Hello there,

If you're married, you probably share the same religious faith with your spouse; you go to church, mosque, or religious meeting-place together and take your children along. You probably have prayer time once in a while or every day.

Now let's say you've been running your Muslim household, Christian family, or family of believers in whatever you believe for a while. You've been teaching your children in the path you believe they should go.

Then one day one of your children (probably your teenage firstborn) says "I have given my life to Christ" (and you're Muslims), or "I'm not going to church anymore" (and you're Christians) or "I don't believe in God anymore" or something along that line. Something that is contrary to all you've taught your child to believe in religion, faith, spirituality. Your child rejects your family religion!

How would you respond?

My child has the right to be whatever religion s/he wants to be. I won't stop her/him. I'll try talking to him/her, but if s/he refuses..... s/he can be any religion. I won't let religion be a barrier between I and my kids. All i know is, I've brought him/her up in the right way. If s/he doesn't wanna go that way, So be it.

I second ur reply hot-angel! Religion really dosen't define a person, so it shouldn't b n e problem for me n my child!

I second HA. He/She's got his/her Life. I can only show my child the right path. Its his/her prerogative to go that way.

Very true. All you can do is teach the child. When they are older, they can make decisions. I would expect them to and hope they do.

But I also hope that in whatever decisions they make, they are able to handle the consequences be it good or bad. Also, that they are serious about it and have put much thought into it.

I would hope that they weren't making any "fly by the seat of your pants" decision just to rebel. But kids are kids.

i'll commit murder

Just cos d pikin say e no want ur church?

I wonder ooo.

in such an instance i would sacrifice the child to my god. it will show god i mean business, and it is a powerful lesson for the other children.

I don't like the idea of parents mistreating their children in the name of "God". This is child abuse. What Abraham did when he wanted to sacrifice Isaac is also murder and child abuse, and since he was more than 20 years old at the time, I think Isaac had issues too. Allow my aged father to tie me up with the intention of stabbing and burning me to death? I don't think so!

It's been a while since i opened up the bible, but if i remember correctly, wasn't it God that asked Abraham to do that to his son just to test his faith[pls correct me if i'm wrong], where did child abuse come in then?

Nothing. I haven't been to church in years but its not like you can force someone to accept god. If you do it will end tragically.

The child is free to reject the family religion as long as the child is at the matured stage. Personally, I see no reason why my children will refuse my religion because who else will you serve if not God.

That one na him "TORO"

@ topic
na d parent fault be that. Most of us are in our present religions cos we were born in it

"I don't like the idea of parents mistreating their children in the name of "God". This is child abuse. What Abraham did when he wanted to sacrifice Isaac is also murder and child abuse, and since he was more than 20 years old at the time, I think Isaac had issues too. Allow my aged father to tie me up with the intention of stabbing and burning me to death? I don't think so!"

Mr. Man, better don't let the education/enlightenment of fundamental human rights becloud your sense of biblical reasoning

'train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he'll not depart from it' proverbs 22: 6. When i know i've done my part by His grace, and he/she still wants to go astray, then its the plot of the devil and over to God! I'll pray him back. Its not just about raising my children to be 'christians' but true children of God.

@ Seun

Are you speaking from personal experience - especially when you said you don't believe in God anymore, What would you do if you were in your parents' shoes?

@seun Over sabi dey worry you. You think you already know everything. You are just 24 and still young, wait untill u become a parent. You can ban me on nairaland, it won't matter. I have been reading your post and you are allowing the so-called education affect your thinking.
As for me, he may choose whatever religion he likes but will only be wheb he/she has come of age and no longer under me.

Ha