Isn't it child abuse to tell a child that they'll burn in hell?

Question

To a child, telling them that if they sin and don't make up for it in the eyes of God they will burn in hell forever is metaphorical at all. It seems very real, and an extremely frightening prospect. Shouldn't children be left alone until they are of a certain age where they can think for themselves to decide which religious ideas best suit them or lack there of are best for them?

Answer 1

Great question....
When I was a child, I attended church less times than I have fingers, on one hand. Even then I felt they were being hypocrites. I don't recall ever being told that I personally was going to "burn in hell". My parents left my beliefs up to me, and I do the same. I don't think that you should push your beliefs on anyone, they will come to know God on their own terms, at their own time.
With that said, my daughter is very curious about her faith, and she knows the whole "hell" scenario, but she knows because she wanted to know.
So, I would have to say that it is up to the individual child.
Thanks for the question, very thought provoking!
~peace

Answer 2

YES! Children aren't equipped to handle that kind of stress nor can they accurately understand the gravity of such statements. Children are still learning the fundemental differences between right and wrong, yet they are tormented with images of a place of eternal torture. How can that help a child's psyche?

I once held a job as counselor at a Christian summer camp. I led the groupof the smallest girls, 1st graders. They went to their daily Bible Study, and the Youth Pastor proceeded to tell them that next year, once of them wouldn't be there, because they'd be dead, and if they didn't repent now, they'd burn in hell forever. These girls were 6 years old. I had to console 12 6 year old girls in any way that I knew how. I hated that pastor from the start.
Later on he got fired from his job for sending explicit emails to college girls through through the church computer, and his wife had just given birth to their first child.
They moved to a house in the back of the high school.
Last year he got arrested for trying to pick up a minor girl off the street in his van. He had a mattress in the back.
Evil accompanies evil.

Answer 3

Not having a 'hell' in my religion, that wasn't really an issue. My son was taught that breaking an oath was WRONG and there were prices to be paid for that type of behavior. However, he was never threatened with eternal torment of any kind. He was also taught that 'Hel' is a goddess of birth and rebirth. Her name means both "hole" and "whole". She is nothing to fear.

My son eventually found his own path. Though I raised him as an Asatruar, he eventually became agnostic. And I'm ok with that. To each their own, right? But I did manage to instill in him a sense of honor he would not have had if he hadn't been raised Asatru. He does not make oaths he cannot keep, or will not keep, and he conducts himself honorably. While I'm not sure that explaining the repercussions of being an oathbreaker (or a murderer) is entirely responsible for this, I'm sure it did contribute.

I think that children should be made aware of their cultural and religious heritage. But it should be done in such a way that they are free to pursue other paths without fear. Who wants an ignorant child? It is best that they educate themselves and choose their own path than they be indoctrinated by fear into a religion they don't really hold dear in their hearts.

~Morg~

Answer 4

Yes. I think it’s abuse. Besides, how can a child develop a meaningful, loving relationship with God if they only see him with fear?

It’s like if you were constantly told that when your father comes home from work he’s going to punish you with burning coals and fire. Why would you want to see your father? You’d probably run and hide every time you heard the car pull up.

I know this was one of the reasons I turned away from the church as a teenager. The church’s teachings were all designed to scare us into being good Christians. Never once as a child do I recall experiencing the profound sense of love I now receive from the Spirit. I think all that fear blocked any possibility for a meaningful relationship.

Answer 5

Yes, I believe it to be so. It is child abuse!! Emotional abuse! Extreme religiosity whereby the wrath of God is threatened if an individual behaves a certain way,ie, telling a child they will burn in Hell if they do not behave in a manner expected!! It is also abuse to terrorise a child,which of course this does.Children have a very vivid imagination, and it could affect them in so many way's. I have first hand of this, and believe me,no child of mine would ever be exposed to any Religion til he/she is of the age to choose.I would prefer that he/she would choose NO Religion. That would suit me,but of course, the choice would be his or hers.

Answer 6

It is true approaching a child with religion is a very touchy thing. The one thing a child shoud be taught at an early age if anything, is the truth and that is God is love. There is so much more in the scriptures to show God's love than God's wrath.

Answer 7

Yes it is and it is also a lie. Hell is not a place of eternal torment like Christendom teaches. The Bible hell is where all people both good and bad go when they die. It is the common grave.
How do we know that hell is the grave? Well, we can read many verses in God's Word that assures us of that fact. Here are but a few:

Psalm 139:8--"If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." (If hell is a fiery,hot place of torture, would David think God (Psalms 83:18) would be there ?)
Amos 9:2--"Though they dig into hell, From there My hand shall take them; Though they climb up to heaven, From there I will bring them down." ( Can you dig into fire? No, but you can dig into the earth and God can find you no matter where you try to hide.)
Jonah 2:2--"And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." ( The belly of the fish would have been Jonah's grave, if God had not rescued him.)
Ecclesiates 3:19,20--"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."
( Humans and animals go to the same place when they die)
Revelation 1:18--"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Why would Jesus need keys to hell? Because the dead do not have to stay in hell forever; they can be resurrected back to life.)
Revelation 20:13-14--"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Hell delivers up the dead, meaning a resurrection from the grave), and what happens to death & hell? They are thrown into the lake of fire, meaning total destruction.
God is love and tortures no one.
The price we pay for being born imperfect sinners is that we all die, but as seen above, our enemy death will soon be no more. --"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."__Revelation 21:4

Answer 8

No i don't think you should tell a child that they are going to burn in hell, no matter what your religion is.
i understand trying to teach a the difference between write and wrong. But by putting fear in the child? what is that going to do?

Answer 9

i totally agree with you on this .....
but you see so many religions start almost from the day the child is born brainwashing them that by the time they could CHOOSE for themselves they already believe what has been pounded into there young minds for a decade .
they should be taught different ideas and respect fro there fellow man and religion and righteous behavior and thinking would come naturally ,not through fear or brainwashing .......
but most religions are going to tell you to get it in their head early .................really scary if you ask me .

Answer 10

I totally agree i think that children should be allowed to decide what religion they shall follow
and telling a child that isnt abuse but can be very cruel and scary for a child and shouldnt be said!
xx