Mandating Religion (teenagers, parents, children, school)

[SHADOW666]

Most,though not all,parents introduce their children to religion when they are youngsters. When a child reaches the age of 13-14 and tells their parent that they don't want to attend church every Sunday should the teenager be mandated to go?

[no kudzu]

I don't think so but then again I don't put much stock in religion. I'm sure if you posted this in religion you would get plenty to say "Absolutely yes!"

[Mattie]

This has been discussed before, with widely different opinions (just as a heads up). It's a very personal family decision. In my non-religious home, it was never an issue. But, I was raised in a very Catholic family, including schooling. My parents did not force church attendance.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by SHADOW666

Most,though not all,parents introduce their children to religion when they are youngsters. When a child reaches the agpe of 13-14 and tells their parent that they don't want to attend church every Sunday should the teenager be mandated to go?

Absolutely not! That's how you will alienate your child from ever going to the Church again. It is not right to force anyone to attend a religious service against there will.

[willow wind]

No, you cannot force religion down someone's throat. This is the fastest way to drive a child away from religion. Kids go through phases. It's possible that the teenager will simply reject going to church always. It's also just as possible that he or she may go back to the church when they're older. Or the child may experiment and pick a different church.

However, people have to come to religion of their own accord. You can't make someone believe.

[malamute]

I view it the same as any other education.

When my kid states he doesn't want to go to school any more, I don't recoil in fear and think I'm going to alienate him if I tell him he's going to school. When he's 18 and out of my house, then he can decide all kinds of thing for himself, until then I'm the parent.

There are a lot of things a child will say they don't believe in. They don't believe in themselves having to wash dishes or pick up after themselves. They might decide school is too boring, they shouldn't have to go. So I force my beliefs on them in those areas also.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by SHADOW666

Most,though not all,parents introduce their children to religion when they are youngsters. When a child reaches the age of 13-14 and tells their parent that they don't want to attend church every Sunday should the teenager be mandated to go?

Religion is something that is very personal to most families and whatever their decision regarding this issue is their decision and no one else should voice an opinion either way. Politics, Religion and romance in the office, three things that should not be discussed in my experience.

[bulmabriefs144]

I don't believe church is that big a thing.

Tell your kid "Okay, but I think it's important to find something you believe in, even if it's not organized religion."

[Hedgehog_Mom]

My parents had a rule that unless you were dead, you went to Mass.

I haven't been into a church since I left home, except for weddings and funerals. My sisters feel about the same way I do about going to church.

I'm raising my kids without religion. When they get older, they are welcome to try out different churches, and pick one that they like...as long as I don't have to go.

[Natsku]

I think its a bad idea to force them to go when they don't want to. Thats what my parents did and I stopped going (mostly, still go sometimes just for a change) as soon as I left home whereas friends of mine who drifted away as teenagers mostly returned as adults. Then again maybe it is a good idea, as being forced to go at an age when you really start to question things I figured out they're almost all hypocrites and learnt I'm better off not being around that.