Does excessive introduction to religion at a young age effect your logical thinking?

Question

I've observed that a fair amount of people on these boards are closet religious fanatics that don't seem to think in the same logical way that one would expect people to think (ie: rationally).

Is this an effect of being born into religion or otherwise introduced to it at a young age?

Note: I don't mean to be bashing religous types, I'm just curious to see if there's any link between life-long religion and the lack of rational thinking fanatics/fundimentalists display.

johnno K: please stick to the topic at hand. Also from my experience morals are taught through society, not through religion. If it were then we would have a lot more atheist cultures running amok in the world.

Answer 1

Well, to begin by being an absolute pedant, excessive *anything* is by definition a bad thing (that's the real meaning of the phrase 'begging the question').

I would want to distinguish between different forms of religion and religious practices here. For example, it does no harm to learn the Golden Rule, not to tell fibs, help people who are less well-off, etc. Where the potential damage lies - in the people I've seen, and I'm a counsellor - is not so much in the logical development as the emotional development: a child of excessively religious parents can grow up feeling bad about themselves, unworthy, not good enough, etc.

Having said that, I'd be equally certain that being brought up in an excessively religious household where there were no external countervailing influences (for example when a child is home-schooled by fanatics of one kind or another) then it does have an effect, sometimes a very damaging one. You might want to read a book called 'Father and Son,' by Edmund Gosse; Gosse's father was excessively religious and a strong opponent of Darwin's theory of evolution (newly arrived); the father eventually came to the conclusion that God had indeed created the world as it said in the Bible but he'd created it to look all those years older (did I say that Gosse's father studied fossils?). The book is a wonderful account of how the son managed to distance himself from his father's errors while nonetheless retaining his love for his father ... well worth reading if you're so inclined.

Answer 2

Yes I think it does. A child should be left to discover which (if any) path is right for them, in their own good time. By introducing religion early a child will take this as 'fact' and later in life may condemn other religions rather than exploring and learning about them.

No matter what religion you are/arent, it is so important to learn as much as possible about ALL the religions around us in an open minded way, so that we can have understanding and tolerance. A child who has had a particular religous belief drilled into them 'can' (not does) have similar results to children brought up in a racists environment.

But then I know many will disagree with me (go ahead, you know where the thumb down button is).

Answer 3

I think there's a clear connection between fanatical and fantastical (my word for people who believe that there is 'good luck' and witches, fairies, or Jesus, Moses or Mohammad coming to save them).

Being fed fantastical concepts at an early age trains the brain to shut down reasoning areas. I recall in second and third grade when kids would question the nun (our classroom teacher) about the religion lessons and receive stone wall answers like 'its a matter of faith' that few questions about anything else would come up later in the day.

Studies definitely need to be done on this; our ultra-religious bible belt in the South is also home to some of the dumbest people in the country.

Answer 4

Yes I would agree with that. But it doesn't have to be 'life-long'.

Fortunately, some of us escaped the cycle of indoctrination and logical thinking has returned to it's rightful place.

It doesn't have to affect people permanently - although I would say some people find it harder to throw out the religious obsession than others. That depends on the person to a certain level.

I would also add that I have met perfectly rationally-minded religious people. I have watched documentaries that present views from various religious sects and have listened to those interviewed. Many of these are open-minded and present very low levels of dogmatic traits.

I wouldn't want to paint any group with one brush.

Answer 5

I was never told anything about religion, about God and I feel like i had no guidance in life, made a lot of mistakes, which i am now reaping the consequences. When a child is introduced to religion. He learns a lot about love and respect for others. Which is what this world needs. (I am talking about the Christian Bible) I have been Christian for seven years. (I am not not a fanatic) but love God, and tries to do what the Bible says. It is helping me and my family think and act better. My younger children have a different person for a mother, than my older children did.
I see my God believing children learning about love and forgiveness, Acting different than the ones I never introduced to religion. Not to forget our laws were based on Christian believes, and our founders fathers went to the Bible for guidance. (In God we trust!) It is very hard to keep a moral lifestyle with so much pressures from friends, to do what is bad. Proverbs 22:6 TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT. Proverbs 1:7 THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE, BUT FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM, AND INSTRUCTION.

Answer 6

Wow! I posted that question re: voting about 2 or 3 weeks ago (with a clause regarding those who opt for military service) and the consensus for the most part was NO! I think it is a good idea myself. No "book smarts" can take the place of life experience in years How about this: Develop a system in "weighing" each vote according to age. No more discriminating than the "system" we have now with Oprah and Obama capitalizing on certain groups.........

Answer 7

Yes, I think so. I'll probably get alot of thumbs down. When people are taught to believe illogical things, they go through life with faulty thinking: Virgins get pregnant, dead people come back to life after 3 days.

Answer 8

Actually I do believe excessive exposure to religion at such a young age can affect one's thinking.

Chances are the kid will, in a sense, "spite" that religion when his "rebelling years" come. (early teens) And because everything is laid out plainly for the kid to see, he won't be interested in it anymore.

As compared to finding out about a religion on your own, its mystery entices you and you will, on your own, strive to learn more about it.

Answer 9

I have been brought up in religion from birth, but im far from a religious nutter, I guess it depends on your denomination and religion

Answer 10

I need to consult with the bible before I answer this...Oh, here...It says that religious dogma limits my free will of thought and actions. God says, the answer is yes.