A big part of a Catholic upbringing a home full of love and faithfulness. By this I mean a home that has a crucifix, a bible and where a child is taught prayers that they will remember for the rest of their lives and most probably they will be their favourite prayers too. This means that even at home the child is encouraged to believe that God exists and sees it as the norm to believe in God.
Taking the child to church this allows the child to see other people worshiping God. Showing them that they’re not alone that they share the same belief with hundreds of people. Here the child learns more about God, and shows the child to be committed to God by going to mass every week. The child does not have to sit through the adult service, as in many churches there are children’s liturgies, this means the readings and gospels are more child friendly, easier to understand, allowing children to learn more from church.
Throughout the early years of this child’s life it has grown up with his or her Mum and Dad being their main influence up until starting school. Now the parents decide to send their child to a Catholic school. Once at school the child’s influences suddenly grow wider to include friends, teachers as well as older pupils. At school they will learn about God and Jesus, be taught more prayers as well as traditional prayers such as the ‘Our Father’ and the ‘Hail Mary’, learn hymns, as well as being taught about the bible stories and everything they want to know about God during Religious Education lessons. All this will broaden their outlook on God seeing him as a bigger more important figure in their lives.
As the child gets older and travels up the school they reach another important stage in their Catholic upbringing. We call this, when you get to year three, The ‘Sacramental Program’. This is where the child makes their Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion. Here the child has to be a lot more independent on becoming part of Gods family for example they have to go to confession, they have to choose their confirmation name as well as receiving Holy Communion.
All these steps, from Baptism, taking the child to church, teaching them prayers to making their Holy Communion, has all been part of the child’s ‘Faith Journey’ growing and feeling closer to God with every step.
So having a Catholic upbringing is likely to lead to belief in God because children are taught that God exists and they spend most of their time with people that believe God exists.