Can parents force their kids?

Okay, I have really been thinking about this, can parents force their children into a religion? My parents are Christians, and I'm Wiccan, but they don't mind it. However, I see a lot of Christian parents with Christian kids. Sometimes, kids and teenagers do leave their families religion. I have heard many stories that are very similar. Here is what other parents say to their kids:

Mother: Honey, it's time to go to church now.

Pagan: Mom, I'm not a Christian anymore. I'm a Pagan now.

Mother: What? No! You evil devil worshipper! You are Christian whether you like it or not!

Pagan: But mom, it's what I believe.

Mother: No buts! You believe it the Christian way! Now get ready for church right now!

So, do you think that parents can really force their children the be of a certain faith?

They can force you as they can force you to go to Church and stuff, but they cannot force what you believe if you've made the concious decision, as an adult, or someone with a mind that can make their own decisions, to believe anything you don't want to.

However, many adult Christians are only Christians because they were brought up that way and never thought twice about it, just like I do with my atheism.

Parents have the right to raise their children.

Parents have the right to raise their children under their religion.

Parents know more about the world than some kid who goes "OMG, WICCA IS TEH ROXXORS."

If you don't like it, deal with it. You can join whatever cult you feel like when you turn 18.

I was and still am being brought up as a Christian, but, I am an atheist. I told my parent this and they don't mind but, I still go to church when it is time for a mass for my deasesed greatgrand mother. I just questioned my religion for a couple of years and realized that I no longer believed in God. Parents can force there children to go to church but, as Archiac Sage said they can not change your beliefs.

Originally Posted by Forest Sage

Okay, I have really been thinking about this, can parents force their children into a religion? My parents are Christians, and I'm Wiccan, but they don't mind it. However, I see a lot of Christian parents with Christian kids. Sometimes, kids and teenagers do leave their families religion. I have heard many stories that are very similar.

Mother: Honey, it's time to go to church now.

Pagan: Mom, I'm not a Christian anymore. I'm a Pagan now.

Mother: What? No! You evil devil worshipper! You are Christian whether you like it or not!

Pagan: But mom, it's what I believe.

Mother: No buts! You believe it the Christian way! Now get ready for church right now!

So, do you think that parents can really force their children the be of a certain faith?

You just answered your own question. And your parents probably know what they're talking about. Seeing as how you choose religion the same way you choose clothes.

Alot of parents force their children to go to church and whatnot. My mom converted from Buddhism to Mormonism (*cringe*) when I was barely 5... and under "Mormon" law, I became Mormon too. I never liked going to church and I would sometimes ask to go to the temple instead but my mom said no and her reason was, "Those people are bad, all they do is gossip!" which she did alot herself. She didn't want me to associate with the Laotian culture that much.

She would always make my sister and I go to church even though she knew we didn't like it. When we told her that we didn't want to be Mormon, that we didn't believe in God, she flipped out. It looked like she wanted to kill us. We told a one of the church members that we wanted out and he proceeded to tell us that God exists, blah blah.

Even now - I'm 19 - she still urges me to go to church and tells me that I will one day see that there is a God. She said it so threatening and insane I hated Mormons like her even more.

I don't understand why parents need to be so crazy about religion. It's like they don't think they're children will make the right decisions without it. I've been sans religion my whole life and I turned out nicer and more accepting than most people who've gone to church every week of their life.

My opinion is they can force you to go to church and stuff, but they can't force you to be a christian or any other religion, my parents try to force me into a religion, but i'm stuck and don't know what to do. anyways, no parents cannot force an opinion on you, u must make it for yourself.

Originally Posted by UneBelleLilas

I've been sans religion my whole life and I turned out nicer and more accepting than most people who've gone to church every week of their life.

I know exactly what you mean. Most of my friends that go to church are alway urging me to become Christian and they can't really accept that I'm agnostic.

But that's getting off topic.

I think that parents may think they're forcing their children into a religion, but, in the end, the children will do what they want and believe what they want.
What's the point of free speech if no one can express what they really believe in?

Originally Posted by Scarborn

My opinion is they can force you to go to church and stuff, but they can't force you to be a christian or any other religion, my parents try to force me into a religion, but i'm stuck and don't know what to do. anyways, no parents cannot force an opinion on you, u must make it for yourself.

Yeah, generally that happens. But there is an instance where the parent begins religion on their child at such a young age that there's no room to argue. Their lives are so caught up in going to church and doing this for church or whatever and it's all they know. I feel like those kids are being deprived of a chance to make their own decisions. I mean, it's not really a bad thing, but still...

Well until the child is 18 the parents have every right to raise them as they see best

You oughta be thankful for what your parents give you, a house to live in, food to eat, travel in general. Now, if you don't get a living from your parents and must fend for yourself, then you are free to do as you wish. But otherwise, stop being such an immature angsty teenager and be thankful for what you have.

Originally Posted by SPANKER OF MEN

Parents have the right to raise their children.

Parents have the right to raise their children under their religion.

Parents know more about the world than some kid who goes "OMG, WICCA IS TEH ROXXORS."

If you don't like it, deal with it. You can join whatever cult you feel like when you turn 18.

Parents have the right to raise their children because it's their responsibilities.

Parents don't have the right to raise their children under their religions. That's like saying they are always right and any advices or opinions from teens are wrong, which isn't true at all.

Parents know more about the world, true, but that has nothing to do with religions other than preaching about how their religions are the right ones to follow.

In any case, they are dealing with it. Hence kids/teens telling their parents that they are not willing to following certain religions.

i think the title shouldnt be 'can', i think it should be 'should' cause although parents can force you to follow their religion, i dont think they should. i mean, what right have they got to force you to beleive in something you have chosen not to beleive in, sure, it may say it in their main religious book. but as people, i dont think anyone has the right to force their beleifs and oppinions down anothers throat. i dont see anything really wrong with taking young kids to your church, or whatever it is yourreligious group goes to, but when they reach an age where they state clearly that they dont beleive in they main divine being, i think from that point on the parents should respect their oppinion, and not force them to go to church.

Originally Posted by SPANKER OF MEN

Parents have the right to raise their children.

Parents have the right to raise their children under their religion.

Parents know more about the world than some kid who goes "OMG, WICCA IS TEH ROXXORS."

If you don't like it, deal with it. You can join whatever cult you feel like when you turn 18.

they can, yes, but they really really shouldn't.
I consider parents who try to force their religion on their children unfit.

Originally Posted by vacumgod

You oughta be thankful for what your parents give you, a house to live in, food to eat, travel in general. Now, if you don't get a living from your parents and must fend for yourself, then you are free to do as you wish. But otherwise, stop being such an immature angsty teenager and be thankful for what you have.

so...if you do not want to be a part of your parents religion, and do what they tell you att all times, you're immature, angsty and unthankful?

I disagree, you can apppreciate what your parents do for you without becoming their personal golem obeying any order they give you.

They cant force you to belive anything you dont want to but they can force you to go to church until u no longer live under their roof. End of story.

Originally Posted by vacumgod

You oughta be thankful for what your parents give you, a house to live in, food to eat, travel in general. Now, if you don't get a living from your parents and must fend for yourself, then you are free to do as you wish. But otherwise, stop being such an immature angsty teenager and be thankful for what you have.

I appreciate all the things my parents have done for me and each day I'm very grateful for all the possesions I own thanks to them. Yes you do have to do what your parents tell you to, like doing the washing up etc. but remember you have your own life too, I personally think that it should be up to you and no one else to decide if you want to follow a religion or not.

I don't think it's right for parents to force their children to be religious if they don't want to be. Anyway what's the point of that because if you are following a religion just because you parents tell you to does that definately mean that you personally are religious yourself?. Cause of course your gonna pretend that you are religious in front of your parents, but does pretending that you really do believe in god actually mean that you
really do believe in him?, Cause I don't.

(Dunno if that makes any sense, please tell me if it doesn't )

They can force you to do whatever they feel fit. Do you have to think it's right? No. Just go to church, but have your own little wiccan shrine in your closet or whatever.