Do you think it's wrong to brainwash kids into believing in god?

Question

If it's no please give your reason.

Answer 1

Yes

Answer 2

Since it is obvious by looking at the universe and everything that is in it that there has always been a God, it seems strange that you may ask such a question. Perhaps you have not heard that there has always been a heaven and a hell as well as a God who created you with a purpose and a devil who hates you simply because God loves you and made you in his image. To teach a youngster about God is a responsibility. Anyone who holds to the opinion that humans come from monkeys or somehow "evolved" ought to have his head examined. Where do you think the world came from? Where do you think that you will go after your body dies? I highly suggest that you do some investigating and find out what those Christians are up to. Talk to some of them, attend a couple of church services, and read the Bible for yourself. After all, you would not want to suffer the consequences of being misinformed, would you?
Mr. M on "brainwashing kids."

Answer 3

Not really.

If the kids are going to be of the type that won't change their minds when they grow up, it doesn't matter what they're told as kids, they'll have something they'll brainwash themselves into believing, and if they're going to be mindless drones, they might as well be of the same religion as their parents, for less friction.

If they are going o be of the type that will believe something else, it doesn't matter what they're told as kids, they can change their minds later.

Some people in this life go through it sleepwalking, they don't use any part of their brains, they never will, so it doesn't matter.

I was told about Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy. I don't totally believe in them now, but sometimes I do because it's fun. I was indoctrinated for years at a fundamentalist christian school. I'm not a christian now.

So, it doesn't matter. The drones will be drones their whole lives, sleepwalking from birth to their graves. What fairy tales their fed in their youth will stay with them for their whole lives, but it doesn't matter, since they'll latch onto anything.

Wow, and this was a stupid question too.

Answer 4

If they are your own kids, no because parents have a right to teach their own children their beliefs about god and to take them to the church of their choice.

If they are not your kids but you have the parents consent, no, but if they are not your kids even if they are your grand kids, then yes if the parents object.

The problem is when grandparents believe they have the obligation to teach their grand kids their religion against the parents will because they believe it is God's will.
Grandparents are not the only ones who do this. I have seen churches try and get kids to go to their hurch without the parents consent and then teach the kids something completely different than the parents religion.

My parents turned my kids against me and I was a faithful Christian at the time and and they were mad because I had left their precious Pentecostal church. I haven't seen my parents or my kids in over 10 years.

I left Christianity 6 years ago and have been Wiccan for at least 3 and I am much happier now.

Answer 5

There is an abuse and wrong use of the word 'brainwash' here.
When you say somebody being 'brainwashed', you don't really know what is the meaning of the word. Kids believing in religion (you mean their brains are darkened by something wrong!), and you try to convine them out of their faith, that is brainwash. And under despotic regimes, children are brainwashed by threat (throwing out of schools), and even by violence (continously killing as Iran being refuted ineffectively by the UN for decades now!) Then who are doing the brainwashing, believers or dictators?
Please, let men think and make decision for themselves, especially in this age of the maturity of mankind.

Answer 6

Yes, I do. You don't have to opress your religious views on your children in order to teach them what you think is right. Given, your religious values certainly play a role in the decisions you make as a parent, and as a person, but you should not teach your children to blindly follow whatever religion you choose for yourself. You should teach them your religion, but most importantly, you should teach them WHY it is right. If you can't do that, you probably chose the wrong religion anyway.

But if you find it hard to believe one can reason with a child, then you are right. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying raise your children as you see fit, teach them the religious faith that you want them to follow, and when they get older, TALK TO THEM about WHY they should believe what they DO. In other words, don't just make them believe whatever you do in blind faith; make them understand WHY they should believe it, and if they don't, so be it. You did your best. But to SOME extent, you're always "brainwashing" your children, whether you're Christian, atheist, or whatever. If you're not teaching your young children, who haven't the ability to form their own opinions yet, what YOU believe to be right, you're being a bad parent. Period. It's whether you actually teach them the things you believe, or you just force it upon them, that is the key issue.

Answer 7

If you have to brainwash your children to believe in god, then what type of parent are you? Teaching children about religion is necessary in my book. If you would like children to believe in god, you have to teach them, not brainwash them. Why that choice of word in the first place? Are you trying to say that teaching them about god is brainwashing them? If so, you have the wrong meaning of brainwashing.

Answer 8

Yes, I think it's wrong. They shouldn't be brainwashed to believe in something because they should be given the opportunity to make a choice for themselves later on whether they want to believe in god or not.

Answer 9

I never have met a child that didn't believe in God..I believe that kids are in touch with their creator as soon as they are born, what I think happens is that some people or world circumstances change the child's mind about the existence of God, not the other way around...no one had to tell me or "brain wash" me into believing in God. I have always believed in God and I was not raised in a "religious" home.

Answer 10

I think the parents who do the 'brainwashing' honestly feel they have their children's best interests in mind. Realistically, they do have the right to teach them the ways of the world as they see fit, provided they're not advocating that they do anything illegal or self-damaging.

Addendum : Naturally, as the child gets older and more independent, they will rebel against their parents. So the parental influence only counts for so much.

Answer 11

Would you be willing to define the difference between brainwashing and teaching? I taught my children about God. They have each grown up and chose their own religion. I think most countries would be better if children were taught about God and religious tolerance.