Should Parents Raise Their Child(ren) Into a Religion?

I think a lot of religions have good standing morals that are very helpful to teach to a child. I think may they should be thought about religion and now pushed or shoved into one, because at the end of the day most of them will make there own decisions anyway.

Yeah, why not? They instill everything else in us, why not religion? That doesn't mean we have to follow it, though. That doesn't mean we have to stick to their beliefs for life. It's what we've been doing for centuries. We guide our young because we are still foolish even when we don't know it. We guide them based on what we know, wrong or right. And when they're on their own, they do whatever they think is right.

My father was raised in a Christian based home. Surely his mother put it in him, and even tried to persuade him to following the beliefs, but he never did. His name was Dave Jarvis. He didn't like his name because he felt it didn't reflect his African decent at all. So he changed his name to Ras Amon when be came of age. He dropped the Christianity idea (because he felt it was the white man's religion) and did his own thing. I do my own thing. But my dad has instilled things into me. Some of which I don't agree upon.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all. And I know for a fact that religion isn't needed to have a child growing up. I didn't grow up religious, and I'm fine. I don't get into any trouble (at least nothing serious), I almost never lie, I don't steal, none of that. And I'm a really kind person (unless I dislike a person, which is rare) very understanding, and very nonjudgmental, and the only god I believe in is myself, and other good people.

Edward Teach:

I think a lot of religions have good standing morals that are very helpful to teach to a child. I think may they should be thought about religion and now pushed or shoved into one, because at the end of the day most of them will make there own decisions anyway.

I agree with this. As a child I think you should be, to an extent, taught about religion and be brought up with it. For such things as certain morals and such. But I think at a certain age, probably thirteen or maybe fourteen, the parents should stop doing that and let their child choose.

I don't think it'd matter either way if they did or not because, in the end, the child would still end up choosing what they want. Lying about it to their parents or not. Having a religion forced on them or not.

under the sun.:

I agree with this. As a child I think you should be, to an extent, taught about religion and be brought up with it. For such things as certain morals and such. But I think at a certain age, probably thirteen or maybe fourteen, the parents should stop doing that and let their child choose.

I don't think it'd matter either way if they did or not because, in the end, the child would still end up choosing what they want. Lying about it to their parents or not. Having a religion forced on them or not.

I agree that children should be taught about religion, but I don't think any mention of religion is necessary for passing on good morals.

under the sun.:

I agree with this. As a child I think you should be, to an extent, taught about religion and be brought up with it. For such things as certain morals and such. But I think at a certain age, probably thirteen or maybe fourteen, the parents should stop doing that and let their child choose.

I don't think it'd matter either way if they did or not because, in the end, the child would still end up choosing what they want. Lying about it to their parents or not. Having a religion forced on them or not.

I completely disagree. Children are at the most impressive age at about the same time they are being stuffed with religious perspectives of their parents and family. For instance, if children don't learn certain things (like language) they will be unable to learn them later in life, or will have great difficulty with it. A huge part of our personality is formed during childhood, and to say that a person can go against those impressions easily later on in life, is simply not correct.

Why do you think that religious beliefs vary geographically, if every child is free to choose later in their life some other, more fitting religion? Because it's all a huge coincidence? No, it's due to the fact that they have been raised into such culture and have adopted it early on, and are unlikely to change.

Xsoteria:

I completely disagree. Children are at the most impressive age at about the same time they are being stuffed with religious perspectives of their parents and family. For instance, if children don't learn certain things (like language) they will be unable to learn them later in life, or will have great difficulty with it. A huge part of our personality is formed during childhood, and to say that a person can go against those impressions easily later on in life, is simply not correct.

Really? The myth of Santa Claus suggests otherwise. Most young children believe that Santa Claus exists, but when they grow up and are told that Santa Claus doesn't exist, they have almost no difficulty going against beliefs which have been impressed on them at a very young age. Do you know any adults who still believe in Santa Claus? I don't.

kafka.:

Really? The myth of Santa Claus suggests otherwise. Most young children believe that Santa Claus exists, but when they grow up and are told that Santa Claus doesn't exist, they have almost no difficulty going against beliefs which have been impressed on them at a very young age. Do you know any adults who still believe in Santa Claus? I don't.

Santa Claus doesn't have such a community cult mentality.

weird soup:

No, it's not just raising your kids as, say, catholics. It's when you actually take it to an extreme. When you lead your children into believing that if you do any small mistake, you'll go to Hell. Or having them believe the Bible is accurate. That sort of stuff.

When I was younger I was told that if I didn't believe in God then I'd get separated from my family. I think children are better making their own decisions.

kafka.:

Really? The myth of Santa Claus suggests otherwise. Most young children believe that Santa Claus exists, but when they grow up and are told that Santa Claus doesn't exist, they have almost no difficulty going against beliefs which have been impressed on them at a very young age. Do you know any adults who still believe in Santa Claus? I don't.

Seriously? Santa? That just might be the worst strawman I have ever seen.

dru's best friend.:

Santa Claus doesn't have such a community cult mentality.

He doesn't? I don't know anybody who didn't believe in Santa Claus when they were young and I can name a lot more children's films made in the last 10 years which tried to prove that Santa Claus exists than children's films about how God exists.

Xsoteria:

Seriously? Santa? That just might be the worst strawman I have ever seen.

Giving an example of a belief most children have but then are happy to relinquish when they grow older is considerably less strawman-ish than suggesting that human beings are inherently stupid and gullible and will continue to believe everything they're taught as children throughout their whole life. Parents teach their children false beliefs all the time, whether it's Santa Claus or where babies come from, but when we grow older and start to experience the world more and form our own opinions, we're able to realize that those beliefs are wrong.

kafka.:

He doesn't? I don't know anybody who didn't believe in Santa Claus when they were young and I can name a lot more children's films made in the last 10 years which tried to prove that Santa Claus exists than children's films about how God exists.

I didn't believe in Santa.

And it's a hoax used to make money. In my opinion, most, if not all of Christmas' purpose is to make money, and the religious part of it has almost been completely removed from it. That's how most holiday's in America are; they're there to make people spend their money to keep money moving within the economy.

But when it comes to religion, its a more sensitive topic. You can't just make a kids movie on god based on what that one or few people think or know about god. It would probably cause a lot of controversy, not just with children either, but the parents. Adults don't believe in Santa and know it's just a fantasy character, therefore it's easier to make kid movies based on him. But when it comes to god, it's not something people just "grow out of" in adulthood and what someone produces regarding the subject can change the way someone's child thinks on the matter, even if it's against what their parents believe.

kafka.:

Giving an example of a belief most children have but then are happy to relinquish when they grow older is considerably less strawman-ish than suggesting that human beings are inherently stupid and gullible and will continue to believe everything they're taught as children throughout their whole life. Parents teach their children false beliefs all the time, whether it's Santa Claus or where babies come from, but when we grow older and start to experience the world more and form our own opinions, we're able to realize that those beliefs are wrong.

I can't believe I'm actually arguing about this. Lets see, number of people (adults) who believe in some form of God/ are religious - around 5 000 000 000. Number of adults believing in Santa - close to 0 (since I'm sure there's at least a few out there).

A child will grow up in a society that continues to support the religious views they have so far imposed on the child. Simultaneously, the same society will break it down to the child that Santa was all a big joke for the kids and will propmtly send adults still believing in Santa to the head doctor.

And lets not remember how awful we (most of us I assume) felt when we found out Santa isn't real. It is a testimony to how eagerly children embrace the "truths" imposed on them by adults.

That said, Santa and God are two so ridiculously different things that I can't simply begin to point out how flawed that comparison is.

If it's immoral to raise a child in a certain religion, it's immoral to raise them as an Atheist, too.
I, myself, do hope that Elizabeth (my daughter) comes to Christianity, but I'm not going to force her. While she's little, she will attend church with us, but once she's older, if she doesn't want to go, I won't make her. I'll do my best to encourage her to find Jesus but in the end, the choice is hers.

Batmannn.:

If it's immoral to raise a child in a certain religion, it's immoral to raise them as an Atheist, too.

You seem to be portraying atheism as the opposite of religion, which it really isn't. Forgive me if that's not what you were implying.

I still wouldn't liken the two in that way, personally. For one, atheism has no tenets/dogma/disciplines. So raising a child in an atheist home isn't the same kind of deal as raising a child in a religious home.

I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with instilling atheism into one's children, because the forcing of any belief of that sort is wrong. I'm just saying that it's not the same situation as instilling a religion on a child.

I don't think instill and force mean the same thing, so I don't know why it's being used in the same context.

Xsoteria:

I can't believe I'm actually arguing about this. Lets see, number of people (adults) who believe in some form of God/ are religious - around 5 000 000 000. Number of adults believing in Santa - close to 0 (since I'm sure there's at least a few out there).

We weren't talking about how many adults believe in God, but if it's possible for children who were brought up to believe in God to stop believing in Him once they grow up.

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A child will grow up in a society that continues to support the religious views they have so far imposed on the child. Simultaneously, the same society will break it down to the child that Santa was all a big joke for the kids and will propmtly send adults still believing in Santa to the head doctor.

Let us not pretend that a society in which less than 20% of the population attends church regularly will go at great lengths to impose religion on anybody. We don't live in the Middle Ages any more, atheism is part of mainstream culture as much as theism is and you'll find atheists breaking it down to you that God is all a big joke for kids at every street corner.

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And lets not remember how awful we (most of us I assume) felt when we found out Santa isn't real. It is a testimony to how eagerly children embrace the "truths" imposed on them by adults.

And did feeling awful mean that you continued to believe in Santa? It didn't, which only goes to show that adults are perfectly capable of giving up beliefs they held as children even if that that process is very uncomfortable.

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That said, Santa and God are two so ridiculously different things that I can't simply begin to point out how flawed that comparison is.

My point exactly, you can't point out how flawed that comparison is.

ayanasioux:

I don't think instill and force mean the same thing, so I don't know why it's being used in the same context.

I was kind of wondering the same thing.

If I instilled a view that evolution is true in my child [when I have children] I wouldn't do it by forcing them. I'd do it by explaining my views and why I believe in it, and I wouldn't teach opposing views as truth. But that's not forcing it on them. That's just refraining from teaching the options.

Actually no idea why I said "forcing"; not the word I was looking for at all. But either way, to me, instilling doesn't imply much choice in the matter anyway.

kafka.:

My point exactly, you can't point out how flawed that comparison is.

Ok.

It's very simple. As you grow up you are expected to stop believing in Santa. People openly tell you they've lied to you. On the other hand, religious people are a vast majority today, even though we don't live in the Middle ages. As you grow up, there are hordes of people who keep telling you God is real, offer all kinds of rationalisations, organise churches, meddle with law, are all over the media and well, religion is completely socially acceptable.

It is infinitely easier to continue belieiving in God than it is to believe in Santa.

Do you see the glaring difference and a huge wobbly strawman now?

Alex; oxytocin.:

You seem to be portraying atheism as the opposite of religion, which it really isn't. Forgive me if that's not what you were implying.

I still wouldn't liken the two in that way, personally. For one, atheism has no tenets/dogma/disciplines. So raising a child in an atheist home isn't the same kind of deal as raising a child in a religious home.

I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with instilling atheism into one's children, because the forcing of any belief of that sort is wrong. I'm just saying that it's not the same situation as instilling a religion on a child.

It's not different at all. Atheism is a belief, or lack of one, and to instill that on your child without allowing them a choice later in life is just as immoral as instilling any sort of religion on your child without allowing them a choice later in life.

If you're going to say that raising your child as a Christian is immoral, because it doesn't allow them to choose what they want to believe, then it's the same thing with Atheism.

And I'm not saying their opposite, but they are opposed, obviously. Religion = a belief in God/gods. Atheism = belief that there is not a God or gods.

It's immoral no matter what you teach them UNLESS you allow them to go on their own path once they're old enough. A religion is not needed for morals, because religion isn't morality. An Atheist can instill morals just as easily as a Christian. Most parents obviously want their child to believe what they believe but forcing them - despite it being a religious belief or an Atheistic belief - is immoral. Children should be allowed to choose once they can and not be punished for it.