children and religion

I believe a child should not be taught their parent's religion until that child can form their own opinions. It's one thing to include your child in celebrations and holidays, it's quite another to tell rhem that your religion is the only true religion. A parent should educate about all religions and all view points, and then allow them to make the decision when they're older if they wish to choose the parent's religious views or seek a different path of their own.

 

One major problem with stock ideologies is that they aren't a reflection of oneself and are therefore not the most beneficial ideologies for an individual to hold. If a child is brainwashed by religion early on they will be more likely to let ideology mold them as opposed to crafting their ideology from themselves. How they could then reach their full potential as a human being I don't know. They will be just another unremarkable replica.

 

I think it's fine to show children your beliefs, explain why you believe what you do, and let them decide if they want to partake too. Make it clear however that these are your views, and that not everyone shares them. You should assume that at younger ages they will be more willing to join in, however when they are older, make it clear that they choose their own path.

-Matt

 

There are a lot of reasons why organised religion still exists in a time where we have the knowledge and common sense to see how utterly illogical it all is, but this i believe is the main offender.

How a person develops relies strongly on their experiences in early childhood, I mean in that crucial stage your brain is still developing and can be molded into accepting anything as reality. For the first however-many years, it's common for children to accept Santa as real. And the Tooth Fairy. And God, Jesus etc because they haven't developed a proper sense of reason and well, anything is possible when you're new to being alive.
It's only sometime after this that we're told the fairytales of a man climbing down 6 billion chimneys in one night and a fairy taking your teeth and leaving money aren't real, but wait, that fairytale about heaven and hell and a guy turning water into wine and coming back from the dead IS real. How can a child be expected to interpret all this new information in a logical, rational way?

A huge percentage of societies will force their respective religions into children without giving them the option, thankfully more western societies are giving the option these days (societies where Atheism is the majority). Why else do you think that whatever country you hail from most likely will correspond to your religion? Iraqi's following Allah or Indians belonging to Hinduism. Why, if everybody was given a free, objective choice would this be the case. If it is nailed into your head from childhood you will be FAR less likely to question your religion later in life. Who is ready to let go of everything they know, believe, trust in if they lived that way their entire existence?

Considering the fragility of a young mind, i think giving children options, or at least refraining from teaching religion as definitive truth is the next crucial step for eradicating ancient religions and taking the next step as a human race towards a better understanding.

If only that were possible though... I strongly doubt religious schools in places like the middle east or even christian schools will be going anywhere anytime soon

 

Most religious organizations (in the West, at least) are aware that it is much harder to fool an adult than a child. They know that their survival largely depends on early indoctrination. They will continue to practice this as long as it is possible.

 

In my experience most people tend to grow out of it. Then when asked their religion on a census they'l put Christian beacuse other than not really beleiving or caring they haven't given it much thought.

 

...until they have kids of their own, who get taken to church for reasons unknown to me. Maybe the parents mistakenly believe that there is no other way to teach their children about right and wrong or behavior that is consistent with self-preservation. Or the grandparents apply pressure.

 

Children come to learn, you teach them something all the time in all ways. You teach them culture and attitudes and direct their affinities at every turn. Religious is far from the only arbitrarily regimental education.

 

Then you take it ethically that the family educates the child with an open mind beyond all Reason.

 

I don't think it's right, but I think the parents genuinely think they're doing what is right. I think everybody turns out pretty much ok, so whatev.

Still, the truth is an important thing. And it's sad to see good souls get locked up in fear produced by religion.

 

I think the better lesson than family to be creature-hood. Culture is a pathogenic lie, promising salvation while delivering disease.

 

Religion is the reasonable truth of the reasonable family, but you see most loving families are reasonably wrong; so children learn from their own choices better at school.

No, I thought religion was for choice in this I guess WRONG minded family.

 

Fear, narrow-minded anger, and obligation.

 

I can't stand the idea of parents indoctrinating their kids into religion, especially before they're old enough to know better or develop their own beliefs. Liek christian schools, christian camps, taking kids to church, etc.
They're teaching religion as fact and kids take it as fact because they don't know any better.

 

Religion is essentially culture. It's tradition, it's the same when a parent passes down a family recipe, or a bedtime story, or a favorite saying.

The only true injustice is when parents pass down their intolerance.

 

I assume your God is Cernunnous, THE God of Gods?

 

Maybe the only thing to do is see these religions in a positive light, since they're not going away. There has to be some positive light. They make pretty buildings.

 

They've gotta blow something up, right?

 

my boyfriend and I are both staunch atheists, borderline anti-theists, but we love churches, stained glass, etc. for their art and architecture. beautiful.

 

Based on the Bible's "Eye-for-an-eye" and what the Bible says should be done to non-believers, back-sliders, and/or apostates, atheists should stab pregnant Bible-believing women in the snatch and rip them up from there to their rib cage. Stomping the resultant live fetus to death is optional.


As the Kike-Christian's tender-hearted, compassionate God said:

"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." (Hosea 13:16)

Don't get me wrong, as an agnostic I would never do such a thing. However, I would not restrain or berate an atheist for doing so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pqkhzl0JrQ"]YouTube - Bill Haley Rip It Up 1956