Tips to Having Religious Conversations with Your Kids
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Although secularism is popular, it does not mean that people should not know their religion enough. Parents must ensure that their kids understand religion because it makes them kind, happy, and tolerant. But the education must happen subtly, without the intention of imposing your belief on your kids. They must have the freedom to choose what to believe without the intervention of parents. Religious conversations make an excellent measure to break the ice and raise compassionate and conscious children. Here are some actionable tips to make these conversations comfortable and meaningful.
Provide exposure to many religions
A good religious education does not confine learners to a single religion, and neither does it insist on following it. You must provide exposure to many religions from a historical and cultural perspective. Start by educating yourself about different ones to have knowledgeable conversations with your children. You can read books and research online to gather enough information to answer questions and discuss the teachings. Religious literacy is the best gift you can bequeath to your kids..
Avoid creating anxiety over religion
Although religion is a part of life, it should not create anxiety. Talk about God being a part of human existence, history, culture, language, and architecture. Following His Word should not be pressure, but a choice. Let your kids make an easy transition into the process of believing in God instead of setting deadlines and forcing them to do it. Anxiety only pushes them further from religion, so keep it out of the conversations.
Involve an expert
Not all conversations about religion need to happen between parents and kids. You can involve an expert if explaining a concept sounds challenging. For example, a church leader can help with the discipleship of your child. Look for someone with church leadership training because they know exactly how to convince newbies about the existence of God. A disciple-maker can be the catalyst to make your conversations more meaningful and give your kid a start on the road to faith.
Be honest about your beliefs
The last thing you should do during religious discussions is skip questions about your beliefs and thoughts. It may happen when you and your partner do not follow the same religion. But concealing the truth only sends the wrong message that religion is an intimidating subject. Moreover, your kids will know your truth sooner or later. Being honest about your beliefs shows comfort and pride, and your kids will imbibe the same thoughts.
Give your child the power to choose
Besides taking pride in your religious beliefs, you must also give your child the power to choose for themselves. Convey it openly in your conversations because the freedom to make their own decisions fosters confidence in children. You can guide them and teach them ethics and morals, but the final choice should always be theirs. Also, let them know that they are free to change their minds down the line. Having parental support takes kids a long way, so be there for them.
Religious conversations with kids should be open, honest, and comfortable. Give your children the room to experiment and find their picks. Be there to guide them and make confident choices, but never try to influence them with your words.
