Political Crossfire Forums

[LiveWire]

Can a parent chose what their child should think about religion? Can they restrict them into one path at all? Things like this are happening in our world today. Many parents are forcing their kids into a narrow view. Yet this is destroying their right to their own minds. Can this be right?

Universal Decleration of rights article 18 is cited
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

That was created after World War II as guidlines for all nations. Though it is not law it was a widely agreed to article.

[ideal]

To the moral implications of forcing a child into a religion, I think it is perfectly acceptable. I actually consider bringing my children(when I have them) to a Christian church despite my not being Christian. This is because I have no church to attend for my own beliefs and feel children should be exposed to what religion has to offer.

Of course, if you want to know about capabilities, they can only point them in the direction.

[LiveWire]

ideal wrote: To the moral implications of forcing a child into a religion, I think it is perfectly acceptable. I actually consider bringing my children(when I have them) to a Christian church despite my not being Christian. This is because I have no church to attend for my own beliefs and feel children should be exposed to what religion has to offer.

Of course, if you want to know about capabilities, they can only point them in the direction.

So you are saying that a child can be forced into something he feels opposes his very belief structure? Or just say they can ponted in a direction that their parents believe they should be but what they do is on their own accord. I was speaking of them being robbed of their ideals and not aloowed to change religion.

[ideal]

I think we may be operating under different definitions of 'child'. Regardless of that, forcing a teenager to attend a certain church isn't, in my mind, that terrible of a deed. It's not a course of action I would pursue, but insisting your family members go to a certain church is no worse than insisting they go to grandma's house.

[LiveWire]

ideal wrote: I think we may be operating under different definitions of 'child'. Regardless of that, forcing a teenager to attend a certain church isn't, in my mind, that terrible of a deed. It's not a course of action I would pursue, but insisting your family members go to a certain church is no worse than insisting they go to grandma's house.

Even if they have no belief in the religion. You just have to go and even get a confirmation into that religion. Can a person of any stature really attack someone elses beliefs? Even if they are a parent.

[VBach37]

I think it largely depends on how you are defining "force". Obviously a parent is going to raise their child in whatever religion they themselves adhere to. This is perfectly normal and acceptable. I think it would be wrong for a parent to threaten their child in some way should the child make a decision to not follow that religion, but usually by that time the child is barely a child anymore anyhow. My parents raised me in the religion they follow, but there was never any effort to force me into anything. My older sister long ago decided not to specifically adhere to our religion (I don't think it's really a matter of not believing so much as not wishing to devote the time and energy), and my parents don't love her any less than they did before, nor do they pressure her to go church again. I, on the other hand, made the specific decision that I did want to continue, and this after I had gone through a few years where I was seriously debating whether or not I wanted to do so.

[Gilbert1908]

LiveWire wrote: Can a parent chose what their child should think about religion? Can they restrict them into one path at all? Things like this are happening in our world today. Many parents are forcing their kids into a narrow view. Yet this is destroying their right to their own minds. Can this be right?

Universal Decleration of rights article 18 is cited
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

That was created after World War II as guidlines for all nations. Though it is not law it was a widely agreed to article.

Here in the real world when a child is not longer a child and becomes an independent human being, he/she may decide what he wants. Unless one is a child there is little substance to the question really.

[Rankor and Pissing]

Catholic babies are baptised and obviously have no choice
Children can and are sent to Catholic schools from K-12
Children are told to get dressed and go through their confirmation and church every Sunday
Children are sent to Summer Bible Study and have no choice


My point is, if a child grows up this way, they view this as "normal" in their home enviornment - so they may not like going, but are they forced to go - sure sometimes. Then again, a parent has the responsibility of that child until the child turns 18 - then the child is officially an adult and can make their own decisions regarding what they do and do not want to do.

There's no religion police that says a parent cannot make their 5 year old get dressed and go to church on Sunday - or that the parent must take that child to a Methodist Church vs. a Catholic Church or the Church of Satan.

Can the child also make it so difficult a weekly routine, as to beat the parent into submission and give up on trying to get the child (as was previously posted - like a 13 year old) to go? Sure. I don't think anyone is dragging their 13 year old kicking and screaming into morning Church though.

[Kt]

Trying to force your children into a religion is stupid, and you can only do it for 18 years...

I would encourage my child/ren to explore my and other religions, but I would let them do what they please as far as religion is involved.

I'd even,.. allow them to become christians, perhaps... ::shudder::

[Enoch]

You can choose what religion your child will attend services for, go to school to learn, but you can not choose what they believe. You can attempt to influence, but you can't choose.

[feederband]

No you should not decide...I have 3 and I'm Athiest...If they want to goto a church no matter what the denomination is they can... But I will not tell them they have to...My wife believes in God but does not goto a church...But she also thinks they should decide for them selves because of how harshley she was forced into religion....Of corse my kids are confused with the whole matter but we tell them they got lots of time to learn religion when they get older and they can choose for themselves...Right now its just hard enough to get them to get their homework done then to worry about a religion....

[LiveWire]

Okay now say that this child is a teenager. What now?

[feederband]

LiveWire wrote: Okay now say that this child is a teenager. What now?

Tell them your beliefs but don't force them...They will figure out what they want to believe...

[wormwood]

Quote: Okay now say that this child is a teenager. What now? Until they pay their own bills they can do what they're told :lol:

Also, teenagers are not notorious for making intelligent, well informed decisions much more than small children...just so you know 8:)

[neoritter]

LiveWire wrote: Can a parent chose what their child should think about religion? Can they restrict them into one path at all? Things like this are happening in our world today. Many parents are forcing their kids into a narrow view. Yet this is destroying their right to their own minds. Can this be right?

Universal Decleration of rights article 18 is cited
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

That was created after World War II as guidlines for all nations. Though it is not law it was a widely agreed to article.
Should we be questioning whether its right to allow parents to decide what is the correct way to act in society and what is not. They are practically teh same thing. The parents have an obligation to the child, society, and themselves to raise a morally correct child, religion helps do that sets up a guideline as to how to act. A child cannot decide which religion is right for them at a young age. While the arguable point of this creates narrowminded children can be raised, it is not always true. The child once they have grown up has the ability to choose for themselves what to believe, and this generally reflects the beliefs of society or the subculture to which they belong. So basically the parents do not have a monopoly on their children's beliefs past a certain age because they are submitted to different minded individuals. So parents have the right to choose their childs religion, they like everyone else do not have the right to force a young adult or older to a certain religion. What people do not realize is that certain laws do not apply to children.

[perdidochas]

LiveWire wrote: Can a parent chose what their child should think about religion? Can they restrict them into one path at all? Things like this are happening in our world today. Many parents are forcing their kids into a narrow view. Yet this is destroying their right to their own minds. Can this be right?

Universal Decleration of rights article 18 is cited
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

That was created after World War II as guidlines for all nations. Though it is not law it was a widely agreed to article.

IMHO, that doesn't apply to children. They need to follow the religion their parent's choose for them until age 18. Then, of course, it is their decision.

[perdidochas]

LiveWire wrote: ideal wrote: To the moral implications of forcing a child into a religion, I think it is perfectly acceptable. I actually consider bringing my children(when I have them) to a Christian church despite my not being Christian. This is because I have no church to attend for my own beliefs and feel children should be exposed to what religion has to offer.

Of course, if you want to know about capabilities, they can only point them in the direction.

So you are saying that a child can be forced into something he feels opposes his very belief structure? Or just say they can ponted in a direction that their parents believe they should be but what they do is on their own accord. I was speaking of them being robbed of their ideals and not aloowed to change religion.

I don't beleive a child under 18 should be allowed to change their religion without their parents' permission.

[perdidochas]

UrielsFyre wrote: You can choose what religion your child will attend services for, go to school to learn, but you can not choose what they believe. You can attempt to influence, but you can't choose.

True, but you can prevent them from doing actions involved in a different religion.

[BassistVIV]

The question is not can they do it. It is perfectly legal to drag your kid to church every Sunday.

The question is, is it moral?

When you force a belief upon a child (especially a teenager), they tend to resent it MORE. So it doesn't seem like a logical thing to do.

[Sataere]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! A child should either be raised to see what all major religions have to offer, or not be shown anything at all. A child should never be 'forced' into any certain religion against their will.