Is religious indoctrination of children a form of child abuse ?

Answer 1

its brainwashing

Answer 2

Perhaps, but there must be some basic moral tenants or the child will not know right from wrong. In the U.S., we've opted to allow this type of moral imprinting to be handled by the parents.

It isn't difficult to say that this is a better method when comparing this system to governmentally provided indoctrination, which is the alternative.

Keep in mind that this issue can cut both ways, criminalizing indoctrination would also prevent you from passing down your own values to your children

Answer 3

I don't think it's a form of abuse. Many people just consider it as part of a child's upbringing. It is an attempt to indoctrinate the child into a system of ethics that they wish the child to adopt. The only really problem with this is that the child is raised with blinders on. They are taught that there is only one way to speak, one way to see, one way to hear, one way to think, one way to live. In doing so the child is closed off from the "bigger picture." Unfortunately this often leads to a very bigoted view.

Answer 4

I think so.
I think all religion is basically inherited from one generation to the next.
Let's face it.
If President Bush had been born in Iraq... to Iraqi parents, within an Iraqi community, with Iraqi relatives....he would have been raised as a follower of the Koran and thought Allah was the ONE and only.
The two words that scare religious communities throughout the world are:
Free Thinkers.

Answer 5

What is religion and what is indoctrination? If by religion, you mean the world view of the person, then we have no choice but to teach our children this! It would be suicide for a society not to teach the children what it knows about the world.

Answer 6

99 times out of 100, no.

There are cases (Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church) where I think it is child abuse. (If you don't know who that is, look him up... his websites are www.GodHatesAmerica.com and www.GodHatesFags.com).

Most young people will eventually grow up and either stick with their parents religion or find their own. Some religions there's a lot more pressure to stay than others (Jehovah's Witnesses, Sevent Day Adventists, etc.). My church is made up of people who were raised Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Jewish, etc. Each of them went on a journey to find their own religion.

So, no it's not abuse. It's typical parenting. Unless, they are raising their children in a cult that will put them in a position where they will not be able to function as an adult.

Answer 7

Religious indoctrine may be if it is one that rapes and brainwashes it's kids or makes a kid not be able to think for himself due to prosecution by his church or fear of the law. Christianity is for believers of God and there isn't brainwashing going on there. Christians believe in everyone making a choice for themselves because God allows us to make choices.

Answer 8

No, religion is a good thing. It is a tool we have created to help us deal with what we don't and may never know. A person without religion will go through life asking impertanent questions that have no real bearing on their current path in life. Religion is not meant to decieve you, it is the people manipulating religion that are deceiving you. Jesus is good, Mohammud is good, any religion is good.

Answer 9

Great question and should upset a few people.
I guess it could be if left alone with a priest. And we all know it happens. Sorry its a cheap shot at the church but truth hurts.
If you choose to have your children pray to their imaginary friend and fill there heads with half truths and fear then maybe it is.

Answer 10

Anyone who teaches a child that the accumulated myths and superstitions of his ancestors which have been dogmatized, institutionalized and mounded into the colossal pile of crap they call ultimate truth, is definitely abusing a child's intellect.

Answer 11

yes, but unfortunately it is not prosecutable unless the existence of the religion in question pisses off enough Christians, then it's called a cult. But that is just the pot calling the kettle black.