Children, Parenting, and Family

Abstract

This chapter examines three other important cultural models that condition their approach to religious transmission to children—those concerning the nature of children, the task of parenting, and the importance of family solidarity. The dominant view of religious American parents about intergenerational religious transmission is also informed by a particular understanding of children's nature and potentials. In addition, American religious parents have a cultural model not only of the nature of children but also the job of parenting. Finally, conversations with religious parents about passing on religion to children brought to the surface a distinct cultural model with its own beliefs and associated feelings about the importance of family solidarity. This outlook is related to the cultural models of the nature of children and the task of parenting described above, but not reducible to them.