Do you think children should be taught and raised to follow the religion of their parents, or do you think they should be raised secularly? And why?
How do you plan to raise your children (and why), and what effects do you think this will have on them? What would you do if your children went in a different way than you'd like?

I think it makes sense for parents to raise their children up with religion, and just to clarify, I mean that I think parents should teach their children the morals of their religion, and bring them to religious lectures/ceremonies/sermons/etc. I think this makes sense because I view the parent as someone who has a duty to guide their children in the way that will benefit them the most. I think parents have a job to show their children the best way to live, and obviously, for any devoted religious adherent, they're going to think that the best way of life is to follow their religion.
I plan to raise my children up to follow Islam. I'm going to teach them Islamic morals and bring them with me to the Masjid (Mosque). I'm not going to force Islam down their throat or anything, I'm just going to tell them what Islam teaches, and I'm going to educate them on why it's the best religion to follow. I hope that this will persuade them to follow Islam, and that my teaching will make them into devoted Muslims.
If my children did not accept Islam, I'd be very disappointed, and I'd ask for their reasoning. If I understood their reasoning and came to the conclusion that Islam just wasn't for them, then I'd accept that and allow them to be a part of any religion that they desire.
I'd raise my children according to Islam because I believe that I have a religious obligation to do so, and I believe that it'd be the most beneficial thing in life for them. I believe that Islam is the best way of life, and I'd want my children to follow the best way of life (I know that this may sound arrogant to some people, but please understand that I'm not trying to sound arrogant, but that I'm only stating my beliefs.)

I was raised Christian, as was my dad, two aunts, both grandparents...in fact everyone on my fathers side. I'm now Pagan and my dad doesn't really care about religion.

I think being raised with Religion is good, so long as you are also taught to tollerate and respect other religions and your parents allow you to go down your own path when you grow up.

Religion helps people to understand things like death. It gives you something to celebrate,like Christmas and it brings a family closer together. If the parents are out doing religious things, and they don't include their children, the kids are going to be very left out.

In short I believe in a religious upbringing if the parents are religious, but I also believe in free will and tolerance of other religions.

I believe that a child should be introduced to whichever religion their parents practice until they are old enough to decide what religion is right for them. Should they choose to continue the path of the religion they were brought up with, cool..but the parents should be understanding if the child wants to venture into other religions or convert entirely.

My parents took me to a Christian church for many years when I was growing up until they themselves decided that although they still believe in Christianity, that they don't believe in church. They felt that it wasn't up to a preacher to tell them what to believe so we stopped going all together. That was the point in time where I was pretty much allowed to decide what exactly I wanted to do. I decided that I don't believe in any religion at all. My parents are ok with it. Although there are members of my family that I am hesitant to come clean to as I'm very sure they won't take the news too well.

Though I don't associate with any religion, I think religion is very important. If someone can find something, or feel the need to search for something that can give them a connection to the rest of the universe...then I say more power to them. I'm cool with the fact that I'm just a speck of dust on the planet...that one day I'll die and rot away. But I think that people really connecting with their religion (providing they don't force it on others or look down on those of differing religions) is a beautiful thing. It only makes sense that with something like that which becomes core to your daily life, that you would introduce a child to it.

I can only speak from the 'raised Christian then became anti-religion' point of view. I can't imagine that it would be too terribly drastic for a child raised into another religion though.

I believe that children should have the right to choose
their religion, my mom was Catholic and now I am a Atheist
though my mom doesn't know that xD My parents really didn't
even bother to teach me basic things that I should know,
so i was basically left an empty shell until I got to grading
school, but a lot of people thought i was dumb for not knowing
a lot of stuff that was nearly prior to know.

Well, I don't think you should obligue a child to be this or that religion. Let them learn the morals of your religion, and also teach them the morals of other religions too. Tell them the reason why you think Islam is the best for you, but state that that's your point of view, and that everyone has their own tastes and such. Because if you obligue a child to be christian/islamic/etc. , he won't be sure about his/her thoughts or beliefs since s/he hasn't experienced nor knows about other religions. Or could become an extremist. I don't know.
I plan on raising my children that way :D But I'll have to wait a long time [I'm 14 years old ^^v] I hope that makes them open-minded and trust me with their questions and doubts :) I want to be a good mommy!
If they went in a different way, well, until then they'll know what's best for them. I won't worry unless that religion makes them do bad against anyone, including themselves.

PS: This coming from a girl who believes in the good hidden inside people :]

I don't see any problems with raising your children to follow your religion. You can show your child your religion... eventually, they will branch off on their own and decide which religion they want to follow. Once they've decided, then it's wrong to try and convert them back. Raising someone with religion is okay, but trying to force it on them is not. When you're still forcing a 17 year old to go to church despite the fact that they have a blatant disbelief in God... uhh, I think you might be fighting with a lost cause.

Parents tend to teach their children all their other beliefs and morals about the world at large, so why shouldn't they teach them their religious preferences. In the end people will decide for themselves when they are old enough anyway.

I was raised as a Christian, and I still am a Christian. My mom and her family are Christian. My father and my sister are agnostic and my brother-in-law is an atheist. My little brother is...confused at the moment. xD My grandmother on my dad's side and most of that whole part of the family are intolerant Baptists. >.<
Anyway, for the most part, my family is quite easygoing about religion. We don't go to church, because we don't like it. But, we are good people. We try to lead good lives. I think we're getting into Heaven. :]

When I have children, I will raise them with Christian beliefs, but I will also teach them to be accepting of other religions. And when they get old enough to decide for themselves, and if they choose a path other than Christianity, then I will definitely support their decision.

To me, what really matters is that they are good, respectable people; not what god they believe or don't believe in.

well I don't know. I was raised to believe in god and stuff like that, and learned about the stories in bibble.. and I still could decide on my own whether to believe in those stories or not. :3 and yep, I have high morals and I'm somewhat conservative I think, but still am very accepting of "different" people.

so I guess there's nothing bad about raising your child to follow your own religion, just as long as you let them choose what they believe in the end.

I don't see any problem with raising a child in a religion...as long as it isn't a cult of course. I don't personally plan on raising my child (in the extremely unlikely event that I have one) in my religion (Wicca), but if they show an interest in it and want to learn about it, of course I'll teach them. If they show an interest in another religion, I won't mind. I'll try to learn about the religion that they're interested in with them (although I'll stick with mine). I think it's healthy for different people to have different religious beliefs.

I think that kids should be given information on the differences between all religions, and should be able to choose which one they believe in. They shouldn't be forced to believe something.

But it's none of my business how you raise your child. As long as they don't hurt me, it's none of my business. You can raise them to think that aliens invaded and brainwashed everyone to think that they exist when really they're dead if you want, and it doesn't matter to me in the slightest.

^What Scientologists believe

I'm not for or against children being raised under any certain religion. Religion helps give a firm set of morals by which parents can raise their children. I believe that once the children grow older that they should be allowed to explore other belief systems, should they feel that the beliefs of their parents are not fit.

Instead Of just giving a Child a religion they should understand everyone of them and not think that one is superior to another, giving them that idea fills bad ideas in their heads and causes issues.
I have a friend who grew up with Christianity down her throat so she does the same to everyone else.
As for me I was brought up with none and I am open to all and blend all together to get a better understanding of how the world just might be and the harsh realities of it and the beauty of it.

I was raised secularly - I mean, my parents tried baptism for a little bit but they didn't really believe in it, and my parents were modern enough to not really stick with the chinese gods from folklores to strictly.

I'm planning to raise my kids atheist, because I am and I think it would be less complicated (No 'god' questions), but maybe they'll find their own paths than me. I won't seclude them from Christmas presents and Easter egg hunting though!

You can teach a child morals without using religion. Aesop's fables work too. And protestant work ethics and chinese modesty is cultural now, not necessarily religious.

I was raised in a religiously ignorant family.

My family on both sides is protestant.

My mother gave me the middle names of John Paul, after the Pope. Strange huh?

I was baptised.

Never once went to Church.

And a few more reasons that I dont want to go into.

I turned out pretty normal I think. Im athiest, if I die then I die. I can except the fact that Im not going to go to heaven or hell, and if anything it just makes me want to live life more.

Dont get me wrong, I like the holidays, togetherness and ideals that religion trys to incorporate. But for the most part it just causes problems.

If I have a kid, then Religion wont be a part of my household. Simply because I dont think putting the literal fear of god into a child is a good idea. If they choose religion then hey, thats fine by me, I wont force my views on them though or lack of I should say, I wont tell them something that I dont believe in, and I think its irresponsible for parents to do that.

I can personally say that even though I'm not a 'firm' member of the religion I have chosen, my kids will be raised according to the morals of it. Before I found said church, religion would not be a part of my future. Still, they'll have religious freedom, and I'll educate them about other mainstream beliefs...

But mostly, they'll be raised LDS. Just because I can see how happy and 'on the right track' most of the other kids I know are, it lets me know that it's a good set of values to instill in kids.

I'm not going to shove it down their throats though, because that always backfires. :\

Originally Posted by life in red and black

I was raised secularly - I mean, my parents tried baptism for a little bit but they didn't really believe in it, and my parents were modern enough to not really stick with the chinese gods from folklores to strictly.

I'm planning to raise my kids atheist, because I am and I think it would be less complicated (No 'god' questions), but maybe they'll find their own paths than me. I won't seclude them from Christmas presents and Easter egg hunting though!

You can teach a child morals without using religion. Aesop's fables work too. And protestant work ethics and chinese modesty is cultural now, not necessarily religious.

THANK YOU!!
Morals are not really taught by religion, kids learn them from what their parents do. You can tell them "though shalt not steal" as much as you want - if they catch you taking something that doesn't belong to you, they will believe what you do, not what you say.
So, if you are nice to other people and don't do stuff to others that you don't want them to do to you, chances are that your kid will live by the same rules.

I will raise my kids as atheists and I hope that I'll be able to instill him with a strong strand of highly critical thinking, so he will not fall to any religion once he's older.

I think you should teach your child about your religion. Simply because, I assume that's your family tradition, right...I'm just guessing. they should know about their family's tradition, but have the choice to change to another if they so choose.

well i am Christian... i am not a mother and i don't plan to be soon
but in the future.. i will raise my kids in my religion...

well i think kids should be raised like this but they should know about the other religions,too
personally i didn't chose my religion... i was born with it... so for me it has no sense to have another one...

i like my religion but i respect all the religions of the world...

i will raise my kids in my religion... but i will let them know about all the religions i know... so he or she can choose in the life....
religion is important.. is a base for something...
people are raised like this... and they have an education ...

personally... i think it's really important

I think there is raising your children in a religious family and then there is raising your children to believe in your religion.

It's a tough call. I think a religion can be a very good thing to grow up with. It teaches children good morals and to be kind and forgiving. Though, on the other hand it can make them become ignorant of other people and their beliefs.

I was raised in a none religious family but I have attended Sunday School and Christmas mass and the like. I found Sunday School interesting and fun, as most children might as they are playing games and drawing and getting to know other children.

I considered myself an Atheist for a while before I began questioning things. I spent a time as Agnostic, not knowing what to believe in and finally decided I would become Pagan as I needed the structure of a religion to truly feel safe at the time. Paganism fitted closely with what I believed anyway and I still consider myself so.

I think growing up in a family where religion wasn't really a concern made me a more open minded individual and in a way taught me to appreciate ALL religions equally for what they are. Most are quite similar if you take the time to research.

I also think that a lot of people make up their own religious beliefs based on those that already exist, which can be good and bad. Some take religion very seriously which can lead others to think religion is a bad idea.

I think that a parent had the responsibility to raise their child in a structured and open community, so in that respect, yes, bringing up your children in a religious environment is a good idea. But there will come a time in a child's life when they question the religion they have grown up with and might want to re-evaluate that choice. In my opinion, parents should support their child in finding the religion that is right for them, not forcing their own on the child.

I think you shouldn't force your own religion on children. You can educate them about each one (including your own) so that it'll help them in the future (with debates and all that), but they should think for themselves and develop their beliefs on their own instead of it being shoved down their throat.

Everyone is going to raise their kids according to their own moral values and beliefs, and religion (or lack thereof) is often a huge part of those values and beliefs. So it's only natural for parents to raise their kids in the same religion (or non-religion) they believe in, because they want the best for their kids.

However, when the kid is old enough to choose, parents shouldn't shove their religion down the kid's throat or worse yet, judge the kid according to their decision... as long as the decision isn't harming the kid or others, of course!


My cult experience
Religion was forced down my throat as a kid, because I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian religion (or, should I say, cult) that practices mind-control. My parents were devout believers and they seriously thought their religion was the only way to be saved and that everyone else was damned. I don't blame them for raising me in that cult, because they were under mind-control and they seriously believed they had my "eternal life" at stake. Of course they wanted me to become a believer so I would be saved. Anything else would've been cruel, from their point of view.

The problem is, I never had the freedom to choose for myself. Even the small bits of info about other religions, atheism, and evolution, were all coming from the official publications of that cult, so I was only presented with one world view. In theory, they let me choose and I had the illusion of free choice, but in practice, I didn't have enough info to choose, so I joined the cult.

Getting out of that cult was a traumatic experience for both me and my dad (my mom was ok with it because she's not a huge believer herself anymore). Cults are designed so that it's nearly impossible to get out without getting your life turned upside down. So, I absolutely don't wish a closed minded cult upbringing for anyone!


What I'd do
If I ever have kids myself, they'll probably get a secular upbringing. When they're old enough to start thinking for themselves, I'd give them info about the major religions so they could find out for themselves, but if they asked for my opinion, I'd give them my agnostic point of view.

I'd go the extra mile to make sure my kids were free to choose any religion they wanted. Despite my experiences, I don't hate religion, as long as it actually makes peoples' lives better. I'd get info about my kid's religion and if I could make sure it's not harmful, I'd definitely support their choice.

This is certainly a tough issue, and one that very few people will agree on concerning what is 'right' to do! Personally, I am what I like to call 'religiously eclectic', meaning that I believe all forms of religion have merit, yet I do not follow a particular way. I enjoy learning about religion, whether Christianity, Buddhism, Wicca, Muslim etc. It never ceases to amaze me how many similarities there are between differing religions that traditionally consider themselves to be the one true way - and it can get a little depressing that they cannot see it from on 'outsider's' point of view.

Anyway, about bringing my daughter up religious? Not gonna happen. Sure, I will raise her to be a decent person, to do the right thing and not always the easy thing, to respect others, to be good and kind to all no matter their race, colour or creed. But when it comes to choosing something for her as life-shanging as a religion to follow? Even though I am her mother, I don't have that right, and would rather just bring her up to be happy, healthy, well-adjusted and a decent human being. When she is old enough to make such decisions on her own, I will support her no matter what type of path she wishes to follow. This is the sort of thing that every person has to decide for themselves once they have all the appropriate information.

I'd raise my kids with my own religion, when I have kids. I'm Catholic, and I love my parish. I would want my kids to grow up there, and around that atmosphere. I'd teach them about the Bible and the Catechism, take them to Sunday school, all that good stuff.

But I'd also teach them about other options too, when they were old enough to understand (and not simply be terribly confused). We might even go visit other places of worship, or at least we'd talk with people who practice other religions.

You see, I think that having as wide a perspective as possible is a good thing. I mean, if my kids want to follow another religion, good for them! But then they'll know what I believe and why I believe it, and why other people believe what they believe as well. They can make a truly informed decision.

You see, if you raise a kid without any awareness of religion, how can they truly make an informed choice about it when they become adults? You can't help but show your own personal bias, of course, but you can at least share as much information as possible.

Personally, even if I did raise my kids in the context of religion or another, I would instill religious tolerance in them. To me, the understanding that other people's beliefs should be respected is as important as the morals contained within a religion itself.