Religion & Young People

Question 0

What are some difficulties that religious parents may encounter when raising their children in the 21st century?

Answer 0

As our society is very secular, and inside the home can be seen a spiritual place dedicated to religion, their children can feel like they have two worlds to live in. They will face responsibilities from both, and may be under unusually high pressure as a result.

Question 1

Explain how young people are brought up by their families if they are religious

Answer 1

Many religious parents will want their children to follow their faith in order to reap the happiness and contentment they believe their religious lifestyle to bring.

• They will teach their children how to live their faith - how to be a Christian or Muslim, for example.
• They will teach their children how to behave - The rules and conduct required of their faith
• They will ensure their children are made members of that religion through special ceremonies.

Question 2

Describe in detail a infant baptism (Christian birth ceremony)

Answer 2

The parents bring their child to be baptised. This means that it is welcomed into the faith and made a member through its parents’ faith. For Catholics, it also means it is washed clean of sins inherited from its ancestors.
The baby is usually dressed in white, for purity. Everyone gathers around the font for the ceremony.
The priest asks the parents and godparents some questions about their faith, and their intention to bring the baby up in the faith. Then he takes some water from the font and makes the sign of the cross on the baby’s forehead. The cross is the symbol of Christianity.
Then water is poured over the baby’s forehead three times, once each for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The baby is being baptised in the name of each of these.
In many churches, the family will be given a candle to represent Jesus as the Light of the World. It will be a reminder of their promises to bring up the child in their faith.

Question 3

Describe in detail the Tahneek Ceremony (Islamic birth ceremony)

Answer 3

The father whispers the Adhan into the right ear, then the Iqamah into the left. This means the child has been welcomed into the faith, and the first things it has heard have been the call to prayer, and the name of Allah.
Next, he takes the child and places the soft part of a date on its tongue. This is a hope for the child to be sweet-natured when it gets older.

Question 4

List as many different reasons why religious believers have birth and commitment ceremonies.

Answer 4

• They want to introduce their child into their faith early in life
• They want their children to reap the benefits physical benefits of their own faith such as community
• They want their children to reap spiritual benefits of their faith such as Heaven or Good Karma

Question 5

Describe in detail a Ceremony of Confirmation (Christian ceremony of commitment)

Answer 5

At around the age of 12, many young Christians choose of undergo a ceremony of confirmation. This is then they confirm the promises made for them at their baptism. Before the ceremony, there is a time of preparation where they will attend classes, learning what it means to make a full commitment to the Christian faith and how they should live a Christian life. The ceremony takes place at a special Sunday service, led by a bishop. The bishop will ask 3 questions: ‘Do you turn to Christ? Do you repent your sins? Do you renounce evil?’ Each time, the person must answer ‘Yes’. The Bishop then places his hands on their head and says: ‘Confirm O Lord your servant with your Holy Spirit.’ This is called the laying of the hands, and at this point the young person receives the blessings of God’s Holy Spirit to guide them in Christian life. The service then continues with Holy Communion and the newly-confirmed person receives the bread and wine for the first time.

Question 6

Question on Faith Activities

Answer 6

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Question 7

What is a Faith School?

Answer 7

A school which teaches a general curriculum but incorporates religion into this.

Question 8

What are the positives and negatives of a Faith School as opposed to a State School?

Answer 8

Positives:
•Allows religious people to interact with others of their faith and not be judged
•Allows religious people to practice their faith in school
•They can learn about their faith in school
Negatives:
•They may not learn about the beliefs of others as much opposed to state schools
•Can cause state schools to not have nearly any religious believers in them, meaning people in state schools may not learn to respect other people’s beliefs as a result