Faith often gets bad publicity because extremists from vastly different religions make the top headlines when they commit heinous crimes. However, if you remove those outliers from the equation, there’s plenty of evidence to show that teaching your children to believe in and practice the teachings of a religion is a great way to enhance family unity and well-being. Research on the average family in the United States who regularly spend time in worship shows reduced numbers of infidelity, abuse, and divorce. Surveys also show that religious families tend to report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction than secular families.
If you want to give your kids the chance to be religious, you could simply expose them to your own practices and beliefs. However, there’s another way to present religious beliefs, allow your child to develop their own faith, and strengthen the bonds within your family. Look at these tips for helping your children “find religion.”
1. Respect Others’ Beliefs
You may not be religious, while your parents are very religious. Maybe your husband practices a Christian religion while you adhere to the principles of Judaism. Help your children understand that the people they love have different beliefs, much as they have different favorites in food and recreation. When you establish a framework of tolerance and respect, you and your children (and other loved ones) are more prepared to learn from each other.
2. Learn About Religions Together
You could set aside time to attend religious services together, and if you do so you may learn a lot and make many new friends. If you don’t want to devote this much time, consider choosing books from the library for research. Learn the background of religious holidays and celebrate them as they come up. Talk about religions based on their historic and traditional contexts. Even if your family has embraced one belief system, learning about other religions is a wonderful way to expand your views.
3. Keep Conversations Positive and Stress-Free
As children approach their teens, it’s fairly common for them to have questions about why parents believe as they do. Even if you expect your children to believe as you do and conform to your religious standards, there are benefits to fostering safe conversations. Prepare to share your beliefs and open your heart to explain why you believe as you do. Knowing about a specific religion isn’t the same as understanding how an individual believes and practices. As your children become comfortable to discuss religion with you, they are more likely to trust you with other areas of concern in their lives.
4. Embrace the Good
Whether you’re learning stories from Islam, ancient Greece, and the Old Testament or focusing on solely on the Bible, incorporate some history and tell the stories with emotion and excitement. Imagine how it would have been to hear Balaam’s donkey or how do you suppose Abraham felt when he took Isaac up the mountain. Remember children learn better when they are emotionally involved.
5. Teach Your Child to Choose
It’s okay to teach your children to believe as you do. It’s also okay to allow them to discover truth for themselves. Establish an environment of guidance and exploration. Set up safe, comfortable places in your home for the practice of religion. Participate in religious communities where research and discussions are valued, such as The Way International. Talk about how your own beliefs strengthen you or discuss your own questions and how you’ve found answers. Most of the time, children embrace their parents’ beliefs in the end, but some children choose beliefs other than their parents’. How do you plan to act if this happens in your family?
Many religions have a principle of treating others as you’d like to be treated. This should guide parents’ dealings with their own children. Be respectful and safe. Ultimately, the study and practice of religion should lead to positive actions and feelings of love for each other.
