Poll: Should Parents have the right to force there religion on there kids ?

[scotth266]

This question is loaded and biased, because it doesn't account for militant athiests forcing THEIR ideals on THEIR children (after all, they always say that atheism isn't a religion.) Don't tell me that doesn't happen, because it's absolute bull.

As a kid who was "forced" to go to Church/Sunday School as a kid, I gotta say that I wouldn't have gone otherwise. My mom and dad (former was Catholic, latter was agnostic) came to an agreement: they'd raise me and my brothers Catholic, but once we left the house it would be our own decision to follow whatever faith we wanted to.

I chose Catholic because I felt like it, but I see the merits in the ideals of other faiths, and have labeled myself as a "Reformationist Catholic" due to my beliefs that the Church needs to change it's position on several key issues.

 

[data_not_found]

I think that parents can decide how their child thinks as long as it does not make them a menace to society. When you start saying that everyone should be required to agree with you, then we have a problem, but just your own flesh and blood? I've got no qualms with that.

 

[RootbeerJello]

I think religion should be introduced early, practiced until 12-14, then let the kid decide what they want to do. Actively forcing religion, on the other hand, should be punishable by law.

 

[War Penguin]

Force: No.
Show: Yes.
A child that's young can't judge for him/herself until (s)he's older. The parent shouldn't force religion but should show what it's like and what they and other people believe. The child will naturally believe the same, but when (s)he gets older his/her thoughts can change. (S)He will become more independent and that's when their thoughts will be fully formed what they want to believe. Do I think the parent should step in? No. Nor do I think they need to. Since the child has the ability to think for him/herself they may or may not believe either way.

Just my opinions on the matter.

 

[DerpyDerpyDerp]

I have long been on the train of thought that the human race has no need for religion in society. That being said, should we invade people's homes with restrictions? Absolutely not. The fault lies with the lack of stress put on critical reasoning and the taboo of questioning such topics as religion. Answer those and religion will soon disappear.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Nobody should have the right to force religion on anyone... Personally, I believe that telling people what they should believe is wrong... You can't really force someone to believe something else anyway...

 

[WJeff]

No. All americans, children included, have the right to freedom of religion. Parents do not have the right to force religion on their children. That doesn't mean they don't though.

 

[Lavi]

Force? No. Educate? Sure.

http://www.unicef.org/crc/

UN Rights of the Child, which the USA so kindly does not follow. Note: Not actual document, duh.

Seriously, WTF USA?

 

[Icingdeath]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
It's not right.

 

[Shady Dealer]

No, you should teach your kid to think for themselves and do whatever the hell the want in this regard.

this pretty much sums up my thoughts

 

[clicketycrack]

What the fucks the difference. The kids are going to adopt the parents religion at first anyway and then they'll gain the ability of independent thought later in life.

Also, forcing is bad, but encouraging is just fine.

 

[Rascarin]

I've been raised in a religious family, and have attended church ever since I was a child. And that was fine.

However, recently, I've come to my own decisions about religion and my stance on it (that I don't want to be religious any more), and now my parents and trying to force me to keep attending. Which is wrong. I'm 20 years old, so its MY decision now.

 

[asinann]

Basically no, when the kids are little they have little choice in the matter. But once they are old enough to start questioning things they have to choose their own way.

The ultimate expression of why probably comes about in arranged/forced marriage, what kind of a parent would do that to their children?

Problem is, if you catch them before they can think for themselves they never learn to think.

 

[CrashBang]

Yes and no. I'm an atheist and my parents are Christians. They had me christened and sent to a C of E school and from there I made my own choices. When I have kids I'll raise them to be atheists and if they choose to become religious then that's their choice. So yeah you have the right to lead your kids down a path which you think is best for them in your opinion, but you also have to let them choose their own beliefs and not force them into anything. So if you christen your child and then 2 years later they denounce their faith then you have to let them, or if you raise them atheist and they then ask to be christened, you have to let them. Respect their choices

 

[quack35]

A parent has the right to teach their kids what they believe, I don't think it's a good idea to force that belief on them, but there's nothing wrong with a parent trying raising their kids Christian or Jewish or Atheist or whatever.

 

[thom_cat_]

My dad was brought up in a strong religious environment... but around his teens he just went "this is bs" and ignored all the religious aspects that his parents were forcing on him.

Now if the parents then disown him, which would happen with some religions and parents, THEN this is ridiculous.

 

[wewontdie11]

I felt FUCK NO! best represented my views. I'm going to let my kids grow up free of religion then when they're old enough they can decide what religion they want to follow themselves.

 

[Stoic raptor]

you should teach your children religion, but if they decide for something else, dont force them to change back or go crazy, its thier choice and they would do it whether you like it or not. but they will probably pick what they grew up with