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Parent Asks How To Punish Son Who Doesn’t Want To Go To Church, Gets Hilarious Advice
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Parent Asks How To Punish Son Who Doesn’t Want To Go To Church, Gets Hilarious Advice

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Some people see their children as mere extensions of themselves, and are positively outraged when they discover that the little bastards have somehow developed – (shock!) – opinions and beliefs contrary to their own.

Image credits: Charles Hutchins

This parent appears to fall into this bracket. Seemingly baffled that their dearest son doesn’t share their own enthusiasm for spending precious Sunday hours trapped in the confines of a stuffy church, they took to Quora for advice on how to ‘punish’ the heretic for his astonishing renegade stance.

“My son told me he doesn’t want to go to church anymore,” they opined. “How can I punish him?” The responses were largely thoughtful and restrained, offering cautious advice on freedom of thought, and warnings against forcing religion on anyone. One response, however, took the cake. Offering the kind of sage wisdom that the likes of Homer Simpson would approve, the perfect punishment was suggested.

People had lots to comment on the suggested punishment.

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Other people started sharing their own similar experiences.

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savannahrobinson124 avatar
Savannah Robinson
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Christian and am strongly against any and all churches. A church is a business and the more people come to this realization, the better. Do not force your children or anyone for that matter to go to church. I have honestly never felt more uncomfortable anywhere than in a church. Punishing a child for not wanting to attend a church service will most likely result in that child resenting the church and the religion his or her parents practice.

christian-crisetig avatar
ADHORTATOR
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an atheist, I am very impressed by your statement. It' s not the faith, it's the Organisation what causes the problems (not only Christian churches, but ALL religious organisations)

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hrr311 avatar
Helena Ruth
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whether you believe in god(s) or religion or not, you should still try to be a kind respectful person (in my humble opinion)

kbulatova avatar
Катерина Булатова
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would actually say FIRST become a kind a respectful person and then maybe and only maybe people will be willing to listen about your religious beliefs.

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aeschlimann-nauwelaers avatar
Llamadrama
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uhm, maybe you shouldn't force religion. I'm all for education and learning about/understanding religion. But you can't make someone believe. You either do or you don't.

angiechan_1 avatar
Angie Chan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, my mom constantly laments how she "made" my brother and I go to church as kids--sometimes multiple times a week...so we SHOULD have been Christian as adults! She doesn't understand why...and I am done explaining.

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iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's wrong with people. Jesus wouldn't punish you for not going to church. Maybe talk to your child? Show them that you care and that you'd be happy to share your beliefs with them, but accept their concious choice?

andy_harrhy avatar
Andy Harrhy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you actually read the bible. He would be taken to the edge of town and stoned to death.

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snoozywomble avatar
snoozy womble
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Grandma was very, very Catholic. I remember she once slapped my brother for not going to Holy Communion, because he didn't believe and wasn't smart enough to play along. I feel like if she were still alive she could have written this question. Clearly her faith didn't rub off on us, all 3 of her grandchildren on my dad's side of the family are staunchly atheist. Punishing the kid isn't going to change his mind.

iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. As a Christian, you can't force your mindset on other people. You can just live it to the fullest, be generous and kind to people and to yourself - as good as you can.

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crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most religions teach us values such as the love of others, kindness, respect, and understanding. Many people who proclaim to be strong believer exercise force and show intolerance. For a rationale thinking being it is hard to comprehend how these people can justify this disdainfulness of their own religion as rightfullness.

maswartz226 avatar
maswartz
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like Homer put it, if God truly is everywhere why do we have to go to a special place to worship him?

caitlinharc avatar
Caitlin Harcombe
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, we actually don't have to! Church isn't just a building, church can be even just two people meeting together in his name... it could even be on a bus! Church (as in the building) is where many people gather together to hear about Jesus and to be together in fellowship. Church is a place to meet with others and encourage others and meet with friends and hear the Bible preached to you by a minister, and to worship through song together. But your faith is not only for the days that you're at church.

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wil_vanderheijden avatar
Wil Vanderheijden
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Punishing a kid for standing up for his own conviction isn't very clever. Best case scenario he will be one annoying member of church and he'll stop going to church as soon as he's an adult. Worst case scenario, he will be one annoying member of church and stop going to church as soon as he's an adult.

lornegreen1986 avatar
Whatevers not taken
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The most evil s**t in this world has been done in the name of religion. Religion is false. There is no god and if your over the age of 15 and have a brain you would realize this. The only people who still believe in religion are the ones who went to church as a kid and it was put into their minds like a parasite. Stop believing in s**t that has never happened nor will happen or stuff that is impossible. GET A CLUE PEOPLE.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost ALL the major evils done by mankind, since the dawn of civilisation, both real and fable have been as a consequence of, or against one Religion or another. Apart from conflicts purely over territory I cannot name much that did not involve opposing Religous groups, persecution, and widespread death in the name of specific Gods. Wether trying to convert "heathens" (before stealing their country and killing the natives) to the Spanish Inquisition, to the long history in the Middle East, to Hitler in WW2 - and on and on it goes.

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lanza130 avatar
Melody Lanzatella
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, why WOULDNT you want your child to go to church?! They preach fire and brimstone! AND make your life as a child guilt-ridden and petrified that if you commit even the tiniest infraction that you will BURN IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY!! I KNOW!! I grew up PETRIFIED!! (as an adult, I do NOT go to church. Because churches are usually filled with judgemental hypocrites!)

nvi08140 avatar
The Girl on Fire
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who do this should not refer to themselves as Christians.... So many awful people who do terrible things "in the name of religion".

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Worshipping the devil in the name of god." (to quote New Model Army)

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mfergel avatar
Mark Fergel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good Christian Woman: "Father, how can I punish my son for not going to church?" Priest: "Raise him to be Republican."

sreejithembranthiri_c_v avatar
Sreejith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I comment here, people might think of me either religious or an atheist.

vizbones avatar
Ben Steinberg
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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vilem-marak avatar
Wij
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh wow, a kid that can think for hisself and realises that he is not a sheep. definitely put him in chains before he realises that the earth is not flat.

sagejayy03 avatar
Sage Jay
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents make me go to church, even though they know that I've had traumatic experience in Christian settings before and I get panic attacks. They say that it's part of their 'beliefs' and I need to respect those beliefs. NEWS FLASH: I'll respect your beliefs as long as they don't impose on others.

sprite avatar
Sprite
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandfather was forced to go to church too. Since then in my family, we are all atheists.

freyathewanderer_1 avatar
Freya the Wanderer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the running joke: "When I was growing up, I had a drug problem. Every Sunday I was drug to church."

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lizmolloy1969 avatar
Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brought up completely secular. Had no idea there was such a thing as religion until we did the Nativity etc at Primary School. I thought they were just stories to get a point across, like Aesop's Fables. Was flabbergasted to learn people BELIEVED this nonsense!

octavia_2 avatar
Octavia Hansen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one has to go to church to be religious. You can be good and do good anywhere, anytime. Setting a good example is the best you can do . . .

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The question is unwise to start with. It should have been "how can I persuade him". Punishment is not the way you get people keep doing what you want them to. They'll stop as soon as they get rid of you.

juliaw_1 avatar
minerva15
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uhhh...my mother dragged me to church every Sunday until I was 18. If I put up a fight I would be punished. And she wonders why I don't follow in her footsteps...

sky_2 avatar
nothofagus001-sname avatar
Dian Ella Lillie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's it. Glorious salvation through punitive response. How very Christian.

jeff_41 avatar
Jeff Halmos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't need religion or any of the stories and metaphor to be a decent, upstanding person; It's already in us. After all, these books were written by humans to begin with.

sky_2 avatar
SkyTheImaginer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was disowned by any family that wasn't immediate when I said that I would no longer be attending any church in college and that I would become an Omnist. Can you imagine that? Disowning somebody because they want to educate themselves about all religions and not shackle themselves to Christianity for the rest of their miserable life? It's all about mutual respect and toxic members of religion have none.

dopethronepunkuk avatar
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was forced to go to church when i was a kid, from an Italian catholic family, did my holy communion all that stuff and all it did was make me hate going to this old, smelly, boring building, when i was a teen i said enough and have never been back since. I identify as agnostic, thats what i believe, not the forced b******t from the bible. Push a kid into church, they will most likely kick back against it.

jadeferra avatar
Jade Ferra
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forcing religion on people tends to make them non-religious or atheist. So please, keep pushing them, they'll end up like my husband and his siblings- all forced to church and private Catholic schools, they don't give a single s**t about any religion and I know they never will. I'm not religious either though and I think it's the best way to live- based on facts and kindness instead of a really old book and old people telling you an invisible person gave you free will so you could obey them.. >_>

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stop being a lemming and think for yourself. God isn't in a building and governed by men trying to get you to empty your pockets, molest your children and control your life with petty rules. Live a good life, be kind and try to be an example for others. That's the best way to honor god. But if you're looking for your kids to resent you and rebel, then by all means, force them to go to church.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religion is based on faith. If you are being forced to participate then it doesn't mean anything so it make no sense that you force someone to go because if they don't believe then they are just sitting in a seat listening to a fairy tale.

terrytopping avatar
Terry T.
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes me wonder why he doesn't want to go. Is he just bored? Or is there something more? With all the news about priests and "inappropriate behavior", I would want to find out.

sweetangelce04 avatar
Christina Sersif
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was forced against my will to go to church growing up, I now refuse to go ever. Thanks mom.

david-alexanderus avatar
David
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religion is like deliberately giving yourself an anxiety disorder. I am so glad to be totally free of it. I hope one day not a single little kid gets taught to feel bad for not performing some meaningless ritual.

alf_arnold avatar
Alfred Be
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with one writer, How can a gun carrying nation of killers and political idiots that live off world suffering by selling weapons to the world Monday to Friday be religious and attend church on Sunday, it appears they only have one god the US Dollar.

jaybird3939 avatar
Janine Randall
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've discovered that the people who make the most noise about how devout of an anything they are, the less they actually practice the religion. Those who are quiet about their convictions seem to be the closest to any true person of religion. I personally don't believe in any of it, but the quiet ones accept it, and the noisy ones just keep pushing. It just confirms my belief that they're doing it for recognition and praise, not to actually help another human.

princedibbs avatar
Israel Martinez
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sad how many don't see obligated indoctrination as a form of punishment ...

kurtsmith avatar
Kurt Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow - - a religion where you get to experience the joy of punishment even before you enter eternal damnation !! Where do I sign up ?!?

sonicwim avatar
Wim Cossement
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an ex-religious person and an avid atheist I always wonder why people believe in things that cannot be proven... Also, there are quite a lot of other religions out there that have some similarity about gods and stuff but they all claim they are the right belief and the others are bad, doesn't that makes you wonder or doubt? Then take all the atrocities, deaths and likes into account that have been committed in the name of religion and if this is not enough to make you sick and denounce your faith you are truly feeble minded. Thanks, lazy and selfish thing in the sky that could be helping us but does nothing! Be kind but critical and think for yourself to make this world a better place!

ptoddchesser avatar
Todd Chesser
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a "recovering Christian". I was raised going to church from as early as I can remember. We attended services every Sunday morning and night, Wednesday night, camps, revivals, VBS, and just about anything else associated with my church. It was pretty much baked into the cake that I was going to be a minister when I grew up. I didn't really have a choice. I was about 16 when I sat down with my mom and explained to her why I was no longer going to be attending services. I had seen enough hypocrisies and outright b******t from those who professed to know the word. I was finished and had learned all I needed to know to realize I would be just fine without it.

edlesperance avatar
Ed Lesperance
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Introduce him to pagans and witches. He will spend his life in the church God intended: nature.

robertogardella avatar
Roberto Gardella
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the most stupid thing I've read in years!! Punish him because he doesn't want to go to church? Come on! Someone should punish his parents for such a stupid and retrograde mind. Greeting from Italy

lincolnlands avatar
Lincoln John
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My new stepmom made me go to church when I was about 9-10. I couldn't stand it, so I purposely drew attention to myself in the hope that Father Tony would suggest to my dad that it's probably best if I no longer attended. It worked. However, only so much. I simply got re-directed over to Sunday school in the neighbouring building. I couldn't stand it. I tried the same thing, and was disruptive and distracting. ( Only this time, I got re-directed to dad's belt when we got home. I protested my point to dad ( " it's so boring! ") but dad wouldn't have any of it, so back I went the following Sunday. This time I pretended to fall back off my chair and knock myself out. I just lay there on the floor. I didn't know what was ment to happen after that, but I wouldn't ever get to know, because the big girl next to me reached down and started tickling me. I jolted from my "coma" in about one second flat. I tried something new every Sunday. Until finally, after numerous belts. I won. No pain no

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So long as this child is simply disagreeing with the teachings, allow him the dignity of being a thinking creature. But make sure he has not been abused by clergy or others. If he has he needs more understanding and kindness, and possibly professional help.

ryu_bakura avatar
Ryo Bakura
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why did the parent turn to the internet for advice? Did God keep sending their prayers to his Spam box?

aprilsimnel avatar
April Simnel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Punish a kid for not believing? Nah, that's a power trip. The hell with her. Between this woman here, and the damn fool who got himself killed this week by sneaking to the Sentinel Islands near India to try and convert the people there (look up the Sentinelese people and why going to their islands is a no-no-NO!), I would think Christians need to have a conference or something to rethink this proselyting stuff. There always seems to be a case of an underlying desire to control other people and their beliefs, and looking to assuage their own egos hiding behind the "need to save souls". It's repugnant.

michaeljohnaragon avatar
Michael John Aragon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid, my mom got mad at me for choosing to not go to church. Thankfully, she never punished me for it but reluctantly allowed me to make my own choice of when I want to go to church or not. Today, that choice led me to have a stronger relationship with God, become a leader in my church and it allowed me to grow into the man God plans for me to be. Going to church is a choice equal to choosing whether we want to believe in a God or not. NO ONE should be forced to worship or to believe. That forced act leads to nothing but hatred, seperation and war.

carmenelena avatar
Carmen Elena
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe in a higher intelligence? being? soul? Idk how to call but I have faith. I agree with Helena Ruth when she says that no matter if you are a religious person, or maybe not, you have to be kind and respectful to others. All this punishing stuff and letting another simple human being like me forgive my sins are senseless. 10 commandments? follow the only rule that is important: Don´t hurt anybody.

blackberrybunny avatar
Molly Block
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I have denounced religion my entire life. Let it be up to the kid to decide what he/she wants to do as fas as believing in and praying to a mythical being. Some kids believe in Santa, and then they grow up. They'll figure it out. But to force religion on anyone is so wrong!

culmone10 avatar
Giovanni
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never believed in anything because my family is terrible at explaining things and maintaining the farce, once my mother said "if you don't believe in Santa I'll stop bringing you gifts for christmas" now imagine her trying to explain to me that God exists and religion is good for me.

veronicatthemermaid avatar
Veronicat the Mermaid
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why the heck would you punish someone for something that they don't wanna do?😂

shroomy9 avatar
Joe Sauer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Went to a catholic school growing up (for academic purposes only, I'm not baptized) and loved going to mass in the morning. I got to chill for an hour and relax lol.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously the previous years of being made to go to Church every Sunday have been sufficient punishment.

mjaguirre7 avatar
JANE
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found religion later in life and it was one traumatic church to another. All you ever learned was fear and your were drained of your energy. Strict Apostolic and Pentecostal ways. I left each one due to double standards , my regret is my children were part of the extreme measures. I finally stood up and left. The church preaches Ill about me to this day. 3/4 children have faith , they believe, but not fanatics. While another is stuck with no mind of her own. Like me they drain her to where she is physically ill, expect her to reproduce as that will increase church members and marrying. 17 is a good age to begin marrying and having children. My grand children cry all the time but cannot escape the church. Child protective service have been called numerous times, and each time the case closed. Kids are intimidated and told if they discuss things outside the church, they will never see me again. The kids don’t know Jesus or God, only that now they hate it. 14,15,16 yr olds.

deborahbrett avatar
Deborah Brett
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe you should ask why he doesn't want to go? There are many reasons a child might not wish to go to church, ranging from boredom to abuse. Forcing him to go, won't help him to share your religion, but talking to him, and listening to him, may help you both to understand and respect each other.

nikkihall avatar
nikki hall
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Christian but I don't believe in forcing a child to attend any one church I was forced to attend anytime the doors opened by a hypocrite mentally abusive step dad and I still very much resent it. I do not like organized religion and do not believe in any one denomination but I do believe in god and I believe I can worship him in my everyday life and not have to go to some church with mostly hypocrisy and people who worry more about how much my outfit cost than about worship.

c_jacolette avatar
Carl Jacolette
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep the boy has come to the conclusion that he does not believe in invisible friends, good for him

nobodynuffin avatar
Nobody Nuffin
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't like how the priest looks at me I get the sense not to turn my back on him

etnarudotrebor avatar
Roberto Durante
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

your son is a cleaver boy , a free spirit and soul, not like you still enslaved by one the biggest manipulation machine, the church. I f you need to connect to the source/God, you don't need a church or any priest, juste go inside because the only way is inside your heart, not in a church .And just by wanting to punish him, you just demonstrate how despotism is been your church education. God don't punish, he love.

saintsofsins avatar
Saints of Sins
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not religious. I see this kid. It is America let him choose

mavery4092 avatar
Melanie Wilson Avery
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father-in-law is an Episcopal priest and husband and I were very active in our parish. My boys reached an age where they decided they didn’t want to go any more and my father in law told us not to make them. He said it only guarantees that they will not want to go in later years. Neither of them attends any more but one did have have his two children baptized. FYI husband and I no longer attend because we did not like the political atmosphere now,

markcjmoran avatar
Mark CM
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The spelling and grammar in all these comments makes my brain hurt.

rts083 avatar
Robert Schofield
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was looking for the thoughtful and restrained responses. Too bad you chose to only emphasize the anti-religion snarky answers. One of the reasons I follow Bored Panda is that it rarely pushes an agenda. I hope that doesn’t change. More importantly, certain questions are asked to elicit specific responses. This one is most likely from someone who wants the exact responses that were received. A “real” parent, regardless of their religious beliefs, would have asked “How is the best way to deal with this” and then they may have received legitimate and helpful parenting advice. The use of the word punish tells me that they were looking for exactly the anti-religious sentiment they got. You and the participants above fell for it.

florenceehastings avatar
Florence Hastings
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When a person is old enough to decide what they want and don’t want nobody has the right to tell them otherwise. Not even parents.

donflynn avatar
Don Flynn
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess she could always fall back on the time-honored tradition of the Abrahamic religions = convert or die.

pauldixon1986 avatar
Paul Dixon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arguably all places can be a church and a home of god if you welcome him in. But we are also supposed to find our own way to god. He speaks to us in his own way. Priests, vicars, pastors etc are supposed to share the stories of Jesus and the bible - they can offer some guidance etc. BUT they do not speak the word of god, god doesn't not speak through them, they should not judge or close a door etc -- far too many churches, especially in America have abandoned the actual teachings of Jesus ... hence why we have a question like this - even if he never went to church again it doesn't mean Jesus isn't walking by his side - but to punish him, well that means you have turned your back on god and are passing judgement yourself.

paul-schmitke avatar
Cesar Augusto Unocc
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got cold marbles, water thrown on me, and the starter taken out of my car if I didn't go to church.

84avaford avatar
Ava Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry higher on the Big Bang side. Sorry for that misconception on my part

84avaford avatar
Ava Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though I'm a half atheist I still go to church in which my church isn't sit down and just talk we invite people to have fun and be happy! Literally the church I go to is an hour long and 20 minutes is the church part.

84avaford avatar
Ava Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now don't hate people but I believe that god can be real but I chose not to believe in him currently. And I believe that the proof of the universe not being made by a form of a god is much lower than the Big Bang creating the universe, and that evolution is how we became,

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diane a
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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KT Trondsen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man, I hope she doesn't force her kid to go or punish him for not going. My mom forced us into going to a Jehovah church and it was absolute torture. I found most people there bizarre, save for a few kind normal individuals. All the teenage girls there got pregnant out of wedlock, and one of their "flock" went bezerk in our house running around screaming her head off like a total nut job, her husband left her after he questioned the religion. The place was a mess. I'm not entirely sure if God is real or not, but I do believe in the basic principles of christianity. The love, kindness, helping others, never lieing etc I guess I am christian at heart but I will probably not go to a church again after all the bad experiences in them.

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Ann Rii
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jehovah's witnesses are not christians. They don't believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God..

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Ash
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was forced to go to church most of my childhood. When I was about 13, I overslept once and I wasn't forced to go because everyone else was running late. So I "overslept" a bunch until I wasn't made to go anymore.

paparia4 avatar
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a HUGE difference between believing in God(s) and going to the church/temple/etc.

paparia4 avatar
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

mdclgyselinck avatar
Michèle Gyselinck
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been a committed member of my church for the last 41 years. I joined of my own free will; nobody forced me in any way. Churches are gatherings of forgiven sinners, that's why their members still do things that probably cause the Lord to facepalm a lot. Punishing a child for not wanting to go is not the way to make them WANT to go. Just tell them that as long as they live under your roof they have to because Christianity is an acquired taste. When they're old enough to live on their own, they can do what they like.

tljb1 avatar
Lee from Phoenix
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just tell the kid he is going. That's what my parents did, and it worked until I was about 16 when they gave up.

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Selene
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a Christan, and believe that while religion shouldn't be forced on an individual, up till the age of ten take your kids to church with you, a) They are kids and should not be left home alone, b) Going to a church can help a child build strong social skills and morals, I think that these people telling people off for making their kid go to church are wrong themselves, parents are suppost to do what they think is best for their kid, if they want to bring them to church, go for it. people shouldn't be judging parents for doing what they think is best for their kid

dfreg avatar
John Ashley
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the proper person to ask is their pastor instead of a strangers on the internet. Makes me wonder if this person is actually seeking advice... or trying to start some sort of viral controversy.

elizabethlordcary avatar
Elizabeth
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If she wanted a response based on Christian values maybe she should have asked her pastor and not the internet where heathens who don't believe roam free looking for believers to give bad advice to

gerry1of1 avatar
Gerry Higgins
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Take your belt off and beat the Love of God into him!!!! oh, wait... don't do that

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birdhouse
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

paparia4 avatar
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God is bipolar and Satan is his other personality. That exlains why there is evil in creation and why the omnipotent God can't do anything about it. Think about it :)

culmone10 avatar
Giovanni
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On one hand you are not allowed to decide how to interpret Christian cosmology so much, on the other nobody stops you from starting your own sect/religion.

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anarkzie
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

In times like this I like to turn to the good book: Deuteronomy 21:18-21 King James Version (KJV) 18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

christian-crisetig avatar
savannahrobinson124 avatar
Savannah Robinson
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Christian and am strongly against any and all churches. A church is a business and the more people come to this realization, the better. Do not force your children or anyone for that matter to go to church. I have honestly never felt more uncomfortable anywhere than in a church. Punishing a child for not wanting to attend a church service will most likely result in that child resenting the church and the religion his or her parents practice.

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ADHORTATOR
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an atheist, I am very impressed by your statement. It' s not the faith, it's the Organisation what causes the problems (not only Christian churches, but ALL religious organisations)

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hrr311 avatar
Helena Ruth
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whether you believe in god(s) or religion or not, you should still try to be a kind respectful person (in my humble opinion)

kbulatova avatar
Катерина Булатова
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would actually say FIRST become a kind a respectful person and then maybe and only maybe people will be willing to listen about your religious beliefs.

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Llamadrama
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uhm, maybe you shouldn't force religion. I'm all for education and learning about/understanding religion. But you can't make someone believe. You either do or you don't.

angiechan_1 avatar
Angie Chan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, my mom constantly laments how she "made" my brother and I go to church as kids--sometimes multiple times a week...so we SHOULD have been Christian as adults! She doesn't understand why...and I am done explaining.

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Iapetos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's wrong with people. Jesus wouldn't punish you for not going to church. Maybe talk to your child? Show them that you care and that you'd be happy to share your beliefs with them, but accept their concious choice?

andy_harrhy avatar
Andy Harrhy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you actually read the bible. He would be taken to the edge of town and stoned to death.

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snoozy womble
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Grandma was very, very Catholic. I remember she once slapped my brother for not going to Holy Communion, because he didn't believe and wasn't smart enough to play along. I feel like if she were still alive she could have written this question. Clearly her faith didn't rub off on us, all 3 of her grandchildren on my dad's side of the family are staunchly atheist. Punishing the kid isn't going to change his mind.

iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. As a Christian, you can't force your mindset on other people. You can just live it to the fullest, be generous and kind to people and to yourself - as good as you can.

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Hans
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most religions teach us values such as the love of others, kindness, respect, and understanding. Many people who proclaim to be strong believer exercise force and show intolerance. For a rationale thinking being it is hard to comprehend how these people can justify this disdainfulness of their own religion as rightfullness.

maswartz226 avatar
maswartz
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like Homer put it, if God truly is everywhere why do we have to go to a special place to worship him?

caitlinharc avatar
Caitlin Harcombe
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, we actually don't have to! Church isn't just a building, church can be even just two people meeting together in his name... it could even be on a bus! Church (as in the building) is where many people gather together to hear about Jesus and to be together in fellowship. Church is a place to meet with others and encourage others and meet with friends and hear the Bible preached to you by a minister, and to worship through song together. But your faith is not only for the days that you're at church.

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Wil Vanderheijden
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Punishing a kid for standing up for his own conviction isn't very clever. Best case scenario he will be one annoying member of church and he'll stop going to church as soon as he's an adult. Worst case scenario, he will be one annoying member of church and stop going to church as soon as he's an adult.

lornegreen1986 avatar
Whatevers not taken
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The most evil s**t in this world has been done in the name of religion. Religion is false. There is no god and if your over the age of 15 and have a brain you would realize this. The only people who still believe in religion are the ones who went to church as a kid and it was put into their minds like a parasite. Stop believing in s**t that has never happened nor will happen or stuff that is impossible. GET A CLUE PEOPLE.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost ALL the major evils done by mankind, since the dawn of civilisation, both real and fable have been as a consequence of, or against one Religion or another. Apart from conflicts purely over territory I cannot name much that did not involve opposing Religous groups, persecution, and widespread death in the name of specific Gods. Wether trying to convert "heathens" (before stealing their country and killing the natives) to the Spanish Inquisition, to the long history in the Middle East, to Hitler in WW2 - and on and on it goes.

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lanza130 avatar
Melody Lanzatella
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, why WOULDNT you want your child to go to church?! They preach fire and brimstone! AND make your life as a child guilt-ridden and petrified that if you commit even the tiniest infraction that you will BURN IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY!! I KNOW!! I grew up PETRIFIED!! (as an adult, I do NOT go to church. Because churches are usually filled with judgemental hypocrites!)

nvi08140 avatar
The Girl on Fire
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who do this should not refer to themselves as Christians.... So many awful people who do terrible things "in the name of religion".

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Worshipping the devil in the name of god." (to quote New Model Army)

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mfergel avatar
Mark Fergel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good Christian Woman: "Father, how can I punish my son for not going to church?" Priest: "Raise him to be Republican."

sreejithembranthiri_c_v avatar
Sreejith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I comment here, people might think of me either religious or an atheist.

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Ben Steinberg
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Wij
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh wow, a kid that can think for hisself and realises that he is not a sheep. definitely put him in chains before he realises that the earth is not flat.

sagejayy03 avatar
Sage Jay
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents make me go to church, even though they know that I've had traumatic experience in Christian settings before and I get panic attacks. They say that it's part of their 'beliefs' and I need to respect those beliefs. NEWS FLASH: I'll respect your beliefs as long as they don't impose on others.

sprite avatar
Sprite
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandfather was forced to go to church too. Since then in my family, we are all atheists.

freyathewanderer_1 avatar
Freya the Wanderer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the running joke: "When I was growing up, I had a drug problem. Every Sunday I was drug to church."

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lizmolloy1969 avatar
Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brought up completely secular. Had no idea there was such a thing as religion until we did the Nativity etc at Primary School. I thought they were just stories to get a point across, like Aesop's Fables. Was flabbergasted to learn people BELIEVED this nonsense!

octavia_2 avatar
Octavia Hansen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one has to go to church to be religious. You can be good and do good anywhere, anytime. Setting a good example is the best you can do . . .

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The question is unwise to start with. It should have been "how can I persuade him". Punishment is not the way you get people keep doing what you want them to. They'll stop as soon as they get rid of you.

juliaw_1 avatar
minerva15
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uhhh...my mother dragged me to church every Sunday until I was 18. If I put up a fight I would be punished. And she wonders why I don't follow in her footsteps...

sky_2 avatar
nothofagus001-sname avatar
Dian Ella Lillie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's it. Glorious salvation through punitive response. How very Christian.

jeff_41 avatar
Jeff Halmos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't need religion or any of the stories and metaphor to be a decent, upstanding person; It's already in us. After all, these books were written by humans to begin with.

sky_2 avatar
SkyTheImaginer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was disowned by any family that wasn't immediate when I said that I would no longer be attending any church in college and that I would become an Omnist. Can you imagine that? Disowning somebody because they want to educate themselves about all religions and not shackle themselves to Christianity for the rest of their miserable life? It's all about mutual respect and toxic members of religion have none.

dopethronepunkuk avatar
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was forced to go to church when i was a kid, from an Italian catholic family, did my holy communion all that stuff and all it did was make me hate going to this old, smelly, boring building, when i was a teen i said enough and have never been back since. I identify as agnostic, thats what i believe, not the forced b******t from the bible. Push a kid into church, they will most likely kick back against it.

jadeferra avatar
Jade Ferra
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forcing religion on people tends to make them non-religious or atheist. So please, keep pushing them, they'll end up like my husband and his siblings- all forced to church and private Catholic schools, they don't give a single s**t about any religion and I know they never will. I'm not religious either though and I think it's the best way to live- based on facts and kindness instead of a really old book and old people telling you an invisible person gave you free will so you could obey them.. >_>

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stop being a lemming and think for yourself. God isn't in a building and governed by men trying to get you to empty your pockets, molest your children and control your life with petty rules. Live a good life, be kind and try to be an example for others. That's the best way to honor god. But if you're looking for your kids to resent you and rebel, then by all means, force them to go to church.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religion is based on faith. If you are being forced to participate then it doesn't mean anything so it make no sense that you force someone to go because if they don't believe then they are just sitting in a seat listening to a fairy tale.

terrytopping avatar
Terry T.
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes me wonder why he doesn't want to go. Is he just bored? Or is there something more? With all the news about priests and "inappropriate behavior", I would want to find out.

sweetangelce04 avatar
Christina Sersif
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was forced against my will to go to church growing up, I now refuse to go ever. Thanks mom.

david-alexanderus avatar
David
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religion is like deliberately giving yourself an anxiety disorder. I am so glad to be totally free of it. I hope one day not a single little kid gets taught to feel bad for not performing some meaningless ritual.

alf_arnold avatar
Alfred Be
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with one writer, How can a gun carrying nation of killers and political idiots that live off world suffering by selling weapons to the world Monday to Friday be religious and attend church on Sunday, it appears they only have one god the US Dollar.

jaybird3939 avatar
Janine Randall
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've discovered that the people who make the most noise about how devout of an anything they are, the less they actually practice the religion. Those who are quiet about their convictions seem to be the closest to any true person of religion. I personally don't believe in any of it, but the quiet ones accept it, and the noisy ones just keep pushing. It just confirms my belief that they're doing it for recognition and praise, not to actually help another human.

princedibbs avatar
Israel Martinez
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sad how many don't see obligated indoctrination as a form of punishment ...

kurtsmith avatar
Kurt Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow - - a religion where you get to experience the joy of punishment even before you enter eternal damnation !! Where do I sign up ?!?

sonicwim avatar
Wim Cossement
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an ex-religious person and an avid atheist I always wonder why people believe in things that cannot be proven... Also, there are quite a lot of other religions out there that have some similarity about gods and stuff but they all claim they are the right belief and the others are bad, doesn't that makes you wonder or doubt? Then take all the atrocities, deaths and likes into account that have been committed in the name of religion and if this is not enough to make you sick and denounce your faith you are truly feeble minded. Thanks, lazy and selfish thing in the sky that could be helping us but does nothing! Be kind but critical and think for yourself to make this world a better place!

ptoddchesser avatar
Todd Chesser
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a "recovering Christian". I was raised going to church from as early as I can remember. We attended services every Sunday morning and night, Wednesday night, camps, revivals, VBS, and just about anything else associated with my church. It was pretty much baked into the cake that I was going to be a minister when I grew up. I didn't really have a choice. I was about 16 when I sat down with my mom and explained to her why I was no longer going to be attending services. I had seen enough hypocrisies and outright b******t from those who professed to know the word. I was finished and had learned all I needed to know to realize I would be just fine without it.

edlesperance avatar
Ed Lesperance
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Introduce him to pagans and witches. He will spend his life in the church God intended: nature.

robertogardella avatar
Roberto Gardella
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the most stupid thing I've read in years!! Punish him because he doesn't want to go to church? Come on! Someone should punish his parents for such a stupid and retrograde mind. Greeting from Italy

lincolnlands avatar
Lincoln John
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My new stepmom made me go to church when I was about 9-10. I couldn't stand it, so I purposely drew attention to myself in the hope that Father Tony would suggest to my dad that it's probably best if I no longer attended. It worked. However, only so much. I simply got re-directed over to Sunday school in the neighbouring building. I couldn't stand it. I tried the same thing, and was disruptive and distracting. ( Only this time, I got re-directed to dad's belt when we got home. I protested my point to dad ( " it's so boring! ") but dad wouldn't have any of it, so back I went the following Sunday. This time I pretended to fall back off my chair and knock myself out. I just lay there on the floor. I didn't know what was ment to happen after that, but I wouldn't ever get to know, because the big girl next to me reached down and started tickling me. I jolted from my "coma" in about one second flat. I tried something new every Sunday. Until finally, after numerous belts. I won. No pain no

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So long as this child is simply disagreeing with the teachings, allow him the dignity of being a thinking creature. But make sure he has not been abused by clergy or others. If he has he needs more understanding and kindness, and possibly professional help.

ryu_bakura avatar
Ryo Bakura
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why did the parent turn to the internet for advice? Did God keep sending their prayers to his Spam box?

aprilsimnel avatar
April Simnel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Punish a kid for not believing? Nah, that's a power trip. The hell with her. Between this woman here, and the damn fool who got himself killed this week by sneaking to the Sentinel Islands near India to try and convert the people there (look up the Sentinelese people and why going to their islands is a no-no-NO!), I would think Christians need to have a conference or something to rethink this proselyting stuff. There always seems to be a case of an underlying desire to control other people and their beliefs, and looking to assuage their own egos hiding behind the "need to save souls". It's repugnant.

michaeljohnaragon avatar
Michael John Aragon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid, my mom got mad at me for choosing to not go to church. Thankfully, she never punished me for it but reluctantly allowed me to make my own choice of when I want to go to church or not. Today, that choice led me to have a stronger relationship with God, become a leader in my church and it allowed me to grow into the man God plans for me to be. Going to church is a choice equal to choosing whether we want to believe in a God or not. NO ONE should be forced to worship or to believe. That forced act leads to nothing but hatred, seperation and war.

carmenelena avatar
Carmen Elena
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe in a higher intelligence? being? soul? Idk how to call but I have faith. I agree with Helena Ruth when she says that no matter if you are a religious person, or maybe not, you have to be kind and respectful to others. All this punishing stuff and letting another simple human being like me forgive my sins are senseless. 10 commandments? follow the only rule that is important: Don´t hurt anybody.

blackberrybunny avatar
Molly Block
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I have denounced religion my entire life. Let it be up to the kid to decide what he/she wants to do as fas as believing in and praying to a mythical being. Some kids believe in Santa, and then they grow up. They'll figure it out. But to force religion on anyone is so wrong!

culmone10 avatar
Giovanni
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never believed in anything because my family is terrible at explaining things and maintaining the farce, once my mother said "if you don't believe in Santa I'll stop bringing you gifts for christmas" now imagine her trying to explain to me that God exists and religion is good for me.

veronicatthemermaid avatar
Veronicat the Mermaid
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why the heck would you punish someone for something that they don't wanna do?😂

shroomy9 avatar
Joe Sauer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Went to a catholic school growing up (for academic purposes only, I'm not baptized) and loved going to mass in the morning. I got to chill for an hour and relax lol.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously the previous years of being made to go to Church every Sunday have been sufficient punishment.

mjaguirre7 avatar
JANE
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found religion later in life and it was one traumatic church to another. All you ever learned was fear and your were drained of your energy. Strict Apostolic and Pentecostal ways. I left each one due to double standards , my regret is my children were part of the extreme measures. I finally stood up and left. The church preaches Ill about me to this day. 3/4 children have faith , they believe, but not fanatics. While another is stuck with no mind of her own. Like me they drain her to where she is physically ill, expect her to reproduce as that will increase church members and marrying. 17 is a good age to begin marrying and having children. My grand children cry all the time but cannot escape the church. Child protective service have been called numerous times, and each time the case closed. Kids are intimidated and told if they discuss things outside the church, they will never see me again. The kids don’t know Jesus or God, only that now they hate it. 14,15,16 yr olds.

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Deborah Brett
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe you should ask why he doesn't want to go? There are many reasons a child might not wish to go to church, ranging from boredom to abuse. Forcing him to go, won't help him to share your religion, but talking to him, and listening to him, may help you both to understand and respect each other.

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nikki hall
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Christian but I don't believe in forcing a child to attend any one church I was forced to attend anytime the doors opened by a hypocrite mentally abusive step dad and I still very much resent it. I do not like organized religion and do not believe in any one denomination but I do believe in god and I believe I can worship him in my everyday life and not have to go to some church with mostly hypocrisy and people who worry more about how much my outfit cost than about worship.

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Carl Jacolette
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep the boy has come to the conclusion that he does not believe in invisible friends, good for him

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Nobody Nuffin
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't like how the priest looks at me I get the sense not to turn my back on him

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Roberto Durante
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

your son is a cleaver boy , a free spirit and soul, not like you still enslaved by one the biggest manipulation machine, the church. I f you need to connect to the source/God, you don't need a church or any priest, juste go inside because the only way is inside your heart, not in a church .And just by wanting to punish him, you just demonstrate how despotism is been your church education. God don't punish, he love.

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Saints of Sins
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not religious. I see this kid. It is America let him choose

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Melanie Wilson Avery
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father-in-law is an Episcopal priest and husband and I were very active in our parish. My boys reached an age where they decided they didn’t want to go any more and my father in law told us not to make them. He said it only guarantees that they will not want to go in later years. Neither of them attends any more but one did have have his two children baptized. FYI husband and I no longer attend because we did not like the political atmosphere now,

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Mark CM
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The spelling and grammar in all these comments makes my brain hurt.

rts083 avatar
Robert Schofield
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was looking for the thoughtful and restrained responses. Too bad you chose to only emphasize the anti-religion snarky answers. One of the reasons I follow Bored Panda is that it rarely pushes an agenda. I hope that doesn’t change. More importantly, certain questions are asked to elicit specific responses. This one is most likely from someone who wants the exact responses that were received. A “real” parent, regardless of their religious beliefs, would have asked “How is the best way to deal with this” and then they may have received legitimate and helpful parenting advice. The use of the word punish tells me that they were looking for exactly the anti-religious sentiment they got. You and the participants above fell for it.

florenceehastings avatar
Florence Hastings
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When a person is old enough to decide what they want and don’t want nobody has the right to tell them otherwise. Not even parents.

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Don Flynn
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess she could always fall back on the time-honored tradition of the Abrahamic religions = convert or die.

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Paul Dixon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arguably all places can be a church and a home of god if you welcome him in. But we are also supposed to find our own way to god. He speaks to us in his own way. Priests, vicars, pastors etc are supposed to share the stories of Jesus and the bible - they can offer some guidance etc. BUT they do not speak the word of god, god doesn't not speak through them, they should not judge or close a door etc -- far too many churches, especially in America have abandoned the actual teachings of Jesus ... hence why we have a question like this - even if he never went to church again it doesn't mean Jesus isn't walking by his side - but to punish him, well that means you have turned your back on god and are passing judgement yourself.

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Cesar Augusto Unocc
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got cold marbles, water thrown on me, and the starter taken out of my car if I didn't go to church.

84avaford avatar
Ava Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry higher on the Big Bang side. Sorry for that misconception on my part

84avaford avatar
Ava Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though I'm a half atheist I still go to church in which my church isn't sit down and just talk we invite people to have fun and be happy! Literally the church I go to is an hour long and 20 minutes is the church part.

84avaford avatar
Ava Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now don't hate people but I believe that god can be real but I chose not to believe in him currently. And I believe that the proof of the universe not being made by a form of a god is much lower than the Big Bang creating the universe, and that evolution is how we became,

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diane a
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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KT Trondsen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man, I hope she doesn't force her kid to go or punish him for not going. My mom forced us into going to a Jehovah church and it was absolute torture. I found most people there bizarre, save for a few kind normal individuals. All the teenage girls there got pregnant out of wedlock, and one of their "flock" went bezerk in our house running around screaming her head off like a total nut job, her husband left her after he questioned the religion. The place was a mess. I'm not entirely sure if God is real or not, but I do believe in the basic principles of christianity. The love, kindness, helping others, never lieing etc I guess I am christian at heart but I will probably not go to a church again after all the bad experiences in them.

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Ann Rii
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jehovah's witnesses are not christians. They don't believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God..

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ashleerudolph avatar
Ash
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was forced to go to church most of my childhood. When I was about 13, I overslept once and I wasn't forced to go because everyone else was running late. So I "overslept" a bunch until I wasn't made to go anymore.

paparia4 avatar
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a HUGE difference between believing in God(s) and going to the church/temple/etc.

paparia4 avatar
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Michèle Gyselinck
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been a committed member of my church for the last 41 years. I joined of my own free will; nobody forced me in any way. Churches are gatherings of forgiven sinners, that's why their members still do things that probably cause the Lord to facepalm a lot. Punishing a child for not wanting to go is not the way to make them WANT to go. Just tell them that as long as they live under your roof they have to because Christianity is an acquired taste. When they're old enough to live on their own, they can do what they like.

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Lee from Phoenix
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just tell the kid he is going. That's what my parents did, and it worked until I was about 16 when they gave up.

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Selene
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a Christan, and believe that while religion shouldn't be forced on an individual, up till the age of ten take your kids to church with you, a) They are kids and should not be left home alone, b) Going to a church can help a child build strong social skills and morals, I think that these people telling people off for making their kid go to church are wrong themselves, parents are suppost to do what they think is best for their kid, if they want to bring them to church, go for it. people shouldn't be judging parents for doing what they think is best for their kid

dfreg avatar
John Ashley
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the proper person to ask is their pastor instead of a strangers on the internet. Makes me wonder if this person is actually seeking advice... or trying to start some sort of viral controversy.

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Elizabeth
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If she wanted a response based on Christian values maybe she should have asked her pastor and not the internet where heathens who don't believe roam free looking for believers to give bad advice to

gerry1of1 avatar
Gerry Higgins
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Take your belt off and beat the Love of God into him!!!! oh, wait... don't do that

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birdhouse
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

paparia4 avatar
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God is bipolar and Satan is his other personality. That exlains why there is evil in creation and why the omnipotent God can't do anything about it. Think about it :)

culmone10 avatar
Giovanni
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On one hand you are not allowed to decide how to interpret Christian cosmology so much, on the other nobody stops you from starting your own sect/religion.

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anarkzie
Community Member
5 years ago

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In times like this I like to turn to the good book: Deuteronomy 21:18-21 King James Version (KJV) 18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

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