For comparison, we all accept that children aren't mature enough to vote for political parties, or decide on whether their economic views are free market trickle down versus Keynesian fiscal interventionists. Nobody talks about a Republican child, or a liberal child but religionists have no qualms about having preschool children make declarations of their "faith".
2006-10-05 06:40:48 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A child born in a "christian" home in the bible belt of America will be raised to believe in the literal truth of the bible and that god is the ultimate source of all knowledge.
By a simple accident of where you end up being born, a child born in Iran will be raised in a Muslim family and taught to believe that the Koran is literally true, and that Allah is the ultimate source of all knowledge.
Is this not bizarre? Is this practice not responsible for passing religious hatred from one generation to the next?
2006-10-05 06:45:42 · update #1
ANGEL
Thanks for your erudite contribution to an intellectual discussion, and your reasoned point by point analysis. Your parents , church, and Junior high school teachers must be very proud of you!
2006-10-05 06:52:06 · update #2
A few of the people who have answered have said it's "for teaching of morals". Please explain. Are you saying without religion there are no moral standards? Are you accusing atheists like myself of being amoral or immoral?
You should know that 75% of the inmates in US are christian, and less than 1% are atheist...so I don't see how an upbringing in christian based morals has helped that group.
2006-10-05 07:06:01 · update #3
I agree 100% No child should be indoctrinated into a faith when they have no choice in the matter. Children should not be subjected to religion until they are old enough to make rational decisions.
Of course if that happened religion would collapse within a generation or two.
2006-10-05 06:44:38 · answer #1 · answered by trouthunter 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
When you were a child you were born not knowing what math was, or english or science. Your parents could have decided to not put you in school under the decision that when you were old enough, you could decide on your own whether you wanted an education or not.
However, they obviously decided for you what was best because they knew you were too young to know what you needed or didn't need, and because they're aged wisdom knew you would need those skills to function properly as an adult. Religion is no different.
On a level higher than this earthly existence, parents recognize the need for a solid moral foundation in their children. Math teaches you how to add and subtract, but it doesn't teach you about not stealing, or murdering. English shows you where to put a comma or a period in a sentence so you can communicate properly, but it doesn't teach you fairness, or love.
It is faith in God and the morality of His teachings that hold societies together, not math problems and science formulas.
God bless.
2006-10-05 06:57:10 · answer #2 · answered by Danny H 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You believe all that crap you just spouted? Then why would you think it ok to fill a child's mind with the unproven theories that your view of science says is the truth. That is God hating indoctrination.. So climb down off the high horse and get a real look at life. Parents have the right/obligation to teach their children about matters of faith. We already backed off having the schools do it... Now you want to take away our right to teach our children in our churches and our homes? What kind of American are you anyway?... Jim
2006-10-05 07:01:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Any good parent wants to raise their children to know right from wrong. Each person's definition of right and wrong is influenced by outside factors. The atheist tends to look to Voltaire. The Christian looks to the Bible. The Jew to the Torah, etc. So if a parent looks to the Bible for guidance on right vs. wrong, they he/she inherently will use that to teach the child.
2006-10-05 06:56:21 · answer #4 · answered by itsnotarealname 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a baby is taught by using his prompt family individuals relating to the religion they have. this isn't any longer yet an indoctrination yet somewhat it seems that making the baby uncovered to what the family individuals comprehend as certainly one of an significant area of ways of existence of his family individuals. It basically will become a criminal offense while in the coaching, it orients the baby to stay in a manner which could be risky to the society like a faith it's time-honored to be a cult.
2016-10-18 21:07:39 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well sure children don't vote, or make economic decisions, but they are absolutely indoctrinated on the simple aspects of those subjects in school and by their parents, and I hope so, it's important for them to know about it, so when they are old enough to vote, or earn their own money they know what to do.
I think it's important for parents to teach their kids to be well adjusted and function in the world as best they can according to what they know is right, and if that includes some aspects of spiritual guidance (like God wants you to be nice to people) then I think that's just great too.
2006-10-05 06:47:23 · answer #6 · answered by daisyk 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nope,
I talk with my kids about all these things at the same time.
They cannot understand complicated economics, but the can start to understand money, and money management. They cannot have enough real life experience to belong to a political party, but they are old enough to start to understand the differences between them and their ideals.
They are not mature enough to Chose the Priesthood or understand deep theology, but they are old enough to understand there is a God and why.
Our kids start learning from the time they are born, even before.
If we as parents don't teach them, society will.
I have kids, and I don't care for the message society is pushing.
My kids are my responsibility, my hope, and my love, why would I NOT teach them Morals?
If we do not, it is not religion that would collapse, but our whole society.
Peace!
2006-10-05 06:49:03 · answer #7 · answered by C 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
the responsibility of parents is to rear their children in the laws rules and mores in the culture and society in which they live so when they reach the proper age they can take their proper place in their culture and society. once this takes place the cycle will start over again so the culture and society will continue to survive. a culture and society has existed long before we arrived and will exist long after we are gone.
2006-10-05 06:59:13 · answer #8 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO AND THEY SHALL NOT DEPART FROM IT.
TO INDOCTRINATE COMES AT AN EARLY AGE AS THIS IS WHY SCHOOLS ARE SO AGAINST CHRISTIANITY IN DAILY TEACHING. HOWEVER HUMANISM, HOMOSEXUALITY, NO MORALS, WICCAN, PAGANISM, AND NEW AGE IS ALLOWED. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THIS IN T.V., MOVIES, MUSIC, AND COMMERCIALS AIMED AT CHILDREN TO SMOKE, CHEAT, LIE, STEAL, AND HAVE SEX, TREAT MEN OR WOMEN AS SUBHUMAN.
2006-10-05 06:47:34 · answer #9 · answered by baptism_by_fire_2000 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Believe it or not, it's to protect them. Parents believe so firmly that what they believe is true, that they will brainwash their kids into believing it also.
But this is doing more harm than good, in my opinion. I think people should be free to study different beliefs and to determine what is truth on their own. Sure, parents should guide their children, but they should also encourage children to learn things for themselves.
2006-10-05 06:44:11 · answer #10 · answered by PJ 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋