It's funny you mention this. I was raised in a completely secular household, and one of my earliest memories is wondering, at age three, about "who" created everything. It was a vague instinct I simply had in my youth.

When's the last time you've been to an anglican church?

As a father I disagree... my children are raised up to be free thinking, but Im going to be honest with them and tell them what I believe. The problem with statements like yours is that you assume there is no evidence or logic within religious belief... that is a myth.

Common sense is learnt behaviour.... the child will learn by observation...

You are confusing upbringing with education... one is not the same.... but to answer your question Shintoism.

Whose God?
By definition, God, who is the ultimate being, is not defined by any of us!

I can sense a bitterness in you in regards to prayer.

Wow, psychological analysis over the Intertubez. Almost as convincing as telepathy over the telephone.

All I got from Susan's post was that she doesn't think it works. Personally I would add in confirmation bias and a post hoc, ergo propter hoc fallacy.

But in the same way as Susan does, I am glad your child got better.

I can sense a bitterness in you in regards to prayer.</blockquote.

Please point out the bitterness in the words I typed. The fact that I don't accept your interpretation does not mean I have negative, ulterior motives.

You haven't answered my questions.

1) How many people prayed just as desperately for their children and were met with negative results?

2) How many fevers have broken without prayer?

It is in the nature of asking that one is appealing for the generosity of the other- meaning we show humility when asking a favor for how can a giver willingly give when the one asking shows a sense of entitlement.

So, everyone who prayed desperately for their child to get well and whose prayer wasn't answered just didn't pray right? Not enough humility?

As I said, I am very glad your child is OK. But too many other children weren't or aren't no matter how humble, fervent, submissive and faithful the prayers. About that, I am not glad at all.

I can sense a bitterness in you in regards to prayer. Prayer is a communication to God and as part of a communication process, there may be times that one needs to ask. But prayer is not all about asking. It is about building relationship. It is desiring to do His will and to be one with Him.
It is in the nature of asking that one is appealing for the generosity of the other- meaning we show humility when asking a favor for how can a giver willingly give when the one asking shows a sense of entitlement.
My prayer for my son was an appeal to His goodness and power being our Creator. It was a prayer of submission and willingness to carry the cross, if need be. Time and again, He proved that I could not outdo His generosity.

But that's not how the psychological acquisition of belief works.

If the parents are both believers, the child will emulate them, in the same way sipping a cool beverage and sighing a content "Ahhh..." afterwords is an acquired trait, not a natural one.

Kids mimic their parents in nearly everything we do, and they believe nearly everything we say to them, because this is the nature of child psychology.

So religious parents will more often than not lead to the child acquiring the same beliefs and practices of the parents.

Adopted twin studies for example prove this quite nicely.