30 July 2010, 12:03 pm
So Nick (my co-worker) and I got into another heated debate yesterday, and it hasn't been fully resolved. Here's the topic: is it better for a child be raised to believe in something (ex., raised in a Christian family) than to be raised in a non-religious setting (ex., an athiest family)? Please note that both my co-worker and I agree that it's okay for a child to convert to a different religion when they're older; we're simply arguing over whether or not a religious childhood makes a difference. It's a sensitive topic, so please be cautious with your responses. I (Lauren) say: I wouldn't stop another family from raising their child in a religious environment, clearly. But being an athiest, I won't raise my kids to believe in God, because I don't. Why would I take them to church if I don't believe in it myself? If my kids choose to become religious when they're older, I have absolutely no problem with that. That being said, I do still celebrate holidays (Easter, Christmas, etc.) because for me, they're more about spending time with family and less about celebrating Christian values. But I don't believe that it's ultimately necessary for a child to be raised to believe in God to have a successful childhood. I do, however, believe children should be informed about ALL religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc.), and not just the faith their parents are a part of. That way, when they're old enough to make their own life decisions, they'll be informed. I (Nick) say: Being Catholic and gay, that religion, no matter which religion, is important for a child. I think that parents should baptize/bring their child(ren) into whichever faith they deem most suitable or connected to. By doing this the parents are bringing their kids into whichever religion they think is best for them. They are giving their children a sense of where their morals/values come from. Then as the child grows older, and has learned about their religion, allow them to branch off and/or explore other religions that interest them or are more aligned with their adult beliefs. I think that this is better than offering them nothing during their child (no education of any sort of religion). Because they will having nothing to compare to or contrast to. During this debate it was also brought up about what an Atheist would tell their children about life issues that other religions reflect upon such as heaven. I could never bring myself to tell my kids, when their grandparents die, that they are just gone. Whether you believe in heaven or not, it is a nice way to deal with the grief of death for a child. So this is where I am coming from. My co-worker is saying that the answers here are not fair, because the people who answer are (almost) all Atheists, and obviously biased. Prove him wrong?... Read More »
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