How would you react?

[Living For Love]

Questions for atheists/agnostics:
How would you react if your son or daughter told you they believed in God or had been converted to any religion? Would you support it? Would you punish it?

Questions for religious people:
How would you react if your son or daughter told you they had been converted to a religion different from yours? Would you support it? Would you punish it?

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In my case (I'm a Christian), if I had a daughter and if one day she told me she wanted to become a Muslim, I'd try to have a reasonable discussion with her by showing her why I am a Christian and not anything else. If she still wanted to become a Muslim, I would obviously respect and accept it and pray for her nevertheless.

[yeehaw]

Questions for atheists/agnostics:
How would you react if your son or daughter told you they believed in God or had been converted to any religion? Would you support it? Would you punish it?

I find it laughable that I'd ever have kids, but if that was the case I would accept their beliefs entirely and aid their decisions where possible. I would check first that they're sure with their decision especially if it's a drastic choice they are making.

edit: this is most likely because I wasn't raised in a religious family whatsoever, and I was kind of free to believe whatever I wanted to believe so I would allow the same kind of freedom on my child.

[Just JT]

I don’t think I’d be happy about my kids leaving the faith I raised them in. They’d basically be telling me they don’t believe in the same basic values I tried to raise them with. Although that may not be true, that’s how I’d feel.

I’d have a conversation about it with them and make sure (for myself) that they’ve made their decision on well informed principals and that this is what THEY want, not what someone else wants of them.

And if it’s something they’ve decided under their own free will and truelly believe in what they are doing, how Can I pass judgement On them for something they believe in. It’s not like you can change how you believe in a religion or any fact for that matter.

And yes I’d support their decision, I’d want them in my life. And if I didn’t. We’d probably all lose out

[Babs]

I would want my kids to do and believe what's right and I don't believe any religion is right, so I would be a little disappointed. But at the end of the day I can't tell them what to do so why make a fuss out of it if they aren't hurting anybody.

[ShineintheDark]

I come from a fairly religious family but aren't that religious myyself. Therefore, I;d probably be pretty chill with any child I have having a faith since, at the end of the day, just as I genuinely couldn't feel faith in my heart, I can't judge or be annoyed at them for having it.

[Valentine_]

My family never really pushed religion on me and the only really religious person in my family is grandma and she doesn't care that much either. I was baptised and got other Christian sacraments just because it's kind of tradition here but I'm not religious at all. I would probably do the same with my kids but I wouldn't in any way push religion on them. To be complitely honest I'm not sure if I would be like whatever if they settled for some other religion but wouldn't be a big deal either.

[Sailor Mars]

I was not raised religious like I know my grandparents were, so I was never pushed to follow a religion or a faith. My dad is one of those people that call religious followers weirdos and crazies, and being kind of religious myself now, it’s hurtful. It’s a shame to see people being not accepting or tolerant to those who think differently from them.

If I had kids and I raised them Roman pagan, which I don’t think I will, and they decided to convert to another religion, I would talk with them first. I would see why they want to convert and why they don’t feel comfortable identifying as the same faith as me. If they decide to be serious with following another faith, I would be accepting of it. I wouldn’t judge and I would make them feel comfortable with their faith. Same thing if I raised them atheist/not faithful and they decided to be religious afterwards. It’s not a problem. They are their own person with their own beliefs and opinions. I am not judging anyone for their faith, most of all my kids.

[mattsmith48]

I strong believe that religion should be kept away from children, especially the three big ones Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and when they are old enough to make that decision if they wish to join a religion. Personally if my child would want to join a religion, I would tell them why that religion is bad in a non-bias way, if after that they would still want to join that religion while accepting the negative part of it all you can do is accept it. I would just hope its a fun one like Mormonism.

[Lost in the Echo]

I’m agnostic so I wouldn’t really give a fuck tbh. If I ever have kids I’d want them to feel comfortable talking to me about anything and just being open.
But then again, I’m as non religious as it gets. So it’s whatever.

[Just JT]

I strong believe that religion should be kept away from children, especially the three big ones Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and when they are old enough to make that decision if they wish to join a religion. Personally if my child would want to join a religion, I would tell them why that religion is bad in a non-bias way, if after that they would still want to join that religion while accepting the negative part of it all you can do is accept it. I would just hope its a fun one like Mormonism.

This actually makes some sense to me. I’ve windered sometimes how it’s ok that parents like choose the religion for the children just cause they are born into it or the parents decide to raise the child in this or that religion.

Seems to me it makes more sense to provide the information to make an educated decision at an appropriate age, and let them decide for themselves

[Dalcourt]

I wasn't raised religious and nobody ever wanted me to followcertain beliefs.
I was free in my decision what to believe and I follow a different religion than my father does. He was so allowed to freely choose what he wants to believe in by his Mom...so in my family we were allowed to decide which religion we follow. So if the highly unrealistic case that I have children happens, my kids would of course have the freedom to decide what they believe in and I would of course accept it.

[Adarest]

I would let the child believe whichever religion they wanted to believe in, since I grew up learning to believe what was most comfortable for me, which means I don't believe in a god. The child doesn't have to follow my own reasons, but if they think believing in something helps them feel better about the world, I would let them. They made the choice to be that way, so let them. :)

[Max the Disenchanter]

i would send my kid to science camp lol

[Living For Love]

i would send my kid to science camp lol
That reminded me how some parents send kids to religious conversion camps after they tell them they're gay lmao xD

[Elysium]

If my child told me that they were religious in any regard, I would absolutely support it and do whatever they needed or wanted me to do without compromising my own values. I probably wouldn't be thrilled if my kid wasn't Jewish (like me), but that's not my decision to make for them.

[Falcons_11]

It wouldn't bother me in the least if my kids decide to join (or not to join) any religion or church. They should have the right to decide what they believe (or not believe) when it comes to any religion or belief.

[crazyjazy02]

I would accept their wishes. All my best friends are from different faiths, and that hasn't changed our friendship. It's given each other an insight into each others beliefs. So, if my son told me he wasn't atheist, then I wouldn't mind whatever.

[Lillynet]

well if my child choose another religion than mine its fre to do it just iwant him to be carefull though :o

[mick01]

Questions for atheists/agnostics:
How would you react if your son or daughter told you they believed in God or had been converted to any religion? Would you support it? Would you punish it?

I'd be proud that my kid was able to make a decision like this on his/her own. And if he/she believed that strongly, I would support him or her as long as those beliefs were not pushed onto me.

[Nikki_1]

I think everyone has to find their own religion, the difficulty is finding the right one!
Finding the true religion can be hard because its not what YOU want but what GOD wants that matters!

[NewLeafsFan]

As a semi-religious person I admit that I would be disappointed. However I would realize that it isn't my decision and would try to be supportive.

[andrea03]

it's a phase lol

[Fritz]

Suppose there isnt really much you could do

[TheMagicPotato]

Yeah, well, IMO it's better to support them.

I mean, It's their life, their decisions, I can't do anything about it.

[NeonBlueButterfly]

As someone who has had religion forced down her throat every day, I can't see how attempting to force anyone (related or not) to conform to your belief system can end well. I can act the part, and I do every day, but someday, I will be free to be the real me, and it's likely that will be the last day I speak to my parents.

It seems like life in a family would be so much easier if everyone just acknowledged that religion is one of those individual things that everyone needs to decide for themselves.

[Tim the Enchanter]

I don't know how I would react.

[Turbofan explosion]

I probably will ignore it. I am not religious, so I probably won't care.

[Stronk Serb]

If my child wanted to convert to Islam, I would sit down and explain how our ancestors fought and died to keep us free from forced Islamic conversion and to let us profess our own faith without and opression.

Honestly, whichever religion is okay, but if my child wanted to embrace Islam, I would be worried. I would still love my child, but highly dislike that decision.

[rohancool]

As an atheist I wouldn't mind if child is religious or not. All I care about is giving him/her all possible knowledge and guidance to make an informed decision.