Religion & Children

Written by Anvi Sharma

There are many considerations that need to be made when raising a child, and religion is one of them. Now, religion is a touchy subject amongst many, but there are many things that need to be addressed in regards to what religious beliefs you will be bringing into your child’s life. It’s not just about personal beliefs, there are also years and years of tradition, culture and family preferences that can sometimes make it an issue for couples. Perhaps you and partner are both of the same religion, of different faiths, or maybe one of you believes in spirituality whilst the other doesn’t. Each scenario beings up different questions that must be discussed beforehand, and leaving it till later is perhaps not the best idea.

There are lots of discussions you must have with your partner, your family and even yourself when you’re having a child. The last thing you want is for problems to arise later on, so it’s best to be upfront and consider all possible issues that could occur. In regards to religion, you firstly have to consider how much of a role it plays in your life. If you’re someone who is a strong believer of your particular faith, whether that be Christianity, Hinduism or any other religion, it’s understandable for you to want to pass down these beliefs to your child. It’s a good idea in this case to learn as much as you can, and be ready to answer any questions your child may have when the time comes. It’s alright if you don’t know any answers, but if you’re choosing for them to grow up in a religious household, it’s important that they understand why, and are not confused by any concepts of beliefs. It’s also a good idea to make learning about religious ideas fun and interesting, especially when the child is still young. At the same time, it’s also important to consider your partner’s feelings in this. If they’re indifferent about religion they may leave it up to you entirely.

However, if your partner practices a different religion to you, there are some obvious questions you both may need to consider, such as whether you’re going to enforce both sides upon your child, or just one. Interfaith marriages are extremely common around the world, especially in multicultural countries such as Australia, and therefore raising a child comes with the question of being single-faith to avoid confusion, or celebrating both religions. In fact, a 2009 study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life suggests that interfaith families promote diversity, transparency about difference and promotes unity. You and your partner need to discuss and arrange a balance between the two, and who will be involved in what aspects of any religious teachings.

When your child is old enough to make their own choices, they may choose to follow in your footsteps and practice your religion as they have been taught and shown. On the other hand, many may feel as if they cannot relate, or simply do not believe in the same ideologies as you and that is also perfectly okay. There’s always the danger of forcing beliefs upon your child that they do not believe in, or don’t fully understand. You can only do so much to try and interest your child and make them understand your beliefs and values, however, it’s also important to respect their choices.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are also many atheists or agnostics who may not want to raise their child without any particular religious beliefs. Some parents like to talk to their children about ways of dealing with issues or distress that don’t rely on faith and religion. If you’re neither here nor there, you should try and explain your personal beliefs to your child and let them make their own decision when they are old enough to. At the end of the day, it’s important to have an open mind as well and if your child needs a religion or some form of spirituality to lean on or need it to explain certain things, then you should learn to be okay with that as well.