"Teach your children while they are young and they will not depart from the way."A form of brainwashing or not

Question

Okay, don't bash my head in I know it sounds a bit harsh. But, when children are in their formative years they are most receptive to the vivid imagery the bible depicts. The fear of God is more easily instilled into a young mind than that of an adult. Children easily accept the concept of the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus but the fear factor is not added but for the exception of having to be a good little boy or girl for Santa to come and visit. But religion is a whole other thing. Is not the concept of fear the most effective tool to make a person stay true to God and in order to perpetuate the faith. What I suppose I'm trying to ask is why not let children grow up and let them decide for themselves?

Answer 1

the true wording of that scripture is, train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it.

but as for the young mind, is that why they teach evolution in the school?

do atheist teach their children that there is no God? just wondering, I do not know.

Answer 2

Well, if they have no background in religion, what information are they going to decide on? If they've never actually entered a church or read the bible ( even a little ), how accurate can their opinions be?

You can't force a child to be a Christian. Now matter how hard you try. Either they are or they aren't. I would say that I was a Christian until I was about 27. I went to church all my life. ( in one form or another )

I always had more questions. And that Bible is a complicated ( if not boring ) piece of work. Nothing a child would be interested in. But the fact that I had a background understanding of Christianity allowed me to pursue it further when I was older.

If you want the child to think for itself, make sure it's making informed decisions.

Answer 3

The time period "brainwashing" is an excessively difficult one. If you're a mother or father and also you inform your youngsters to not do medicinal drugs, ingesting is dangerous, and many others., is not that still "brainwashing?" Since you realize that those courses are primary for the lifetime of your youngster, you are making to drill in those ideals at a tender age. For many, faith is a most important, or probably the most, side of existence. They strongly think that their faith is correct and for the sake of the youngster and themselves, "brainwash" their youngsters. That additionally might pass underneath whether or not or no longer it's the youngsters fault for being brainwashed (for illustration: the Nazis or the present day terrorists). My perception is that in case you pass to a ways with it then it's brainwashing, like no longer permitting them to revel in of just a little little bit of some thing unique, if it perhaps moneymaking to them. This is an excessively sensitive and arguable matter, however I desire my solutions have helped explain somewhat extra! :)

Answer 4

I'm teaching my daughter about the Jesus and the teachings in the Bible. I've been in church since I was a baby- my parents taught me about the Bible, about right and wrong, but left the decision about accepting Christ up to me. They never tried to "scare" me into a decision. They felt that when I was ready and the Spirit was calling me, I would make that choice on my own. And I did. Have I messed up and made mistakes? You better believe it. But I'm so thankful for the way I was raised. I have made the decision to NOT teach my daughter to believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, etc. because of the very fact that I don't want her thinking that I've lied to her. I feel that she may one day question "Well, if I was taught to believe in Santa, and he's not real, how do I know that I wasn't lied to about Jesus?". I never believed in Santa or the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy- but I still got gifts, got money for my teeth- I just knew that they came from my parents. Spirituality is a choice everyone has to make for themselves. As a Christian, I'm always glad to share what I believe and what God has done for me. I'm happy that I am a Christian, and I will raise my daughter in the church. I will pray with her and for her, read the Bible to her and try my best to be a role model for her to follow, but I know that she must make her own decisions.

Answer 5

Disclaimer - I am not religious. I will never push religion on my children.

However the reason I see many parents doing so is to make sure their children are "saved" and "god fearing creatures". It makes sense. People that are religious are religious (mostly) because they need something tangible to grasp onto, a faith, a salvatian, a opiate to help them sleep better at night. This is something they believe to be TRUE and the only way. So of course they want the same for their children because it's the RIGHT way (in their minds), just as I think it's the RIGHT way to let children decide for themselves.

Answer 6

Two reasons:

1. The True God that true Christians believe in is not fear inspiring.

2. The Lord chooses whom to save and whom to condemn. He can just as easily reconcile an adult unto Himself as He can a child.

Answer 7

I see raising a child in the faith of their parents much the same way as I see instilling them with morals.
You don't raise your children with no instruction, and then just hope they choose the right way, correct?
It's the same way with religion. Of course my children will have a choice. But I'd rather raise them in my faith (my husband is agnostic), so that they'll have that as a foundation later on, if they so choose.
I hope this makes sense.

Answer 8

We learn many things that are harsh from our parents, or should any way. Don't get in a car with a stranger. Don't go near a strange dog. Yet we balance that with a desire to be nice to strangers and animals. So in order to do that wisly we need some guidelines as parents. Christian ethics do that. But do not get Christianity mixed up in religion. There is only one Christ but many religions.

Answer 9

Did you know that the term "the fear of God" actually means reverence, and not the word "fear", as in to be afraid ?
I think it's a great idea to teach children some form of religion.
What do they have to hold onto when times get tough ?

Answer 10

I am a Christian and raised my two daughters to believe in The God of the Bible and in Jesus Christ, His only Son! When they began asking questions about other religions, I provided them with the same resources that I had when I began asking my own questions, after my salvation experience. They both have very good friends who believe differently, but they have all agreed to disagree on this subject due to the fact that they are all grounded in their own beliefs.