you can not force religion on anyone...

Its not a good idea to force a religion onto someone. But as a child you might have to be groomed in such a manner that you understand that customs and traditions that your religion preaches. But at a later stage, when you grow up, its better not to preach or boast about your religion to others. Every religion is complete in its own way and let there be peaceful co-existence.

It's like going to the garage doesn't make one a mechanic. Are you old enough to make your own decisions? If you are young and live with your parents and they want you to go, then obey your parents. Later when you are old enough then you can decide for yourself what you want to do. Religion should be a matter of choice and no one should force someone else as to what they want to do. If we make the wrong choice then we will have no one else to blame but ourselves.

Of course no one can force you to join or believe in something that you don't want to. However, for me as a Christian, I would encourage you to join fellowships and church activities. There you could meet new people, hear good insights and you can learn new things and you will know more about God. That's all I could do, to encourage you and not to force you or to impose anything towards you. It is your decision and freewill which will prevail.

In Islam, its has to be the parents responsibility to teach and guide their child about Islam. Until they get "baligh" (adult), so that they could thinking by theirself. After that, they are on their own way.

If you do not want to go to church then you have the right not to go. You're right, no one has the right to force religion on you. Everyone is different. I am no fan of religion myself. So I do not go to church either. I was raised catholic, but after going to catholic school and seeing all the child molestation cases with those priests, I cannot respect nor support them.

Saying that 'going to church' equals 'being Christian' is like saying 'going to school' equals 'being a genius.' However, 'going to church' DOES enlist you as a 'fellow cross-carrier' of all the other church-goers---by choosing to go to church, you're telling everyone there that you agree to hold-them/be-held to the truth of what you learn there ... a possible truth to hold-others/be-held to: that Jesus made a covenant to bear the burden-of-guilt for Original Sin (i.e. that you are not a sinner because your ancestors sin, but because you choose to sin on your own ... and thus are not honor-bound to continue to choose to sin). So--if you choose to go to church--it means you don't expect anyone there to have evil intentions and that they shouldn't expect you to either. Or something like that. Or not.

Yes,forcing any religion is not good.I am from India and here we can practice any religion and we got freedom to accept any religious practice.I am totally against forcing any religion or changing the religion.one can change religion if he or she realizes the right religion.we must analyze read the scriptures of various religions then we will come to the right path.I think changing one's religion is equivalent to turning your back on your mother. God can be found in all religions therefore it is an insult to God when we convert.God has not created the religion. Religions mainly created to keep the human beings in control and to avoid not to do any harm to others .God is one and all most all relegions says the same thing except some changes. Those who can understand the what exactly the god is , probably that person doesnot follows any religion.

I agree with you. people have their own views, their own culture, and beliefs and religion too. We cannot impose anything on anyone, not even an idea, not even what we want, not even to those whom we want to be with... if one person wants to change religion, or to try and see what lies before him in other "beliefs" then this should come from the person himself and not on their partners, or lovers, or friends. The key is really to be sensitive, to be receptive but never to allow your own belief to be superceded or set aside by someone who is trying to inject new ideas in to you.

You are correct! Like true love , being connected to a religion or path Must come from the heart. If not, the prayers are just words. The Church is just a building.

I remember talking with a young Muslim fellow one time in a chat room. We were talking about the different ways we believed and so on. I thoroughly enjoyed this young man because even though we differed on what we believed and why. He didn't make me feel like I was his enemy and he sure wasn't my enemy. Just a young man and old woman having a mature and respectful visit about what and why we believe. What I was able to discern was his belief was passed down from one generation to the next and they were born to it taking on the teachings and rituals of past generations. Where as mine was based on a personal relationship with Christ after hearing my grandmother share the gospel stories one summer in 1973. She planted a seed so to speak. Of course I didn't accept Christ until six years later. It was a very personal and intimate decision. No one was involved except me and the unction of the Holy Spirit. Very personal, very much my own experience. I believe the old saying that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can make someone go to church, go to mass or where ever, but you can't make them believe.

If you don't want to go. Yes no one can force you. You can attend to a service and not be mentally there. Here in the Philippines, we are predominantly Catholic, and our parents do "force" us to go to church, but there will be a time that a parent cannot force someone. Though in doing this, you will be breaking your parents' hearts. Being a Catholic is more than just attending mass every Sunday. There are certain things you must do, certain virtues that you should exude, to be a REAL Catholic. Moreso, being a Catholic, or any other religion, is a choice.

God indeed give us free will and right to choose. Anything that we do that against our will and belief is not worth it and nonsense.

Taht is right , he must be totally convinced to enter the religion in order to enter , Said God to Muhammad, peace be upon him in the Qur'an: "You cannot guide whom you please; it is Allah who guides whom He will. He knows well those who are guided." Al-Qasas 56 God says to His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon: You, O Muhammad (You do not guide whom you love), : not to you that, but you author, and Allah guides whom He, with great wisdom and argument compelling, as he says: (It is not for you (Prophet Muhammad to cause) their guidance. Allah guides whom He will ) Al-Baqara -272 . And said : ( Even though you are so eager, most people will not believe. ) Yousof - 103

We have the right to life , to live , to work as well as to practice any religion we wanted or believe. We are in democratic country, free and no one can dictate as to what belief and practice we wanted.

that's true . we cant force any religion on anyone. the person should have that believe from in his heart.