Speak Up! - View Question #175

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Question: Can my parents Force me to go to Church ? I am Atheist.

Answer: It all depends on your age or capacity. If you are a child or have been found to be incompetent, then yes, the parents of a minor child or guardian of an incompetent person can force the child or incompetent person to go to church (or anywhere else within reason).

For practical purposes, the Constitution (First Amendment), protects your right to BELIEVE anything you want to BELIEVE, regardless of every other factor. So, even if forced to attend a ceremony you don't believe in, your freedom of belief is protected.


Comments
1 thru 5 of 63 comments
On 04/11/09
Reed from VA said:
I'm in the same boat...my parents make us go to the Unitarian Universalist church. Not nearly as bad as a conservative christian church, but still a big time suck and waste...
On 03/15/09
Jenna from VA said:
My entire family is Christian...except me..THE OUTCAST to them. I am 14 1/2 and I believed in Christianity(baptist), until I was old enough to understand the concept myself and develop my own viewpoint. I am AGNOSTIC. I cannot bring myself to believe in the bible and religion. My mom and I argue all the time, especially over chruch. I refuse to go and lock my door and sleep and she yells at me and will probaly end up punishing me over something that simple. I am old wise enough to have developed my own beliefs and feel that it is unfair and discriminative to force religion upon me. Just think!
On 02/23/09
Tony from AZ said:
What if your compitent and its almost your birthday is only 7 months away do they still have the right to force a religion upon you?
On 11/10/05
Cory from CA said:
The person that said the bible is the most accurate historical text in the world couldn't be farther from the truth. NOt only is it entirely "holly" (as in full of holes)the entire thing contradicts itself.
On 05/05/04
jessie from AZ said:
your parents sound extreme,but im sure it must be hard on your mom as a christian to have a child who isnt. however jesus is about love and acceptence not taking away your lunch money to make you comply. but your mom probably is concerened about your salvation,who wants there kid to end up in hell? maybe starving you seems like a better plan to her.
1 thru 5 of 63 comments



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