PARENTS of Teens and tweens
9yo suddenly interested in religion?
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Posted 02-27-24
Starting this off let me say I grew up a church kid. Choir, jr usher, all the activities we were there. But as I grew up I stopped going to church (circumstances with my mom and the bridges she burned, just wasn’t comfortable going anymore) and since having my own kids I haven’t been. I’m not super religious and have tailored religion and spirituality to my individual beliefs/ preferences. My boys have never been to church and we don’t really talk about God. My 9yo has a new best friends he’s been spending a lot of time with who does go to church on the regular. Lately I’ve noticed him looking at YouTube videos about heaven and hell, Jesus, God and the devil. In his gratitude journal this past Friday he wrote that he’s grateful for God. How do I address his sudden interest in the topic? I don’t want everything he learns to be from YouTube because some of those videos say outrageous things just for likes. I don’t want to preach what I grew up learning as a kid because I know now it’s not that black and white, but I’m not sure how to approach it with him.
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12 comments
Posted 02-27-24If you are interested, you can talk about what others believe. The basic fact that not everyone believes the same thing is a good first step.
Posted 02-28-24My husband and I are not religious but my daughter’s BFF is. She went to church with her friend every week until she decided she didn’t want to any more. Maybe your son’s friend would be willing to take your son to see what it’s all about?- For the sake of what if, let's say Gods plan of salvation is real. Accepting Jesus as your Savior is the way to get to Heaven would you be upset in the end of your son believed? Probably not is my guess. If it isn't real then what harm does it cause to believe in something that gives you strength and maybe a moral compass? You don't have to believe for your son to seek out a relationship with God. However what if this is God's plan to bring you back to him? I would want to go to church with my child so that we could discuss any questions that come up. Also some churches are great and others unfortunately not so much. It's how they deliver the message. I am a liberal and dislike Trump. I had a hard time reconciling Christians and their acting like Trump is the 2nd coming. However I found a church that is very neutral and doesn't push a political agenda. That was a good fit for me.Advertisement | page continues below
- Last edited 02-28-24The existence of God’s plan of salvation would require many additional things - That there is a form of eternal life or soul, that the form of that eternal life has a better version and a worse version, that there is a God that chooses which version a person will experience, and that God is persuadable. And that is without even getting into the specifics of how such a God could be persuaded, and if the default is the better or worse option. I would suggest that any and all of those beliefs would have a substantial impact on a person. And I could argue both good and bad effects as a result. One very interesting effect of a belief in eternal life is that a time-limited life must necessarily pale in comparison and of course this is how people are convinced to for example become suicide bombers but also probably plays a role in people sacrificing themselves for genuine good. But that’s like an extreme and obvious case. There is plenty of room for nuance and complexity and everything that falls between heroism and terrorism.
Posted 02-28-24Lucky312 said:For the sake of what if, let's say Gods plan of salvation is real. Acc…Nope. If I believe something is harmful for my young child, I’m not encouraging them to do it “just in case I’m wrong”. Re: If it isn't real then what harm does it cause to believe in something that gives you strength and maybe a moral compass? It’s absolutely wrong to encourage my children to believe things that I suspect aren’t true. There are lots of ways to develop a “moral compass” and Christianity isn’t necessarily indicative of the “moral compass” I want my kids to have. OP, I’d talk with your DS. Tell him you’ve noticed what he’s been looking at on YouTube. Offer to help him find resources on religion and different belief systems, not just Christianity. Go to the library or research together online. But I’d make sure he understands that Christianity is just a handful out of many different belief systems.- wyngirl'smom said:Nope. If I believe something is harmful for my young child, I’m not e…Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that you child may learn about God and decide for themselves. You think God is harmful to your child? Christians may say the opposite. It's harmful not to believe because one day when you die you won't get to Heaven. There are definitely different sides to harmful. I could sit here and tell you for certain that I believe because I have felt the presence of God. I know things in my life would not have occurred if he had not saved me. However I won't because you probably couldn't understand without having experience yourself. Good luck on your journey.
- Last edited 02-28-24Lucky312 said:Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that you child may learn a…Not that you’ve asked, but we’re a multi-faith (Non-Christian) household. Our children have been encouraged to explore and discover whatever belief systems they feel fit. But I do believe being exposed to Christianity at age 9 without guidance and exposure to other belief systems is harmful. But none of that was my point. My *point* was that IF I believed something might be harmful or even just neutral for my child, it would be asinine to encourage it *just in case I was wrong*. And my point is that Christianity isn’t the only way to find a “moral compass” and that it’s insulting to imply otherwise. And, FTR: “god” isn’t limited to Christianity.
- Posted 02-28-24Lucky312 said:Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that you child may learn a…And do you teach your child about atheism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, just in case you are wrong?
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