Thread: Do parents have the right to decide which religion their child falls in?

I think it is ridiculous, violates rights and is downright wrong for a parent to choose the religion of their child.

I agree it is a parent's right to teach and guide a child however they please but that does not include forcing a religion upon them either by baptism or other form. Then teaching them that they will go to hell/whatever for not believing? Ridiculous.

It is important for children to be taught ABOUT religion, but choosing for them? Having to accept rules and laws just because of an accident of birth? NOT something that should be accepted.

I agree with Dave on this. They should be taught about religion, but not forced upon it. But I don't think it's all that important, because kids are only kids for so long. They are impressionable as a child and will believe whatever you "teach" them but when they grow older, they'll make their own decisions about everything, and that includes religion.

For the sake of clarification, I think parents do have the right to have their children be part of whatever religion the parents want, it's their children, after all. I just think they shouldn't.

--- first of all parents should not force their children when it comes to a religion... i mean, just like Signus said, you can teach them about all the religions in the world, but it should be up to him if would like to believe in one/ any of them or not...

--- second of all, unfortunately these kind of things happen, but i believe that only there where religion is not that permissive as any christian religion. I was thought in such religion but i have the option to accept it or not... but take for example more extremist ones, such as muslims religion...( at least this is how i see their religion )... Christianity did huge mistakes to prove themselves to be better for the public eyes, better than other religions, and inforced itself too, but nowadays i think that its power it's starting to fade away since there are not so many believers...

--- third, kids grow up and believe what they want...yes... but if your country traditions and family values stop you from doing that, then what? I think that these 2 are important influences when it comes to inforce one religion to another (non-)believer...

Fantastic thread Dave, one that really gets me thinking.
Well from how i see it like you and Signus said parents should teach their children about religion. But not ONLY about religion:
- They should teach them about their own religion and what makes it different to other religions.
- How they came to believe in the religion themselves.
- The pros and cons of the religion.
- Punishments for not believing in the religion.

Like i say teach them but somewhat you are going to be biased towards your own religion whether intentionally or not. But if i had a child who didn't believe in my religion that i taught him, then i would be disappointed really, but i would like to see the reason as to WHY. I would get him/her and ask them why they don't believe in my religion but another. Then i would show them why the one i believe in is better than theirs by DISCUSSION not argument. This ofcourse is when they are older and when they are young they will believe in what you believe. Though as they are young teach them that if they have any doubts about the religion to ask straight away without any fear so that you could explain to them. Forcing a religion into a child i think is not really a good thing but instead teaching them and letting them decide for em selves.

Also as a father it is your duty to ensure that your children pass on the legacy that you want, so i say that it is important to be there for the children when they need it and not to be preoccupied by other things. The children should be first priority in your life and the only time that i think a child will lose or not follow the path of your religion is when:
- You don't explain to them well about your religion.
- You aren't supportive of their ideas.
- When you aren't there for them.
- When you force it upon them instead of letting them decide.

Also it is important to take them to regular religious events and places (church, mosque, temple, etc) on a regular basis so that they develop and understand the religion more.

Speaking from personal experience, my dad and my mom both forced me to participate in their religion. What is so funny, is that both of them have different religions, my mom kept her religion in the sly, but forces me to join. My dad too, forces me to join his religion.

I really never knew what the religion is about, and how they forced me to believe and accept the religion made me really angry, there were times I even swore never to take any religion in my entire life. For me, I find it irksome to have something to do with religion in my house, but my dad loves it, and wants me to join him.

When I refused, I would be threatened, by both my parents, saying that if I don't believe in God/Buddha/whatever, I would not be blessed and all that I do would fail and nothing will come successfully.

So...my life is in danger when I don't pray? pffftt

Majid was talking about a parent when talking and teaching his child about his religion should say the pro's and con's... i haven't really met anyone saying to his son the con's..because he was thought by his parents, church and / or society to only see the PRO's and never question the CON's... so that is kinda unfair both to the son and to the values of society that's just like a mob follows a leader and never question his methods...they just believe cause he believes....

--- you won't hear a father saying to his son " Yes, son, our religion masterminds back in the days, slaughtered and executed hundreds of people in the name of God, just because they didn't share their beliefs or points of view...", or " there is more than 1 religion out there, not just the christian ones, so be free to explore them all, and see which one fits your thoughts, ideas, beliefs best..."...instead... you will hear that "our religion is the best", but why? --> " just because, don't question me, you little brat "

You have a great point morpheuss but i wasn't meaning that negative xD. Just the stuff that religion restricts could be a con for some people. Like telling them you can't eat this or you can't do that, stuff like that. I'm saying that some children find that as a con, no big but some do. Me i never understood why certain things in religion were and found them a con but when it was explained to me as why it is so, i understood it and changed my perspective towards it.

And when you say
you will hear that "our religion is the best", but why? --> " just because, don't question me, you little brat "
That was my regard to teaching them and being there to answer their questions. When you tell them stuff like that it discourages them instead. Like me when i had a concern or asked my dad that question he never gave me a reply like that but sat down and explained to me calmly and clearly. And that is part of being a parent, you don't only put your ideas in the head of children but you must hear their ideas and thoughts too and thats how you create strong bonds. this goes back to my point of being there for them as a first priority, so if they are lost they have a safe haven which will direct them back into the right path.

But like wise you made a fantastic point which is quite true.

--- let me tell you this : i see your point, but it has a flaw : it is too optimistic...and the reality is nothing like that... i said in my previous post that religion masterminds used to slaughter and execute hundreds of people in the name of the God and their religion.. but nothing changed... we have 2 wars here, that even a father and the greatest dad won't know how to explain them to their kids :

* we have a silent war, that is fought somehow in the background, we don't quite feel it, but we see it changing the world before our eyes... this war is fought by great religions and their "masterminds" against the little ones, or those that are isolated...trying to gain ground in their territories as well

* and the second war, that is loud and present like Jihad and other extremists who act and fight for their believes and have their own sacred war...

--- a parent should not be biased by his beliefs and teach his son that way, but should be objective and when asked should come and say fair and square : " i am a christian, but you deserve much more than that... and here it is why ( reasons )" ... or " i am a true christian believer, and you should think more to this because( reasons ) "... but many are indoctrinated and so narrowminded that won't accept to be that objective and have no real arguments to sustain their theories...

Quite a few parents are forcing their children too do or accept many things their children possibly wouldn't have chosen themselves and religion is not an exception. Parents usually try to pass their system of beliefs and values onto their children. For example there are bunch of parents who are forcing their children to play some sport and practice it everyday in hope that their children might one day become successful professionals and while few succeeds most of them don't they were simply made to waste their precious time and possibly even health in order to try and fulfill crazy ambitions of their parents...

On the other hand majority of worlds religions advocates positive moral values and in most cases it won't hurt the child like forcing them to become professional players could. You can always change your religion or refuse it completely, but could you restore time and health you might have lost in example I mentioned before? No, of course not.

I don't think that parents should force life defining decisions onto their children in the manner they tend to do, doesn't matter if it's religion or something else in question.

P.S. Just a short remark about baptism - While I agree that it's unnecessary and could be avoided and people should be given a chance to decide for themselves, you have to understand one thing - children are baptized by the faith of their parents but when they are old enough they have a chance to take a sacrament of confirmation, as the name of it says, they can confirm faith their parents "forced" upon them or they can decide not to take it if they aren't feeling comfortable about it.