You did a great job making valid points, as did Dan. I think a lot of parents are out of touch with the difficulty and reality of kids growing up these days. It is crucial that we help our kids learn how to think and reason for themselves. Communication is also key, which involves speaking AND listening. I taught teenagers for over twenty years, and their biggest complaint was that their parents didn’t listen to their points of view.

One of the reasons kids and adults leave the church is because they teach of the great love of God and Jesus, then turn around and condemn different groups of people, telling their children about all the reasons so many are going to Hell. Where’s the love in that? Kids are a lot smarter than their parents think, and they can spot hypocrisy and unfairness from miles away.

Whether parents like it or not, there will come a point in their kids’ lives when they’ll make their own choices. As you and Dan both suggest, the best thing we can do for them is to give them well rounded information and set an example of living life with loving kindness for all. The days of “because I said so” and “that’s just the way it is” are all but gone.