Raise Your Child to Respect Religion Without Picking One Until They're Older

It is certainly important in today's society to raise a child that is mindful of various beliefs. Here are a few steps to start you in the right direction if you wish to raise your child in such a way as to come to his or her own decision about which religion to follow when that child is old enough to do so.

Steps

 * 1)  Come to an agreement together, as parents, regarding this decision as to how religion will be pursued in the family. This ideally should be done before the baby is born.
 * 2)  Speak with your families regarding your decision and ask that they abide by your rules.  This can be difficult should you have very observant families, if you choose to proceed differently from the path they follow.  Sometimes a firm hand must be used for the spiritual well-being of your child.
 * 3)  Expose your child to different religions at frequent intervals. This could take the form of attending a different temple or church each week, or choosing three or four options and switching among them while the child is young. Also borrow books from the library -- or buy them, making them a permanent part of your home collection -- that discuss different world religions and teach them about the different celebrations, rituals and beliefs. Joseph Gaer's "What the Great Religions Believe" is a good introduction.
 * 4)  Do extensive research on any child care facility  before allowing your child to attend. Be sure that your religious wishes will not be interfered with.
 * 5) Let your child know about the decision you've made regarding  spiritual life and let your child know, too, that you are open to religious discussion and different interpretations of religion.
 * 6)  Answer any and all questions in an age appropriate manner.
 * 7)  Preface your comments with "Well, some people believe". This will help you to avoid swaying your children to any one religion.
 * 8)  Trust that your child will respond to your openness and truthful approach. Children are lie-sensitive and spot inconsistencies quickly. Say that you don't know when you do not. Also be clear as the child grows older that if you choose to send your child to a religious school, that you are letting them experience that religion but that ultimately the choice remains theirs. Be sure to talk openly as a family about the things that they are being taught and have frank discussions about your own beliefs and general beliefs in relation to what they are learning. This will let them know that they are truly free to make a decision.

Tips

 * Your child will be exposed to religion, whether you like it or not. Giving them an outlet  in order to answer questions and seek the truth of concepts may help.
 * Should other children fill your child's mind with overly religious notions, speak with their parents and/or the child care facility to nip this in the bud as soon as possible.
 * Educate your child in the many contradictions in the different religious dogmas (and in the ways that they agree) in order to dilute the effect of strong and biased evangelistic persuasion.
 * Continue to remind your child that he or she will have the opportunity when older to research and choose a religion that best suits, and that you are only attempting to keep the slate clean until such time as he or she can make an educated decision on matter of possible importance.

Warnings

 * Sadly, in some extreme cases, it may be necessary to cut off relations with certain non-tolerant families who believe that they see the world through the only acceptable viewpoint.

Related

 * How to Convert People to a New Religion
 * How to Deal With Your Own Death
 * How to Grow Spiritually