Do you let your kids choose their faith?
By soadnot
@soadnot (1606)
Canada
February 27, 2007 10:11pm CST
What if you have a jewish father and a christian daughter. You cant really be half and half because they contridict (alothough they controdict within themselvs as well).
Do you enforce the laws of Jesus? or just let it be and let your child choose their own faith.
What if the child chose to be muslim or budihst or somthing other than the 2 parent religions?
What if he relised he wanted to be an athiest?
are you okay if his beleifs are diffrent from your own?
4 people like this
4 responses
@ag_abscruzmd (2283)
• United States
28 Feb 07
Hi! I have always believed that everyone is free to choose his/her own religion. My mother taught me this. I think parents, early on, should guide their kids into what they believe is the best religion (which is usually the parents' religion, because it's good if everyone in the family would pray or worship together). Later on, whatever the children would decide on in terms of religion would be out of their own free choice. My stepfather is a Muslim, my mother is a Catholic. The three of us siblings were Catholics (of which one converted to born-again Christianity later on) which was also my deceased dad's religion (and my mom's as I've mentioned); and my brother is a Muslim. We have different religions in the house but we respect each other's beliefs. Tough at first, but we eventually adjusted to the situation. The point is, we were given free choice, and that for me is essential.
@soadnot (1606)
• Canada
28 Feb 07
thats not really freedom is it?
all of you have either conformed into your mother or your fathers religion. You have not really researched all religions, and you have not really questioned your own beliefs. until you do this, you are not free. I have a zoroastrian mother and a bahi father who both did not practice their religions. Although they are both beautiful and peacful religions, I grew to learn that it was all BS and if you take out god, spirit and morals from religion, all you have is money.
2 people like this
@shortgrl23 (172)
• Canada
1 Mar 07
First let me say this is a great topic! I myself am of the belief that one can not and should not force a particular religion on anyone. I myself am Jewish, my mother is now Roman Catholic, and my brother is Muslim. I was raised in a way that I was free to make my own choices as far as religion was concerned, my mom felt that this is a big decision and not one to made my her. I think that prayer, and religion should afford one freedom to choose and identify with whatever religion one wants. I know for my daughter that the choice is hers I will not stand in her way, i will help her if she need or wants it but i will not direct her which way to go. In my home she will never fear religious persecution.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
28 Feb 07
I agree with Ag that they should all be able to choose for themselves,but I disagree that parents should start teaching them any religion until they start to ask or untill they are at least 12 years of age.
any teaching under this age is called brainwashing your child in your beliefs,and by the time they are old enough to really be able to understand,they are stuck.
some do rebel,but some also become fanatical.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
28 Feb 07
I believe everyone should be free to choose their own religion. My husband and I have two different religions (Christian and Pagan) and we plan to teach our child not just about our own religions, but also about other religions as well. We attend a Unitarian Universalist church sometimes, which includes and encourages ALL spiritual paths, and we think it will be a great place for him to learn what he needs to know to make his own choices.
