be and just support them. parents will always be there to support and guide them...and its nice for parents to have an open mind... thanks again...

hi cobra...i think its frustrating when we can't tell what we want to our family out of something...may i ask why you didn't find courage to tell them your feelings? yes of course, if the path that our children want to follow is something that we know will bring them to danger...then we must act on it... we as parents should always be there to guide and support them...but we must also remember that they have their own mind and thinking...and also freedom... but you know, there are times, especially when parents are really devoted on their religion...they will never allow their children changing beliefs...coz they think that it is wrong and if children insists...they take it a s disobedience! thanks for sharing....

I know I called it a lack of courage, but it was more a fear of hurting them. I do love my family, and they are not only devout Lutherans, but we have Lutheran pastors in the family as well. I simply did not want to devastate them like that, and I knew it would. Not only that, but I did NOT want to go through what they would have likely put me through if I had told them I didn't believe what they did. I likely would have had meetings with pastors and all sorts of things stemming from my family freaking out over my disbelief in their religion. I didn't really want to go through it. It wouldn't have helped, and I didn't need it.

My family also discourages independent thinking like that. They are okay with you speaking your mind if they agree with it. However, they are quick to judge and to tell you how stupid your ideas are if they don't agree with what you are saying. I acknowledge it for what it is and don't hold resentment for it. After all, it is how they were taught as well. These ways of being get passed down generation after generation. But it stops with me. I am my own mind, and I will do as I see fit, regardless of what anyone else thinks. I refuse to let someone else dictate my life. Not going to happen! That is one area where we can ALL be selfish!

hello there1 thanks for sharing...well i guess that's a nice attitude of a parent. guide their children while they are still young and when they grew up give them freedom in choosing what they want...but still guide them... thanks and have a nice day!

hi sid! thanks for your response...i wish most parents are like you...open minded and ready to backed up their children on whatever decision they will make...

hello there! i think being fanatic on one religion is another story...hehehe its nice for parents to give their children their freedom...but parents sholuld always be there for them for guidance and support! thanks a lot and have a good day!

hi john...thanks for this response... its nice that you are really happy in your religion now and your father must really teach and guide you very well and yes i hope that you can also do the same for your future children... but what if that day comes? that they want to shift and try other religion? maybe they are influenced by someone or something? how would you handle this? thanks again...i know my reply is very late...but its better to be late than never... thanks again!

that's what i am talking about...this is really a problem and can raise much oppositions for the family who are very devoted to their religion and have strict policy on it... thanks for sharing...

children might change religion coz there's so many things outside our hom that may influenced them...and they become aware and curious... but i think with proper guidance and teaching they can stick to your religion...no matter what! thanks!

hi, thanks for sharing... have a good day!

thanks cwong! have a nice day! guidance and understanding is what our children needs...

thanks for that hotsummer! i agree...parents are here for guidance and support...decision goes with the child...freedom should be given. thanks again!

hi gypsy! thanks...i think i have nothing to add...very well said. thanks!

oh hedwig hello! i think you will be a good and understanding parent... you have a point there, that it is really possible that our children will hate us and our religion if we impose it to them...let just guide them and support them...i think it will not be wrong if we show them the faith we believe in and then let them decide... thanks!

ah yes got your point... but you must remember that our children will grow up, will start to ask question, will think, will look for what they want, they might be influenced by others...and so many possibilities that may encourage them to change their religion... thanks!

hi posh! i agree with you...if you think that you are on the right religion...then you will not allow your child to go away from it and from his childhood, you will teach him the teachings from the bible and the importance of the religion you're into... i like the verse you put here...i agree...

yes it is...but you know, there are so many things that might influence the feelings, thoughts and beliefs of our children...no matter how we teach them, no matter how we try...there's always a possibility for them to have different beliefs from us... thanks!