by Mr. Meaulnes on April 4th, 2007

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If a child is raised in a religious family and is conditioned from a young age to follow the doctrines of a religion, then can you really say that they have true faith and are following that religion's "God", or are they just following their upbringing?

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by PrettyPirate on April 4th, 2007
Personally, I think they are following their upbringing.

Most people do, eventually, start to learn things and question things of their own accord, and it's usually at that time that they look at the beliefs and beliefs system they have been immersed in, and either decide, for themselves, that that is the best and truest path for them, or they turn to something else that may or may not be more fulfilling and meaningful for them.
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- I agree...it's kinda like brainwashing.
  
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  by Psycho the kid on April 4th, 2007
- You are correct Pretty, it begins with following their upbringing. If they are explained the basis of the beliefs (if they are founded on the bible in a Christian home for example) they understand the reasoning and don't just do it because mom and dad do it. There always comes a time, usually in the late teens, when a person cannot help but analyze their belief system and decide for themselves whether to continue this course or not. If one truly wishes to find the truth, and what they are currently learning doesn't make sense, yet they continue... then they are following their upbringing and haven't made the faith their own.
  
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  by JAMMco... its complicated... on April 4th, 2007
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by AntigoneRising on April 4th, 2007
The answer to this question depends upon whether or not the child has looked at what he/she is taught and used critical thinking to objectively (as much as possible) evaluate what he/she has been taught and whether or not it is true.

In general, most children aren't following the religion so much as tradition (what they are taught). If you accept ideas and beliefs indiscriminately, then those ideas and beliefs are not really your own. You just happened to be at a certain time and place when they were handed out.
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- Exactly.
  If a person is presented with beliefs at a young age, when their ability to use critical thinking and percieve objectively is still beign shaped, then it would colour their whole perception for the rest of their lives.
  Basically making them much less likely to look at it objectively, if not incapable of it.
  
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  by Mr. Meaulnes on April 4th, 2007
- That is precisely why I am so adamant about not indoctrinating my (future) children into any religion.
  
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  by AntigoneRising on May 9th, 2007
- Quite an admirable policy, I'm sure you'll make a superb mother.
  
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  by Mr. Meaulnes on May 10th, 2007
- I hope so.
  
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  by AntigoneRising on May 10th, 2007
- Even if you don't indoctrinate children into religion, they will still follow traditions and customs you set forth. Like celebrating birthdays, or christmas, or even taking spring break is something they will remember and expect in the future. And honestly if you don't have a religious belief how or rather why would anyone expect you to even be able to teach children NOT to follow your example. So don't worry about being adamant, unless you are religious, but trying to persuade you children to be otherwise.
  
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  by hocobo on February 20th, 2008
- I agree with AR's plan for raising children. I am going to make sure they are aware of most religions/spiritual paths so that they are first tolerant and open to any ideas/cultures and then they are much more prepared to pick their own path when they are of a decent age to do so.
  As for celebrating Christmas, hocobo, they'll actually get a smorgasbord (spelling?) there, too, since I celebrate the Solstice, my family celebrates Christmas, (and who knows what my future spouse might celebrate). And even though I celebrate Yule, I still get together with my family for Christmas and kind of celebrate it in a more secularized way with them since I don't get to see them that often - although I ask them not to get me any gifts (unless they just want to give them to me four days earlier).
  
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  by hedge-rider on January 25th, 2009
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by Patti jo on April 4th, 2007
I think a little of both
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by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on May 9th, 2007
If the religion is not their cup of tea, they will rebel and leave in their teenage years.
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by bolilla on April 4th, 2007
hmmm ... very good question. maybe they just have true faith in their family, and that their family steers them in the right direction. or maybe, they really have found true faith. i think for them to have faith, they have to see that their is a choice. and they choose to be faithful. then, i see so many people, even my age, who only vote a certain way, because that's how their parents vote, and don't actually know a thing about politics (or won't bother to listen to the other side of the coin). i'm sure many people raise their children to both be faithful and open-minded (to realize that other people may not share their faith, but that doesn't make them wrong or ignorant either).
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- Parents have a lot of influence over how a child's mind and beliefs develope, if they indoctrinate them at a young age, then just seeing the choice doesn't garuntee an inpartial choice.
  
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  by Mr. Meaulnes on April 4th, 2007
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by theredbaron on May 9th, 2007
Consider this parallel hypothetical...if a child is raised in a heterosexual family and is conditioned from a young age to be heterosexual, then can you really say that they are truly straight, or are they just following their upbringing?

I would say that there are always those who follow blindly because that's how they were raised. Some, however, take a close look at themselves and make a conscious decision to break away from familial expectations in order to be true to themselves, while others adopt those expectations for the very same reasons. Sure, the basic influence is there, but individuals have the ability to step outside of that and make different decisions, otherwise there would be no cultural change ever -- we'd all blindly continue the status quo.
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Question

If a child is raised in a religious family and is conditioned from a young age to follow the doctrines of a religion, then can you really say that they have true faith and are following that religion's "God", or are they just following their upbringing?

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Question

If a child is raised in a religious family and is conditioned from a young age to follow the doctrines of a religion, then can you really say that they have true faith and are following that religion's "God", or are they just following their upbringing?

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