Parenting and Faith

A friend of mine recently told me that he had heard some statistics that relate bad relationships with parents, particularly fathers, with the loss of faith in later life.

I thought that it would be a good issue to explore.

Having studied psychology to a reasonable level through counselling, I understand only too well the impact and bearing that parental models and styles have on the way we are shaped as individuals.  As we grow and mature the events of childhood play a significant role in the way we develop our own patterns of behaviour.

So the comment that my own difficult relationship with my own father may be a factor in my turning away from the faith of my youth.  However, my own philosophical position as an Agnostic does take the significant impact away from that idea as the main reason.  Because I have not totally rejected my childhood faith and kept a position of neutrality would lessen the impact of that idea somewhat.

Another area which poses some difficulty is the idea of God as a man.  In my own Christian experience I did not see God as a person with the male characteristics.  Instead the idea of God, for me, encompassed male and female characteristics.  It is easy to demonstrate both in the pages of the bible as God is described in both motherly and fatherly terms.

We would have to explore the other areas of life that relate to bad relationships with parents to see if they have a connection.  It is certainly an interesting idea that may help some to understand their walk away from their faith.  If you have walked away from your faith and you have a bad relationship with your father or both parents, let me know. 

Some articles that may be helpful include:

Parents, the Image of God, and Mysticism:  http://www.primal-page.com/mysti.htm