How important is it to you for your children to be raised in your religion?
By minerc
@minerc (1373)
United States
February 5, 2007 11:25pm CST
We all talk about our different types of religious beliefs and how each other should understand that not everyone is a Christian,Catholic,Jehovah,Islam, etc. But how are we raising our children Is it important for them to be raised by your religion? Are we teaching them why the other's are not as important or are we teaching them the differences? Are we raising them to grow up and be like us so each generation will fight and argue and put each others down because of it?
9 people like this
46 responses
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
6 Feb 07
My mother is Christian Scientist and my father is Catholic. They didn't raise me as either, but left me to find my own faith. And I'm eternally grateful to them for that. I was given the freedom to explore different religions and seek out the truths within them myself. And I found my own faith and I am happy in it.
4 people like this
@WebMann (4731)
• Canada
6 Feb 07
Good for you MissKatonic that is why we were given brains so we can make choices on our own. I don't much care for religion as it get pretty messed. I much prefer to believe in God for who God is and not for what others think.
I can't stand it when people come over to my house and start preaching at me.
@shiningfae (403)
• United States
6 Feb 07
This is exactly what I plan on doing with my children if my SO and I ever have them. I'm glad to see that growing up that way you can appreciate the freedom!
1 person likes this
@michelledarcy (5220)
•
6 Feb 07
I'm not religious but I do raise my children to follow my beliefs, mainly to be vegan and to respect everyone and treat them equally.
I think it would be very difficult not to bring your children up to belief what you belief as you must think it is the best way to be or else you wouldn't have chosen that path for yourself.
I do think its important to teach them to respect the beliefs of others even if you don't agree with them. For example there aren't any other vegetarians in my daughters school, but I don't tell her to have no friends, she must learn about other people and why they don't have the same beliefs as us.
2 people like this
@uncutbox (14)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I agree with you that it would be very difficult not to bring your children up to what you believe. This is true because children follow the life they see lived out in front of them. This changes some by the teenage years I would guess (my children are 9 & 2) so it seems this is a developmental stage for them. Brains learn by reputation so if something is important to you and that is obvious by the way you are living, your children are going to see it and pick up on it. I also believe most children intrinsically want to please their parents and so will try to mimic the behaviors that they see are important to their parents. Now this goes against the idea that you can just tell your children what you want them to do and it doesn't matter if you are doing the same things or not. Children mimic the behavior they see modeled before them. If what you believe is really important to you so much so that it is your life's passion and what drives you, then I think it would be hard for children not to pick up on that.
@Brooke3 (610)
•
6 Feb 07
It's very important to me that my children AREN'T raised in my religion. I havea very strong faith and it is a wonderful thing for me and I would never do my children the injustice of taking away their chance to also have faith by brain washing them into believing what i believe. No matter how you say it bringing a child up in a religion is brain washing them. The things that you are taught as a child stay with you and I strongly believe that you cannot have a real faith in something you have been taught to believe.
2 people like this
@theaterjunkie (344)
• United States
7 Feb 07
It's not that important to me. I want to teach my children that it is all right for them to believe whatever they would like to believe. I do not force my religion on others, and that includes my children for when the time comes. If my children choose to be atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, or whatever...that is fine with me. As long as they have good strong morals, and that I taught them right.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I think it is important for children to be made aware of different religions, but not necessarily raised with a particular religion. They should be able to choose a religion (if any) on their own. If they want to be part of a religion, that's cool. And if they don't, that's cool too.
1 person likes this
@FrancyDafne (2047)
• Italy
6 Feb 07
I've decided to let my son free. My father is catholic and he wanted raise me in his religion, but when I was a child I didn't care of God, Jesus and Madonna, I liked to believe in many Gods and Goddesses. So we fought many times because of religion and now that I am old, I never go to the churches. Today I consider myself a "secular Pagan", but my little son loves Christian religion and so I send him to the priest to learn about Bible and subjects like that. Obviously he knows that I don't believe in his God and that I'll never enter a church, so we respect each other.
@Tanushree4444 (1275)
• India
9 Feb 07
for me my childern should understand the grace and love of god and should respect and love him irrespective whatever religion they wish to take up!
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
7 Feb 07
ive been raising my children with what religion i have been practicing which is catholic and explained to them all different kinds of religion that existed today and furthermore explained that all of them are all the same believing in the same God we do..and that what matters most is that we have been doing what is right morally towards the community ..i dont encourage them to debate on issues regarding religion..its not right...
@elizabeth525 (654)
• United States
7 Feb 07
i think you should let the kids decide themselves. i mean yes you raise them around religion but the easiest way to make a kid or person in general TURN AWAY FROM RELIGION is to force it on them
1 person likes this
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I am doing what my parents did with me, which is to expose them to different religions and let them choose which speaks to them when they are older. Of course, I am giving them a foundation, because you can't expect them to choose a religion if provided with no choices. Like my parents did with me, if they seek answers, they need to research before coming to me. I believe in providing a well rounded spirituality for my children.
1 person likes this
@PlanetProzac (166)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I think religion is important to children. It can help mold them into better people. Religion should promote good not evil. A religion should try and make the world a better place. I don't think there is a right religion but I think some evil people do things in the name of religion and that is what children need to know.
@adellelovesbeach (86)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
In my case, I gave up my christian faith so my family can go together in one church.
@clod0327 (817)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
My parents are both Catholic. My husband & I are both Catholic. Amy my husband's parents are both Catholic also.
I would love to raise my daugther in my religion but if she's mature enough already and decided to explore the religion that she wants to observe, I think I will let her do it.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I take my children to church with me every week. I definately want my children to believe in my religion. It is what I believe to be true and what I follow. I believe that if my family strives to do good here that we will be together in the afterlife. I want to be with my own family forever, so yes it is important to me.
It is also important to me that my kids judge people on their actions and not which religion they follow. Just beacust I am not a certain religion does not mean I dont love thoes people.
@baileym11 (887)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I want to teach my daughter about all religions. Every religion has some incredible points to be made, and I want her to understand the beauty of diversity. Of course, we may want our children to share in our beliefs, but that may not happen. And ultimately, don't we want our kids to be able to make their own choices and live their own lives?
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I have always wondered that myself. I know a lot of times, people are feeling a Religion and belief in God is not important to their children, so they choose to not take them to Church, and never give them a chance to believe in a God, and then let them go to Church with their friends, etc. instead of you Raising them the way you were raised in a God fearing religion with Morals, etc. The main issue is the morals in this society and the way that parents talk and allow their kids to do things is becoming absurd. I feel it is the parents at fault and not the kids that the fighting and not getting a long, and Racism and name calling is increasing instead of getting better.
@auburndreams (838)
• United States
6 Feb 07
It is important that my children can think for themselves and choose their own religion, or choose not to have a religion. I am very proud of them for having minds of their own.
@amazing_Grace (479)
• United States
7 Feb 07
To me it is not important which religion you choose. Just as long as you believe and have faith. My Parents are baptists and I am holiness.
@scottdynda (55)
• United States
6 Feb 07
When i have children i think it would be best for them to learn about my religion but i think after i think they knew what it was about to let them decide. It lets them explore who they are.
1 person likes this
