Why are religious people so cruel to their children – is God just a monster?

Question

What could possibly be more mentally damaging to children than telling them over and over again from birth there exists an invisible person (God or whatever) who is unwilling to prove he exists watching them every second of every day, reading their thoughts, and if they don't believe in this invisible person they will be tortured for eternity?

Yet we tell the same children that monsters don't exist so it's silly to be scared of monsters.

Answer 1

Yes I got slapped in the face by a nun when I was six because I asked her how God could be the father, the son and the holy ghost.

Answer 2

Who says there is no proof that He exists. And I am not talking about the bible as being the source of proof, which it is but there is also proof outside the bible which shows proof of His existence.

Is the lack of proof based on Him not manifesting Himself physically or even audibly. You don't see the wind yet you know its there. you don't see cell or tv signals yet you know they are there. You look at a building and a painting and know without seeing that there must have been a builder and a painter yet you look around at creation and question if there is a creator. Another one is the banana. Note that the banana:

1. Is shaped for human hand
2. Has non-slip surface
3. Has outward indicators of inward content:
Green-too early,
Yellow-just right,
Black-too late.
4. Has a tab for removal of wrapper
5. Is perforated on wrapper
6. Bio-degradable wrapper
7. Is shaped for human mouth
8. Has a point at top for ease of entry
9. Is pleasing to taste buds
10. Is curved towards the face to make eating process easy

To say that the banana happened by accident is even more unintelligent than to say that no one designed the Coca Cola can, but that it evolved.

BTW who says monsters don't exist. I guess it would depend upon your idea or definition of what a monster is. The literal definition is:

mon·ster Pronunciation (mnstr)
n.
1.
a. An imaginary or legendary creature, such as a centaur or Harpy, that combines parts from various animal or human forms.
b. A creature having a strange or frightening appearance.
2. An animal, a plant, or other organism having structural defects or deformities.
3. Pathology A fetus or an infant that is grotesquely abnormal and usually not viable.
4. A very large animal, plant, or object.
5. One who inspires horror or disgust: a monster of selfishness.

I am sure there are many who define certain humans as monsters, and still be able to keep with the traditional meanings of the word they would be correct.

Answer 3

You raise an interesting question. Two questions, as a matter of fact.

First, it is unfair to label God a monster when judging what people do. People have their own free will. It would be like blaming the car for the DUI.

Second, I think you take issue with the fact that God (or whatever) is unwilling to prove he exists. This is patently untrue. He just doesn't do it in a way that proves it to you. When you die and go to meet Him, you will have all the proof you need. In the mean time, think about this: blindly following someone because you are afraid of them because of what they can do (based on things you have seen) is not faith it is fear. Faith comes from inside, not outside.

Answer 4

God is not a monster it is humans that are. It is better to believe in a higher power that is good regardless of what our circumstances are.. if nothing else it imparts at least some morality and goodness in a world that is slowly worsening day by day. Believing in something eternally good rather than entertaining the prospect that there is nothing out there and evil just is... works for most. If you don't want to believe then "Don't Believe".. it is your perogative to teach what you will to your child. We all are entitled to our own opinions on the matter.. and it doesn't make me hate you for your beliefs.. I respect where your coming from about christianity and how it may be damaging to children, but I don't see it that way.. I guess to each his/her own.

Answer 5

I suppose that if someone described God in that way to their children, then that probably would be damaging.

However, that is not how my Baptist parents explained God to me.

Therefore, the premise behind your question is faulty.

And God did prove that he exists.

Jesus returned from the dead and appeared to over 500 witnesses (according to Paul) to show that he was alive again.

One of the main reasons that I believe in Christianity is that the people who knew Jesus were willing to be tortured to death rather than change their story that they saw Jesus return from the dead.

If the apostles were lying about seeing the resurrected Christ, then why didn't they take back their story when they were individually being tortured to death? Every one of the apostles (Except John, who died a natural death in exile on Patmos), were killed for their faith. Wouldn't a liar recant this story to save his own life?

What did the apostles have to gain by making it all up? What good does power, control or fame do for a dead person?

I accept the apostles' story because the witnesses were creditable.

PS: Yes, I have heard the crack about suicide bombers, but the main difference between the modern bombers & the apostles are: (1) the bombers did not see Mommand personally, so they are not eye-witnesses to anything (Unlike Peter, & Paul, who claimed to see Jesus alive with their own eyes and then died rather than take it back); and, (2) the bombers are killing innocent people (others) for their faith, not suffering for it (I assume that blowing yourself up is quick & painless compared with being crucified.).

Answer 6

I'll give you that there are some extremists. However, a good person will teach about God and tell their children how much God loves them. They teach in a way that offers guidance and hope through their belief in God. When they teach that God is watching over them....it also means that he cares about them and is watching out for them. Teaching your children the Ten Commandants are good rules for your children to live by. Sorry you had such a bad experience with the teachings of God.

Answer 7

OK. I'm 53. I was raised believing in God. My psyche was not harmed in this belief. I was never afraid of God. Nor did I see Him as a monster. I raised my children to believe in God. They are not damaged goods either. I see proof of God's existence every day of my life ... in the sky, the flowers, trees, people, grandchildren, children, my husband ... I feel sorry for you that you have such a warped view of God. I'm sorry that someone has poisoned your mind against Him. By falling victim to this mindset you are letting Satan win your soul. I pray you will turn toward Jesus. He loves you so much that He died on the cross for your sins. Please don't wait too long. God bless!

Answer 8

Crime and Punishment, sin and consequence, whatever you want to call it, there is no law without enforcement. People tell their children, congregation, followers that there is a hell to keep them from wanting to go there. It's really not rocket science. If my choice were living on billowy cloud and hearing harp music all day or just being dead, I pick dead. I f*cking hate harp music. The reason why, is just that simple. A supreme authority who smiles his approval, or represents consequence, attempts to keep a sinful people from sinning. (Real or not)
How come you're so angry at it Brenda? If you don't believe it, dont worry about it. But if you need to continue to wonder why Governments impose laws and penalties, Santa Clause wants you to be good and not bad, and why religions need someone to put their faith in. Maybe we should all go to the church of Brenda, just because we can see you, touch you, and hear you, that might be all thats needed.
Everyone, "Welcome to the New World Order" Brenda makes the rules!

Answer 9

You know Brenda, I think there are a whole lot scarier things out there now than God. My son is twenty-four, happily married, very successful in his work and has never once conveyed to me any fear of God. He was taught that God is love, that Jesus loves him. My mother just passed away and one of the things that gives him great comfort is that he knows that she is safe and happy and healthy now in heaven and that one day he will see her soon. If you want to worry about children in this world why not look into all the physical, sexual and mental abuse that children these days face. There are drugs out there now that make what I smoked (and yes mam I INHALED THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF SMOKING) in the 70's.
If you want to teach your kids to look out for "monsters" start in your community, with, possibly your next door neighbor. The last thing kids need to fear is a loving parent(s) who teach them about God and Christ.
Good luck to you and you kids, and God bless you.
I just wanted to add a point that I try to make when people always associate "religion" with "Christians" what about the "religious" people that strap bombs on their children's backs and send them into the market place or some other populated area to blow up the child and other innocent people in the name of "religion" I frankly am much more scared of some one like that, aren't you!!!

Answer 10

First of all i think that invisible person proves he exists every second of every day, your lungs breathe in oxygen
, your brain thinks, your heart pumps.
In my opinion not believing in a second world to come and the outcomes that your actions will cause can be even more painfull to a child as he/she is growing up believing there is no long term affect to what you are doing in this world.

Answer 11

God is NOT cruel and we r not 2 kids; God is not a person and willing 2 show He exsists ( the Holy Bible ) and unbelievers won't b eternally tortured ( they'll burn forever bad they sinned; in Psalms 37: 10 & 20. ) Another thing, God is no monster.