Giving My Children a Choice to Believe: Will my children become blind followers

The question of indoctrination of children by way of religious upbringing has presented itself to me and struck a certain nerve. Mostly for the desire for clarity about this whole idea that a parent should give the children the choice to believe or not. Hopefully I can address this.

It is not a matter of belief. Belief in God is somewhat generic for many people and most of the people in this country do believe. It is religious practice that would inspire or give opportunity for authentic belief in a specific God. I have my children learn about God for the purpose that they receive teaching about morals, and about their purpose for living, and about who they are in this world. They currently learn that they are unique and special in the eyes of God, not just them but those around them that do not believe. They currently learn they have gifts which they need to discover. Those gifts are for serving others, including enemies. They currently learn to be humble, to avoid anger, and to pray for all people. The most important thing they learn is that God is the one who created them and that is why they they are special.

I don't think it is this teaching that people are against, it is the authority by which it is taught, God. One may say you can teach these things without God's authority and you can but all men and women have fallen short of these teachings and values. That is why God provides us an example in Christ and one that is without shortcomings. That is why it is authoritative. That is the reasoning. If one does not believe in God than of course they will have to find some authority on which to teach and it can be done but the foundation is shaky at its core.

So it is the authority of God and the existence of God as a concept, that is indoctrinating children into 'Blind Followers', not necessarily the tenets of the faith, which by no measure can be found disagreeable (besides political issues like abortion and homosexuality). I speak of the important laws of Christ about serving and loving others. This is what is taught to children. It is difficult to understand how the persons personal belief in the existence of a God, separate from there values that are agreeable, can be disagreeable. That belief can only affect the atheist in a positive way if the believer is authentic (as a human relationship). Most Christians are not out proselytizing to their atheist friends but simply interacting. What is so disagreeable.

I respect the Jew, the Buddhist, and the Muslim who abdicates his own moral authority to something greater than he. He recognizes he has little according to his own record. This requires humility which is not a natural strength, to grant the authority to God. I am a believer in the Christ and believe He is the way but deeply respect those who humbly seek a guild for their children for them to become descent people. This is honorable and can almost be separated for the belief issue. The belief in God, however the Atheist thinks about it and whatever they find offensive in with the message of salvation, they must recognize that the belief in Heaven and the teachings of Christ precludes a heart that has harmful intentions. It produces only goodness and hope in all ways toward the Atheist. If this were not so, the man or woman is not a true believer (Not as if the heart of a christian is flawless and perfect but if it were not for Christ in there that heart would be less along the way toward this perfection).

There is a void that is found in all people and that is the longing for eternal happiness or love.
In this world it has been shown to be somewhat of an illusion that takes constant work and persistence. The evidence is in how many love songs are written and how many of the love song writers have followed through with their promise and hope for true love. Others put this hope in careers or passions or hobbies or education, which I think is a good thing but it will always fall short in filling that yearning. The yearning and hope is filled in the hearts of a true believer and only God knows who these folks are of.

The first question of whether my children are blind followers and are indoctrinated is answered by how they act in this world. The second question of giving them a choice is answered by looking at them experiencing both the secular world, which they must live in, and the spiritual and religious world that I have opened the door to. When they get older they will be able to make a objective choice seeing both sides. Some children never ever get to see inside that door. They sadly look through the foggy windows from the outside world or they ask a passerby.