Are there any benefits to raising a child in a religious household? It’s one of the longest-standing debates in the parenting community – and one that isn’t going away anytime soon – but let’s focus on the positives. Here are 15 reasons religion could be the best thing for your child’s future.
Religion Shows Children How To Become Better People
Growing up in a religious household teaches children what it means to be a good person – not just to themselves, but to their neighbors, community, and surrounding environment. It exposes them to all the good things that come to those who treat others with respect and dignity.
Through volunteer work, being there for others, blessing other believers at church, and praying for those who need it, children can learn the very essence of teamwork, collaboration, and unity – ultimately making them better people. Better yet, their positive attitude will reciprocate to those around them!
Religion Gives Children A Sense Of Purpose And Meaning
Childhood plays a critical role in development and brain architecture. Our experiences during this period help lay the foundation for who we are and what we stand for – a foundation that could be strengthened with a healthy and evolving relationship to a higher power.
With religion, children gain a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives – and it comes at a time when most children are still trying to figure out their true place in this world. As they grow older, this sense of direction helps steer them towards righteous people and positive energy.
Religion Teaches Children Good Virtues And Proper Conduct
Being introduced to religion early on helps children understand ‘good’ from ‘bad’ and ‘right’ from ‘wrong’ – but it also teaches them how (and most importantly, when) to forgive others for the ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ things they do. With a solid moral compass, children can thrive in any situation.
Of course, religion also teaches children how to respond to the circumstances happening all around them. With the right conduct and moral integrity – which is generally characterized by nonviolence, truth, never stealing, chastity, and nonattachment – children can keep themselves out of trouble and out of harm’s way.
Religion Helps Children Cope With Life Challenges
We’ve all gone through adolescence – and we all understand the struggles that come with it. It’s a vulnerable time for any child, and they’ll need to figure out how to cope with these challenges and obstacles if they want to overcome them. That’s where religion comes into play.
Children with a strong relationship with a higher power don’t feel like they’re going through life’s struggles alone. They always have someone to look up to, pray to, and turn to when things get complicated, which gives them the strength to keep pushing forward.
Religion Teaches Children How To Make Better Decisions
Children who grow up in a religious home are taught the importance of making the right choices in life – and it goes back to that moral compass that we were talking about earlier. Not only can they distinguish right from wrong, but their genuine desire to be a good person will always steer them in the right way.
It’s not just about wanting to be good, though – there’s also an element of wanting to avoid the bad. That’s because religion doesn’t just teach children the difference between right and wrong, but also the consequences of those wrong decisions – as well as the rewards for the good ones.
Religion Gives Children A Sense of Belonging In A Supportive Environment
Since children are still trying to find their way in this world, they often feel lost and confused as they continue to learn who they are and how the world works. With religion, children have a sense of belonging – a place where they can be themselves with like-minded individuals.
Not only that, but it exposes them to a positive, supportive, and caring environment that brings out the best in anyone. Whether they’re going to church, engaging in online discussions, or joining a summer camp, children will meet some of their best friends in these settings – friends for life!
Religion Helps Children Develop Empathy, Compassion, and Forgiveness
As your child learns the ways of their religion, they’ll grow to be more compassionate and empathetic towards the less fortunate – and those who need help, in general. They’ll learn the importance of putting themselves in other people’s shoes before judging and vilifying them.
Teaching children compassion and empathy is also important because it’s a lot of what this world is built on. If we don’t feel comfortable extending a helping hand – especially when it’s needed – then we would live in an ‘every man for themselves’ type of world, which isn’t a sustainable way to lie.
Religion Teaches Children How To Be More Successful In Life
Research has shown that children who grow up with a strong religious background are more likely to succeed in their education and career. They’re often more motivated, better equipped to handle the pressure of these situations, and have a strong support system to lean on.
Not only that, but research also suggests that children who grow up in religious households are more likely to avoid risky behaviors (drug use, crime) and bad influences (drug users, criminals). Instead, they turn their focus to their religion, their family, their community, and their future – the four things that matter most.
Religion Shows Children The Importance Of A Strong Work Ethic
Religion teaches children a lot of good traits that inspire them to work harder and reach higher – such as resilience, perseverance, and work ethic. It not only shows them what it takes to achieve their goals, but what it leads to – and how they’re rewarded for their time, energy, and effort.
It also teaches children how to give back to their community. Working hard often results in a lot of success, but there will come a time in everyone’s life when it’s time to give back. Teaching this to children at an early age helps them see the good things that come with hard work.
Religion Helps Children Improve Their Social Skills
Many kids today spend the majority of their day glued to their digital screens – whether it be a television, video game, tablet, or computer. The more time they spend doing that, the less time they spend conversing and socializing with others in real life – almost living a virtual life.
Religion helps bring children back to reality. It teaches them the significance of collaborating and communicating with others – even when they don’t feel like it. No matter what mood your child is in, they’ll know how to set it aside and interact with others positively.
Religion Teaches Children How To Live A Longer, Healthier Life
Research consistently shows that men and women who grow up in a religious household tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who don’t. We’re not entirely sure why that is, but many people believe it’s a result of better life decisions, less stress, and better overall well-being.
Introducing someone to religion at an early age will only help add more years – sometimes as much as nine years – onto that child’s life. That’s almost an entire decade! They might not thank you for it now, but they’ll certainly thank you for it down the road – and that’s all that matters.
Religion Gives Children A Sense Of Self-Worth
Children are vulnerable beings – which doesn’t always bode well for them in a judgmental society like the one we live in. They get down on themselves, they start feeling discouraged, and then their self-esteem starts plummeting. It’s not a healthy way to grow and develop.
With religion, children are taught to embrace themselves for who they are – and embrace others for who they are, as well. It shows them they’re loved, valued, accepted, and appreciated. Even if they make a mistake or make a wrong turn in life, they can right those paths and start over.
Religion Shows Children The Way To True Happiness And Fulfillment
In the modern world today, many people are so busy looking for happiness and fulfillment in all the wrong places, that they often forget it’s right in front of them – the small things, the simple things. It’s an easy concept to understand, but one many people struggle to accept.
Children who are brought up in a religious household aren’t fooled by the growing amount of ‘fake’ happiness in the world. They seek fulfillment in all the right places – the essentials, the necessities, and the everyday moments we often let pass us by. It’s all about authenticity.
Religion Teaches Children How To Be More Patriotic
It’s important that we teach our youth the importance of patriotism and feeling proud to be an American. These are the children who are going to grow up to be decision-makers and world leaders – so we need to instill that level of pride as early as possible.
That’s where we can utilize religion. Research suggests that children who were raised in a religious household often grow up to be more involved in their community – either through voting or volunteering. Research also shows they’re more likely to obey the law and follow rules.
Religion Helps Children Develop A Healthy Relationship With A Higher Power
There are times when children need support and strength, but don’t feel comfortable reaching out to a parent, teacher, friend, or counselor for help. In these situations, having a strong and healthy relationship with a higher power can give you the guidance and comfort needed to take that next step.
While it’s not a substitute for the help they can receive from others, religion helps set a solid foundation that ensures your child never goes a day without receiving the support they need. As they grow older, that relationship with God (or another higher power) will only grow stronger.
