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UK News

Just one in three Christian parents want children to share their faith

Only 36 per cent of parents identifying themselves as believers are keen that their offspring share their faith, the Christian think-tank, Theos, has found.

Author, and visiting lecturer in Christian ethics at London School of Theology Olwyn Mark, said: "Evidence ...would suggest there is a lack of priority given, at least among some Christian parents, to passing on faith in the home."

When only those who attend church at least once a month were considered, the findings revealed 69 per cent of Christian parents were keen their children came to faith.

Referencing 54 other pieces of research published over the past 40 years in countries including the UK, US and Australia, Theos also highlighted a number of fears parents have about passing on their faith.

It concluded around a quarter would fear being asked a question by they weren't able to answer or their child being alienated at school.

Theos reported the biggest concern from parents on the issue was fear that "technology and social media would have more
of an impact on my children's beliefs than my input."

Commenting on the influence home life has on a child, Theos said: "The passing on of 'faith' invariably happens in every home. This involves the transmission both actively and passively of values, attitudes, beliefs and practices.

"No child enters adolescence and adulthood unaffected by the overarching story that they learn in the home."

"Enduring adolescent and adult believers are largely the product of caring, supportive, stable homes, where faith is seen, heard and experienced. Modelling is key: parents need to 'be' and 'do' what they want their child to become."

Nick Spencer from Theos told Premier's News Hour passing on your faith isn't necessarily indoctrination. He told Premier: "It's really important to bust open that myth that by passing on your faith you're indoctrinating kids. 

"The vast majority of parents who have got sincere belief themselves yes- they will naturally want to pass it on to their kids because they'll see it as something true and life affirming but crucially they will want the kids to think themselves."

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