Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret, addresses psychological studies discussing the effects of religion on children. In this novel, Judy Blume shows the trials and tribulations that a young girl goes through trying to adapt to religion. Margaret was raised by parents with two separate religions, but practices neither. After moving to a town where everyone conforms to one religion, she must face the judgment of her new friends. Feeling different, she chooses to explore both parents' religions, while also dealing with cliques and bullying from her group of friends. Judy Blume is quoted as saying, “I felt like I had always known Margaret. When I was in sixth grade, I wanted to grow physically like my classmates. And like Margaret, I had a very personal relationship with God that had little to do with organized religion. God was my friend and confidant.” Judy Blume wrote this story to connect with young people struggling with social cliques and religion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Positive Effects of Raising a Child with an Organized Religion. Many parents assume that raising a child in religion will push their children to behave morally, and many studies confirm this belief. According to Regnerus, “The potential benefits associated with personal religiosity have been well documented. They may include less use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco; lower rates of depression and suicide; better sleep quality; and greater hope and life satisfaction.” Religion can help people make sense of a confusing world, provide encouragement, motivate kindness, and unite communities. There are many scientific studies that confirm these results, stating that religion is a sort of buffer system between the stress and anxiety of the outside world. According to Michael, “A child who experiences a sense of belonging, or cohesion, is a much healthier child who can handle stress. Belonging means more than relationships. Belonging is the sense that our lives matter to others.” Some sources show that children raised with religion are psychologically healthier than children raised without religion. These results show that children raised in religious families and who participate in religious events react better to discipline and control themselves more easily. Bartkowski stated that "religion emphasizes moral codes aimed at instilling values ​​such as self-control and social competence." Religion is also known to help children define their identity, and for some children religion provides an anchor, especially during times when they are confused by their choices. According to Ungar Ph.D., “Religious activities give them the ability to make decisions, even if that decision concerns only whether to participate wholeheartedly in the practices of their faith.” The negative effects that organized religion has on children. Organized religion is defined as a structured system of faith or worship, especially followed by large numbers of people. For many years people have used religion to justify horrendous actions. Children are taught from an early age that God watched his only innocent son be killed for the wrongdoings of humanity, and through this action humanity's sins are somehow forgiven. Also, growing up believing that if you don't behave, or if you commit an act of "sin", when you die you will go to hell with an evil demon lurking ready to torture you for eternity. According to the Apocalypse: "But the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, thefornicators, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars will have their part in the burning lake of fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Furthermore, according to the Quran, "Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their ears. , there is a covering over their eyes and there is a great punishment for them." Imagine growing up and believing that those who accept Jesus as their savior will earn their rightful place in heaven, while those who cannot or do not have those same beliefs are destined to rot in hell. The effects of raising a child with religious freedom. Religious freedom is defined as “the right to choose a religion (or no religion) without interference from the government”. , or freedom of conscience, is a significant component of a diverse society Studies show that children who are encouraged to discover their religion, or lack thereof, have a better sense of who they are and positive self-expression. Religious freedom is a “fundamental right” for all American citizens, including children. Religious freedom is more than just believing what you want, it is also the freedom to speak and practice your core beliefs without anyone or the government interfering. Of course there are exceptions to this right and there are cases where people try to abuse it. While most people have good intentions in mind, there are some with bad intentions. For example, the 9/11 radicals who orchestrated this attack sought to use their right to religious freedom to justify their actions. While this event and many others are examples of people abusing their rights, this should not be a reason to violate children's right to express their religion. The effects of denying children their religious freedom. Denying your child religious freedom and choice in most states is a form of child abuse, like denying your child medical care because of a parent's beliefs. In 34 states (plus the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico), there are exemptions in civil child abuse laws when medical treatment for a child conflicts with the parents' religious beliefs. Aleksandra Sanstrom says: “In most cases, adults are free to make their own decisions about how or even whether they want to treat an illness. But when the patient is a minor and still legally under the guardianship of parents or guardians, from child welfare and medical needs to parental rights and religious freedom.” An example of this occurred on May 9, 1989 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where juvenile diabetes went medically untreated. The boy's mother and stepfather were Christian Scientists and had their son cared for by a church practitioner rather than a doctor. This was contrary to the boy's plea for help, and the boy later died in a diabetic coma. According to MassKids, “On October 9, 1989, the parents and Christian Science practitioner assisting the child were indicted for manslaughter by a grand jury. However, in April 1990, a district court judge dismissed all manslaughter charges, citing a Minnesota religious exemption statute. A Minnesota appeals court upheld the lower court's decision to dismiss the charges, and in September 1990, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 4-2 to uphold the dismissal of the charges. All three courts based their rulings on the due process notice requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. They established that the exemption law 2019.