Why Non-religious Parents Choose Religion for their Children

Wow - this article grabbed my attention because I think this is so prevalent in our area! Many of our youth drag their parents to church - I've met them, sat next to them, listened to them tell me it's great for their children, just not for them. It has always made me wonder what is so attractional for them that they would choose "religion" for their children, yet remain completely indifferent to it. If you've ever wondered, read this!

Over the years, says Khan, she's seen religious community serve several of her friends -- mostly Jewish -- with its sense of shared history, support and belonging. "We no longer live among extended families and extended communities," she says Khan, 42, who is legal director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. And, she notes, "there really aren't intergenerational institutions that offer quite what religion does in our society."

Khan also believes that spirituality -- with its sense of purpose and meaning -- is key to her children's emotional well-being. And she's convinced it would be a lot tougher for them to develop spirituality without the structure and guidance that religion offers.

This is not to say that these parents are choosing Christianity - they are not most of the time. But there are some who do and I think it's important to understand what it is about certain religions that they hope to instill in their children that they do not deem as important for themselves. Very interesting read!

EDIT: They just posted this Q&A - I couldn't stop reading it - I'm really surprised but it's really interesting, along the same lines as the article above. Things that make you go Hmmm...