[babydawn]

I find it very important to raise my children with a religious background. Religion teaches children strong values and morals and gives kids a meaning for life. Churches often gets kids involved in the community and doing service projects. Helping them to realize that we must help our fellow man. I love my church and the strong faith we show in our Savior, Jesus Christ and his teachings. I strongly hope that once my children are grown that they will continue down the path that I have been trying so hard to teach them. I think that any child would benefit from being activily raised in a church. Does anyone else share my views?

[beth]

Hi Babydawn, I share your view on this subject. When my firstborn reached school age, we had a choice between sending her to the local state school (which had an excellent reputation) and a smaller christian school. We are an academic family, so it was tempting to send her to the highly regarded state school, but we opted for the smaller one with the christian message. As we were irregular church-goers, sending her there was even more important. We just felt that to be exposed to the ideals of christianity would be a good thing, and that even if she chose to not be heavily into it, the seed had been sown for future times. My own personal opinion is that you should actually know something about what it is that you are rejecting, before you go ahead and reject it! We have never regretted sending her there, and she has been very happy there, both personally and academically.

[jgreene]

I agree that a religious foundation is important for a child. I was raised Episcopalian and studied religion in college. I question religious issues a lot more now in a way, but I also accept the comfort of their mystery, if that makes any sense. On a practical level, religion can provide support in a number of ways. Giving your child a community of loving and accepting people striving for better things (through church) can only be a good thing. However, I don't approve when the teachings become too dogmatic and exclude or judge others.

[FarrisMom2]

Me and my husband both share your views. We are members at a wonderful Baptist church. My daughter , who is 7, is so involved in church. She is always inviting her friends and going to everything that they have. I feel she is a stronger person even at 7 just from going to church. Having the Lord with her at all time and leading her through out the day is very helpful to me. I know that I have raised her the right way and I know that she makes the best decisions for herself.
Being a Christian family is the best thing in our lives and it makes me feel wonderful when both of my childern ask about going to church for certin things and telling all that they have learned.

[aura]

I have to agree with all of you here, raising our kids with a strong sense of God is important! Satan wants our kids and it is up to us to plant the seed of God in them early and help it to grow. For me, I was raised Luthern, and upon turning 18 I bolted from the church and strayed, let me tell you, it doesn't take long to get lost, but I do believe it was that "seed" that my parents intilled in me that got me through, I know God was there and when I was ready to get away from the drugs and all that, he is what pulled me out and put me back on track. He sent me my wonderful Christian husband, my beautiful daughter and turned my life around. I am now a Christian who prays daily with my husband and child, as well as by myself, and I know that no matter what happens, God has it all covered, it's his plan. The hardest thing for me to learn was to give things to God to deal with and stop taking them back. We faced some scary times after we were married, my husband almost died, our daughter was only a month old at the time and we had been married less than a year. I wouldn't have made it if not for my faith and the grace of God. If I ever had any doubts, I didn't after that, I want my daughter to have that same knowledge, that no matter what, God loves her and he is there! I hope that all made sense! God bless all of you and your families! Aura

[aura]

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that I have also been drug free for four years and not one craving! God really does work miracles in our lives if we let him and believe! Aura

[mcmama]

Yes, a church is a wonderful foundation for raising children. Some are better than others. My kids have had opportunities in church to develop their leadership, their prayer life, and know that people who are radically different from us are close friends.
Our church actually got us an apartment on their property when my nut case ex husband set the house on fire. While we were in this temporary housing, my kids got to look upon God's house as our own!

[FarrisMom2]

Yes, church is a wonderful foundation. It has made my family grow so much closer. My daughter has grown closer to God in just the past year. This past Sunday she finished her book that has about 25 bible verse to memorize. We are so proud of her.

[hockeymom]

I agree that a good religious foundation is important, however growing up I was never introduced to the church by my parents. We had a little neighborhood church that I went to on occassion with a neighborhood family...I would come home all excited and wanting to discuss what I learned at church with my parents, who didn't mind that I went to church, but just didn't want me coming home and discussing it. Needless to say that didn't keep my spark for the Lord light very long. As a child you always want your parents approval and think they know what is right. Thank God, I once again saw the light and realized my childhood experience without the Lord was not the way for me. No matter when you find the Lord...it's never too late. God Bless you for wanting to introduce your children to the Lord early in their lives and support their spritual growth.

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by babydawn

I think that any child would benefit from being activily raised in a church. Does anyone else share my views?

I agree completely. Like Hockeymom, religion was never encouraged by my parents. When my grandmother died (I was 12), we completely stopped going to church at all. Even as an adult, when I was attending a Catholic college, my mother was concerned that I might go back to the Catholic Church.

Since the birth of my son, I have found myself feeling much closer to God than I have ever been. He is a very real part of every day for me now. I am also very lucky to have a dear friend that I can talk to who is very religious.

In fact, we were talking about children & religion just last week and she described how she saw her father kneel before bed every night and say his prayers. He was a doctor and very intelligent, so she grew up thinking that if somebody who is so smart prays, there must be something to it.

As for my family, they believe they are to intelligent to concern themselves with matters of religion.

As for me, I believe I have come too far and done too much to have done it all alone. Even when I didn't think about him every day, God was there, getting me through it all. Now, I listen to a Christian radio station whenever I am in my car because I like the positive message. I hold my 13-month-old son's hands before bed and say a prayer with him every night. I also say a prayer of thanks and blessing before meals. I have been without hope; I have been without faith; and I have been without food.

By teaching my son about God and faith and what is good in religion, I won't be able to spare him from going through trials in life, but I can instill a sense of faith that will carry him through them. Faith is right up there on the list of childrens' needs with food, shelter and love. A child with faith can do anything!