Should parents let their children chose their own religion?
I was raised catholic and confirmed at an early age, before I really had the ability to think for myself and decide if this is what I actually wanted or if it was just what my parents wanted. Since then I've taken an agnostic stance on life and when dealing with my kids I want them to have the ability to chose whatever they want to believe in. Especailly with an increased awareness of gender, do you think we will se a shift in youthful religious activity?
Answers ( 1 )
No. What's appropriate is for parents to share their knowledge and beliefs for a child growing up so that there is a foundation of knowledge there. Once an adult, they are free to make their own choices. Frankly, letting a child choose would likely cause some level of difficulty within the social structure of the family, so it's a good idea to share knowledge and learning while children, and they're free to explore and examine other ways of the world once they come of age. Children really can't make those kinds of decisions, they haven't the knowledge or experience to make an appropriate choice, much the same as you don't let children choose their own education - they'd be watching cartoons and playing video games. So you give them a basic education that they can make informed decisions as an adult.