WHO is a child? - Xtianty and Islam please

[Ciel_Rouge]

However, if I'm a parent and my child is following a religion that I believe to be quite harmful to his/her development--say, a religion that condones rape, or requires human sacrifice--aren't I obligated to act in what I believe are the best interests of my child, and attempt to de-convert my child?

Indeed. However, convert from what? Shouldn't the choice of religion be made by a person when he or she becomes an ADULT?

What if a child suffers from something like gangrene, and refuses to have their leg amputated, endangering their life? As a parent, wouldn't I be obligated to intervene in my child's decision?

I suppose it all depends on how permanent a proceedure would be. A hole in the throat that will later heal is less serious and has less impact on subsequent life than cutting of limbs and making a person who will become an adult unable to walk and socially disadvantaged (e.g. dating). I suppose first and foremost, it should be an INFORMED choice. And what if later on it turns out this leg could have been saved? Just imagine how THAT would complicate your relations. What seems a bit shocking is the complete lack of consideration for what the child wants or uninvolvement in the decision-making process when the decision will affect something as important.

Who decides what is "reasonable"? What if eating the food they didn't like was to build character--to prepare the child for living in the real world?

And this one is a big NO-NO for me. How should THAT prepare a young person for the "real" world? If you make a person constantly eat a food they do not like they will certainly become frustrated and later on paranoid, schizophrenic etc. IMHO by doing this you will actually WEAKEN the character of a future adult because they will assume they are not worthy of following their personal choices in life. The very same child can later "put up" with an abusive partner or get stuck in a lousy job.