Getting Your Teen Involved in Religion by Art Gib

As many parents have learned the hard way, what they believe isn't always what their stubborn teens to believe. Teenagers have a separate set of priorities, and often religion doesn't make the cut. Think about it; most teens are worried about dating, school, their social calendar and other worries.

So how do you get your teen more involved in religion without getting the cold shoulder? Here you'll find a few ways to gently include your teen in your love for religion, to help them feel more involved.

Give teens a lot of freedom when it comes to exploring religion. When a teenager hears the word "no", they'll test that response over and over again, especially when it comes to their parents' wishes. So encourage their curiosity concerning religion. Introduce religious books, spiritual movies and other material to them that may help answer their questions and encourage them to seek out their own answers.

Cater to what teens are looking to get out of religion. While a parent may be searching for peace, a teen might be looking for a place to make friends who have the same set of values and morals as they do. Encourage your teen to make friends at church and to participate in activities that the church sponsors, such as volunteer service projects, church social events, spiritual movie nights and more. It is proven that when a teen has a peer group to turn to when it comes to religion, they generally do better and can be expected to continue that love of religion throughout their adulthood.

Encourage your teen to find a place in the church. Whether it is a volunteer position each Sunday morning, such as watching children in the nursery or assisting teachers, or a weekly position like taking attendance, teens that have a job to do will ultimately be more active within the religion. Having a job to do creates a sense of purpose and on those Sunday mornings while they are deciding whether or not he or she wants to go, their job might be just enough to spur them to go.

Encouraging the spiritual side of your teenager may seem like an insurmountable task, but studies show that teens who actively participate in religion throughout their teens are more likely to stay spiritual for their entire lives. It is a goal worth working towards through patience and persistence on the part of the parents.

Spiritual Warriors (http://www.spiritualwarriors.com/) sells spiritual movies. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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