RELiGiON??

manduhh: RELiGiON??
are teenagers[like 14 years old] allowed to choose their own religion?
Like, my parents are Catholic, and they want me to make my conformation. But I dont want to be Catholic, and I dont want to lie to an entire church.

Are there any laws saying that I can choose my own religion, even if my parents are agianst it?
I talked to my parents and they said that I dont have ANY rights until I am 18.

They also said that once I make my conformation that I can go to any church I want. But dosnt that defeat the purpose?

Answers and Views:

Answer by rdw246
I’m 14 and I’m going to believe whatever I want to believe. Form your own opinions/thoughts.

Answer by J.P.
No.

However, technically, a forced participation in a sacrament invalidates it. Unless you are ready and willing to participate, your parents use of force invalidates it.

Speak with your priest about this. Tell him you simply are not ready to be confirmed. Point out that if it is done against your will, it’s sacramentally invalid anyways.

Answer by kent_shakespear
you’re allowed to… if you allow yourself. but if you choose against your parents’ wishes, you must be prepared for the consequences.

I would tell your priest that you do not feel ready to take confirmation, and that you do not want to lie. with his help, maybe you can buy time.

laws in western society do not force you to accept or choose any religion.

Answer by Comrade Abdul Hassan
Your religion is a personal, internal choice. Your parents have no jurisdiction over it, and the law has even less.

I opted out of my parents’ religion when I was 11 or younger. You’re free to believe whatever you want. Religious coercion is illegal in most countries, but there’s a grey area with parents and children.

If I were you, I’d remind your parents that according to their own beliefs, lying in a promise to God is a sin, and so is their forcing you to lie.

Answer by Nightwind
Parents are legally in control of your religious upbringing until you are 18 years old. My suggestion is to tell them the truth – you’re not ready to be confirmed and do not want to lie to the congregation. If they still press you, tell your priest the same thing.

Answer by 4HIM
Children must obey and honor their parents especially when the parents are trying to follow God and love their child. However, all religion, other than the Jewish religion, which was created by God, is made by man and is man’s attempt to please their gods and control other people .All religions have rules, rituals and laws to follow. Every religion believes that they have the answers for redemption. The answer for redemption through religion, lies within man’s ability to perfectly follow it’s teachings which man can not do. Jesus is the only one who followed religion perfectly.

Jesus is God’s way to reach down to mankind with love, forgiveness, acceptance and grace. Jesus is not a religion. He is God and He is the way for man to have fellowship with God.

When we come to Jesus, we are full of the original sin nature and the sins that we have committed. He cleanses us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior and repent of those sins.

Our redemption and salvation results from Jesus’ willful and sacrificial death on the cross to take our place for our sin nature and our sins. He is the only atonement possible because He is without sin. Jesus does it for us because we are incapable of following any religion perfectly or being good enough. He did follow the law perfectly.

Coming to Jesus, not religion, is what God requires for us to become forgiven, sanctified, and have the personal relationship with God that He intended from the start. Jesus is the only way to God.

Answer by (Heretic’s a Nerd)
The law protects each and every person’s right to worship as they see fit. However, since you are a minor and living at home, you are pretty much at the mercy of your parents. Its not really an issue of the law, but an issue of understanding and compromise between you and them.

You can try talking to them, but make sure you can adequately explain why you don’t want to be catholic. Since you are young, they might think you’re going through a phase and insist you go through with it anyway. If you’re able to provide good, solid reasons why you don’t agree with catholicism, they might take you seriously.

At the very worst, you’ll have to “go through the motions” until you’re old enough to move out. You can probably raise hell until your parents give in, but do you really want your home life to be like that?

Answer by starfishltd
I gave JP a thumbs up because he’s right. But I disagree with a number of Catholic beliefs so I’d also encourage you to take the Bible, study it, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Answer by jesus_theonlywaytolife
lol… it’s freedom of religion in this country. And your parents can’t control what you believe.

(Edit)
Oooo… but they can force you to attend a Catholic church… I guess the best thing you can do is talk to them…

Answer by cheir
Tricky situation. There is considerable pressure from the Roman Church heirarchy for parents have their children brought up in the Roman religion. You can dig your heels in and just say no. The other course of action is to get the church itself to reject you. To do this you would have to see the priest and reject the traditions and beliefs of the Roman church – assuming you know them in detail and you know the Protestant arguments against the Roman Church.