Would you allow your children to explore and study other religions?

..hi.. for me, yes.. But I have to caution them that all religions are different and that in every religion, there will always be weaknesses.. no religion is ever perfect.. and I have to make it clear to them that religion is not the way to go to heaven (I believe in heaven).. It is our own personal relationship with God.. that's why I myself don't believe in religions preaching that their religion is the real one because I never encountered any religion in the Bible that God designated as the true one.. It's not bad to explore so that they will know where they want to fit in..

I think when I have children I will allow them to learn about other religions...I don't want them to be ignorant of other religions and what they believe. I was born and raised Lutheran and my dad's side of the family is Catholic...so I know both of those religions very well...and of course I would want my children to stay within the Christianity faith because that was how I was raised...but in the end when they are out of my house and no longer having me pay for them, they are free to do as they please as long as it doesn't hurt anyone...When I was that age, I was fascinated in learning about other religions and that didn't sway me from Lutheran at all...I think a lot of it has to do with how the children are raised...

I would. But before that I must be reasonably certain that they knew their religion very well. But by the time they have a good grasp of their own religion they would have grown into adults! So, as for me the question doesn't arise. By the time they learn their religion and also understand it they must be on their own as far as assimilating knowledge is concerned. Now, if I want to understand your question to mean say, my young child[aged about 10] visiting another friend of hers who might be, say, a Christian and she happens to atay over while they are in prayers, and they give her their prayer book to follow the prayer and encourage her to participate, I wouldn't mind if she does for she is after all praying to God. A well brought up child must be past what could be called an impressionable age by 16,17, or 18. If one has to think that by 16/18 a child does not know her religion well enough, then it is possible that the parents themselves were not serious about religion or took the children for granted.

Its better that they do something that theyre truly passionate about, rather that just pay lip service to the church that they have inherited from you. Its natural for teens around this age to start to question what theyve been told for so many years, and chances are if you allow them to explore their options, they will either find one that they can find harmony with, or they will realize that the religion that you chose is truly the best fit for them

I believe it is wrong for anyone to force their kids into their religion, or to ban them from studying other religions. I think it is everyone's civil duty to study other religions and cultures, because so much conflict could be resolved if we just understood each other. I was always free to explore other religions, and I followed a few before finding my own path... and I ended up doing just that. I do not follow one religion, I do not claim to believe every word in any given text, and I don't go around saying that my path is the only path... but I take everything I have learned and follow what makes sense. I have been researching religions since I was 14, just out of curiosity, and adopting whatever beliefs make sense to me. I believe that everyone has slightly different beliefs, everyone has a slightly different outlook, and it doesn't make sense to go around claiming that you believe every single word in a given book, or follow everything you are told. I just don't think it's right. Everyone should have a chance to see other people's views, and form their own. Mind you, it does pose a bit of a dillema when someone asks me what religion I follow... I usually just say I'm not religious, because it takes a couple hours to properly explain my religion ^^;

Hi eileen! Yes of course :) I wouldn't want them to be deprived of such knowledge. Religion is a very interesting subject and almost all religions around the world, most especially the well-established ones, are based on the teachings of love and peace and harmony with mankind and the good of humanity. But before that, I have to make it sure first that they are well-indoctrinated with their current religion. I also would supervise them, in order to help them understand certain conflicts of principles. I'm honestly not that worried if my child would convert to another religion, just as long as it's a well-established one, and not one of those obviously fake ones who just use religion as means for acquiring money.

I would appreciate if they would study other religions. When I was in the mentioned age my Roman Catholic church dominated all my religious understandings, but didn't give me real answers. Nowadays my children learn "ethics" at school instead of "Roman Catholic lessons". But they don't really take advantage of this broader spectrum; focus goes to the materialistic aspects of this world rather than the spiritual mission in life.

I would, simply because of the fact that I was brought up with the expression "you learn from your mistakes". I was born and raised a catholic, and there's alot of times I wanted to change religion because there was things that catholics believe in that i don't agree with, and other religions seemed "better' in a sense. My parents allowed me to search within myself and decide if I wanted to stay a catholic or convert to something else. I have since decided to stay a catholic, but if my children wish to study other religions and see if taht's what better suits their personality, then I'll be fine with it, as long as they don't come with the thinking that one religion is better than another and try to force their views down anyone's throat so to speak.

Yes, I would allow it. I have gone to catholic schools all my life. But because my parents weren't devout catholics, the religion was not forced upon me. That made me open-minded to learning about other religions. Exploring is not a bad thing. It actually makes our children more aware and knowledgeable about what's out there. It makes them not be so close-minded, like saying that "my religion is the right religion". I think we all should be given a choice as to what religion we want to follow, that is, unless it has cultic influences. I, myself, have tried to learn about Buddhism and Taoism, even New Age. But it has brought me full circle and now I am a Christian.

I'd rather my children wait at least until college to study other religions. I'd want them to be well grounded in the faith I profess before their minds get cluttered with a lot of other beliefs. Younger children don't have the requisite understanding of these things to be discerning enough.

No...I allow only to read the bible not to study all religion. Because the bible itself teach the importance of religion and guide us what is the real religion to belong with? God and our Lord Jesus Christ, teach us on what religion we must to belong to be save. Not others say they are real but don't know what God, said and wisdom...Most teacher of religion base only on their opinion not in the bible...Like priest they are not reading bible but they talk more about their own knowledge...

Hi, 16, 17, 18 are quite ripe age and children are much comprehensive these days. Hence allowing them to explore other language and study as well would be most reasonable venture.

Yes, its always be a part of there growing to study more about religion. It is just like learning history when you explore to study religions. It is better then for them to study but you we have to guide them.

Rather you allow them to are not, kids will be kids. It's not what they do when they are around you that gets them in trouble, but what they do when you are not around. The Bible says train up a child in the way that he should go and he will not depart. This is so true, I grew up going to a Pentecostal church, I have studied other things in the past, but the {ebntecostal way sticks in my head. It's ok for them to stidy other things, because it maybe God's way of putting a person that knows the way, into a lost church, it may be a saviour in the midst.

Yes, i would let them think for themselves. If they found something that was better for them and bot hurting anyone then they should be happy. Who is to say your own thinking is the one and only way and force them to do something that might not be right for them.