quick clicks

preconception articles

preconception q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Considering Religion

How Will You Raise Kids?

By Lisa A. Goldstein

If a couple doesn't have a religion as their own but wants one, they should "shop around" and try different religious services and see if any are appealing, says Friedland. She recommends talking to the rabbis, ministers or priests, as well as friends. "It is important to feel comfortable in the religious community you choose," she says. "It is more than just a religion, but a religious community."

If you're actually planning to convert or adopt another religion, keep in mind that there are classes and time commitments involved. If you plan to baptize your baby, for example, and you're not Catholic, it's not as easy as showing up to a church one afternoon and asking a priest. Many churches insist on some sort of classes, and in some, an attendance requirement must be met.

Couples with differences need to consider all possibilities, including blending religious traditions in order to reach a workable place, says Tessina. "Faith is so important to one's sense of well-being and inner strength," she says. "Every religion has stories about people whose faith brought them through hard times, and hearing such stories helps."

You can make whatever decision you want – to raise the children in a faith or keep them away from it, says Tessina. If you're lukewarm about religion or if you are more spiritual, it shouldn't be too big a question. But if religion is important to one o

Want to see more?

• The Pressure Cooker: When Family Interferes
• Decisions, Decisions: Which Conception Path Is Right for You?
• Are You Too Young to Be a Parent?
• Talk about it!