Do you believe that parents should allow their children to choose their own beliefs, regardless of what they (the parents) would prefer they do?

I think parents should start them out bringing them up in their own beliefs, and then when the kids get older they can decide for themselves, as a lot of them do. Religion is a very confusing thing to get into, especially for a kid whose parents don't offer any advice or information. You wouldn't just throw a kid into deciding for himself what he wants to wear or what he wants to eat, you'd have to teach him what's appropriate, what's healthy, what's good for him, etc., and keep on for a few years before he becomes old enough and trained enough that he knows how to make the decisions for himself, so why not this too?

To a point. My son and I have been having repeated discussions about God. My son does not believe that He exists and I struggle with that and have told him that I feel he is too young and too inexperienced with life to make that determination so young. It is a struggle for me not to belittle his sentiments on the matter. But I try. I also let him know that I feel he will eventually see my side.

I think it is ok for kids to have their own beliefs but when it is a huge difference such as matters related to religion, both sides need to hear each other out.

My 22 year old step daughter has very different political views compared to me, and that's fine. It never stirs up any negativity. One thing we have butted heads on is how differently we view the public school system. Even after graduating with an education degree, she still thinks that bigger city schools are entirely inferior to small town schools. That bugs me a lot because she had that thought put in her head by her mom years ago, and it never left. And I think that had she been allowed more independent thinking on the matter back in the day, she wouldn't be so closed minded about it now. But, I think her mom was afraid that if she ever saw the appeal to big city schooling, she would opt to move in with us. So, from a young age, she was taught how "unsafe" big city schools are.

I think it should definitely be encouraged for children to think for themselves. But realistically, you're not going to let your 10 yr old choose to be a Muslim and you're a Christian.

Shale wrote:

I was made to accompany the family to church on Sundays, even as a young teen. But my beliefs by mid teens was skepticism and atheism. I later toned down to agnostic. So, my beliefs were (are) different than most of my family and it started at a young age.

I wouldn't try to force a religion on a teenager - by that age they are into forming their own philosophy and should be free to do so.

But a teen may or may not be informed enough to make an informed opinion.

When my kids are out on their own, what they believe is their responsibility. As long as they are under my care, my job as a parent is at least partially to instruct them in such matters, to the best of my ability. It's not my job as a parent to let my kid do whatever he wants.

Chris wrote:

Do you believe that parents should allow their children to choose their own beliefs, regardless of what they (the parents) would prefer they do?

Yes, absolutely. Children, from an early age, should be encouraged to think for themselves and develop their own minds and opinions. Just because children are little munchkins doesn't mean they don't have the right to form their own opinions and thoughts.