It’s often said that children learn a lot from their surroundings, especially from what they see and hear at home. They pick up values and behaviors from their parents and carry these lessons into their own lives, influencing not just their family but future generations too. However, a concern is growing that many children are moving away from faith and religion, seeing them as limits that take away their freedom and set standards that are too high. But could this view be overlooking something important?

High standards are common in many areas like school, work, and personal growth, where they help us achieve excellence and improve. In the same way, religion sets high standards not to limit us but to improve our lives. It gives us a moral direction and helps develop qualities like kindness, honesty, and persistence. These standards aren’t about taking away our freedom but guiding us to a more fulfilling life, similar to how a parent’s care is meant to protect us and help us grow.

The idea that religion limits freedom comes from not fully understanding its worth. While it might look like religious rules are meant to control us, they’re actually there to free us from confusion about what’s right and wrong, and the problems that come from bad choices. Religion gives us a set of guidelines that help us choose the right actions, not just any action we feel like taking.

In his book, “You Cannot Cancel God – Eight Infinite Gifts of Religion,” Cameron R. Lorenc looks into why faith is still important today. He explains that spirituality is a natural part of being human, and ignoring it doesn’t make it less important but means we miss out on many great things it offers. Lorenc wants to remind us that spirituality provides valuable gifts like optimism, love, rescue, and a greater awareness into our lives and the world, even though we often don’t notice it. Religion helps improve our lives by giving us strong values and a feeling of being part of a community. These benefits are very important today because many people feel alone and disconnected. By embracing what religion offers, people can lead lives that are more balanced, meaningful, and connected with others.

As you think about the values you teach your children, ask yourself if you’re including the spiritual wisdom that has helped many generations. Are we accidentally teaching our children to value freedom without responsibility, rather than the deep wisdom gained from a life guided by faith? Lorenc’s book encourages us to think about how we include faith in our lives and our children’s lives, making sure that what we teach helps improve each new generation.

Religion isn’t just old rules; it’s a valuable tool for personal growth and moral guidance. As Lorenc explains in “You Cannot Cancel God,” ignoring our spiritual side can hold us back from growing personally and living harmoniously with others. Future generations will benefit from rethinking our stand on freedom, discipline and beliefs. Consider experiencing the amazing benefits your religion of choice will provide to you and your family.