religious labeling

[phish]

What do you think about parents that say you are blank religion, when it just so happens that is the parents religion. You can't say you are a jewish(or any religion for that madder) child to a four year old they are much to young to know what they think. What's your take on this?

[redcar]

I think it ok. You get most of your traits from your parents, along with traditions. At that age they are in effect saying they are going to raise you as *Insert Religion* because I think it's fair to say a four year old doesn't really have a clue about it all. Until about early-mid teens, I believe, your parents are showing you a certain religious path to follow, then at that age you decide yourself if you want to keep going down it.

[Skeln]

Yeah, I agree it's ok for parents to have an affect of a childs religion. As Alex said, you inherit alot of things from your parents, and I believe that religion is included. Their's alot of things parents have their children do when the children don't know why they're doing it. It's just the way of life.

[Sage]

It doesn't bother me, so long as the parents don't absolutely burn their belief into the child's head. Indoctrination of that level just leaves them no hope of ever making up their own mind.

[phish]

It doesn't bother me, so long as the parents don't absolutely burn their belief into the child's head. Indoctrination of that level just leaves them no hope of ever making up their own mind.

No that is the point, parents go around saying you are a blank child and they are told they can't change that.

[dyslexiaa]

There's a point of maturity where people have to choice to analyze their beliefs and follow what they want. I'm not a Christian because my parents said I was or they forced me to, I chose it out of my own will. I embrace other beliefs and incorporate a lot of different things into my spirituality.

I kind of went off on a rant there, but there is a time when people have the freedom to change their beliefs. If you're a kid, you should be worrying about things besides what faith is right for you. To be honest, parents can do things that are a lot more damaging to a kid in their childhood other than take them to church.