Can a child refuse to practice a religion?

Answer 1

Yes. His or her parents have to decide how to handle the situation, but the child can refuse, just as a child can refuse to eat vegetables, or clean their room, or do their homework.

ADDING TO THE ABOVE

If the question is regarding "practice" then no once can involuntarily practice any religion. A parent may force a child to attend a meeting, wear certain clothing or speak a certain language, but the child can find all sorts of ways to not practice what is otherwise a religion. They may choose not to sing, pray, listen or agree. More actively they may be disruptive, speak during silence, stand in protest or walk out of a meeting. There are a myriad of ways that a child can refuse to practice a religion.

Parents are still legally responsible for the upbringing and education of their children. Until laws are passed to the contrary a parent can maintain diet and clothing restrictions which are religiously motivated and even limit a child's activities in as much as they may require monetary or transportation assistance. However, short of bodily enforcing the observance of religion there is no way to force a child to practice.

I assume we are talking about the USA. Child abuse laws come into play here. For instance, in my state (VA), child abuse is defined by causing or threatening to cause physical, mental or emotional harm. In any number of ways a parent attempting to coerce a child may be seen legally as abuse. Allowing a child to starve themselves as a form of protest could be seen as neglect. Legally, the question of coercion and refusal is delicate.

If, however, I may bring this back to the original point. As no once can involuntarily practice a religion, if a child wants to refuse what else can be done?