Do you consider parents forcing children to accept their religion a form of child abuse?

Question

I think Yes. ........What would you think of parents who forced their children to accept their politics, or their taste in architecture?........ Have you ever heard anyone speak of a "Leninist child" or a "Postmodernist child"? .....................Of course not. So why, then, do we all go along with "Christian child" and "Muslim child"?
I think Such labelling of children with their Selfish parents' religion is child abuse.

I think parents should be confident in the raising of their child and believe that their child is smart enough to make the right choices

Answer 1

No, I think that such a claim has to do with the liberals' hate of religion in favor of their Socialist/secular agenda, along with their attempts to undermine parental rights (which goes with the territory of that agenda, as far as they're concerned).

Answer 2

Good question. As a kid your born into a lottery of parents.
Except in special cases, abuse etc, your stuck with whatever the parents 'are' for quite a while good or bad.
Your question seems to me to be about the right of parents to force children into their religion.
Force how/?
Parents still beat children unless the child conforms to the parents particular delusion but in the long run it will probably be counter productive, it certainly was in my case.
They can try to indoctrinate a la Marxist Russia but that does not always work either outward conformity in not acceptance.
The balance of the parents rights and the childs is not as important arguably as the social and cultural mores that the children are being raised in.
My sisters children who live in Switzerland were approached at an early age by a sect. The kids they met were completely brainwashed believing because they did not get the chance to compare their parents brainwashing with anything else.

In the main I agree with you children should not be forced/brainwashed into 'being' anything.
The truth is enough, ie this is what we believe, this is what they believe, this is what those believe.
Trouble is, parents have axes to grind they are right they know, when of course they know very little.
Their lack is passed onto the child that has to be like them.
It is extraordinarly selfish but very understandable.
It will change but I'm afraid there is a lot more growing up to do yet.

Answer 3

I do not see a problem with parents involving their children with their choice of religion. As for forcing architecture tastes? What?? Growing up, I lived in a Spanish style house and hated it. It was the home my parents bought. I may have not liked the way it looked but I can't say I ever gave it much thought?
As for religion. I think it is a positive. Many religions teach ethics, moral responsibility and many other important traits. I grew up Catholic and when I became a teenager, I converted to Protestant. My parents let me make that decision without any flak. I believe the parents that do force children against their will usually breed rebellion. When one becomes an adult, there is only so much one can do to force anything they do not wish to believe in.

Answer 4

Thoughtful question.
On thinking on this, I decided, no.
No.
We live the way we live, if it happens to be; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Budhist, then that's that. We would naturally, as a course of the day and the course of our lives, happen to pass on our beliefs to our children. It wouldn't be abuse, just an act of explanation as to the way we choose to live. If we believe that cleanliness is good, we would pass this on, if we believe that eating nutritious foods was good we'd pass this on, if we believe that new wave music was good listening, then again we'd pass this on to our children, etc.
A rightful parent in the end, when the child was no longer a child, would accept what ever religion the child chose.
Passing on our beliefs can't be a bad thing, although, I can guess we wouldn't accept that statement if the beliefs didn't gel with what we believed.
You can't please all of the people all of the time.

Answer 5

I am an atheist. It is an historical fact that people pass religion down to their children. While I think religion should now quietly die away, I think seeing the passing on of religion as child abuse as extremist and sensationalist, and also ultra politically correct. Our liberal democracies place high importance on freedom of choice, so that, although kids are brought up in "catholic households" etc, they are generally free to drift away from these religions in teenage years, and they mostly do. That's good enough for me. What I think we need is for atheists to have a stronger voice, not start a bloody revolution.

Answer 6

Yes of course, if they force their children.
However most people I know simply bring their children up learning and practicing their religion. Then surely once the child is old enough to question the religion they can make their own decision.
I was bought up a Christian but I am not a practicing Christian.

Answer 7

Of course not! Child abuse is mental or physical torture. Just because you decide as an adult you don't believe, then it is your choice. Is teaching children about Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc.--a form of child abuse. Even showering the children with love, candy & free gifts? No. You won't find anyone saying that, but since it is "hip" to be athest at the moment--then teaching a child to believe in something and have an anchor in an uncertain world is child abuse.

Since the time of Freud, it has been fashionable to blame all your inadequacies and weakness on your parents rather than take responsibilities for your own choices . . . give me a break!

Addendum: I liked to listen to 70's rock when my children were small. Was I brainwashing them by not listening to classical, jazz or country music--or better yet, should music never been played in the house or car since having a preference is brainwashing them . . . after all, shouldn't they grow up and decide for on their own?

BTW, my children did grow up and make their own religious and music choices on their own. They had the freedom to have a preference as they reached their teens.

Answer 8

Parents guide their children in a belief system that they themselves think is right. When a child is young they are not old enough to make their own decisions on many matters. I don't think it is abuse, however I do believe that parents should be responsible enough to bring up children with open minds into all religions and beliefs. I think that when children are old enough to make their own decisions on which direction they will take, then parents should be open minded and let their children have freedom of religion.

Answer 9

Where does OLIVE get this nonsense from?

It's one thing to do you duty to the child but quite another to force feed your religious mumbo jumbo.

This religious indoctrination is practised the most in Islam.

All children should be given a chance to have a broad based learning about all religions and choose one, when old enough.

Religious indoctrination is abuse and should be against the law.

Answer 10

As a parent my husband & I being brought up w/ two different religions(Baha'i & mine catholic) My husbands religion believes in independent search for truth. It is believed that @ the age of 15 the soul is mature and the descision belongs to the child - which, if any religion to practice from then on. I also agree.

I would like to let you know that sometimes parents forget nor do they realize how forcefull they can be about their beliefs . Communication is something that needs to be taught & learned by trial & error. I am 37 and I still struggle this issue on a daily basis.
What I am trying to say is know that your parents heart is in the right place. Do not base your personal relationship & devotion to GOD be clouded or diminished over your bitterness towards your parents forcefull aproach.

POLITICS: If you do not agree w/ your parents choice of politics or opinions on particular subject then it's time for you to educate yourself , research & debate the issue.

STOP ACCUSING YOUR PARENTS OF "ABUSE". Show your parents how smart you are so they know through your impressive actions that you are able to make the " Right Choice" keep in mind that the choices we make in our adult life are not always right & to learn from the mistake.HEY I don't know your parents but if they do not show any signs of positive reinforcement or pride. Be proud of yourself. The internet is your oyster . May I suggest a few sites: www.reopen911.org www.iwilltryit.com , www.prisonplanet.com & www.peacetakescourage.com. These links to what really happened to all the people who were murdered on 9/11. I will tell you 1 thing it wasn't ISLAMIC TERRORIST". GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS & PROTECT YOUR JOURNEY IN LIFE.

Answer 11

I agree with you to a point. I do not think a child should be forced into any religion. My step father is a Lutheran Pastor, prior to my mother marrying him we were no Lutheran. Then she started dating him and I was forced to stop going to church with my grandmother and go to church with them, usually having to sit through all 3 services at just 9 years of age. I had enjoyed going to church with my grandmother. It was always something I wanted to do was never forced to do.

I think you should teach them what you believe the same way you teach them about other traditions in your family. But what they decide to do once they reach an age to make an educated choice should be respected. Not forced. Some of my boys want to go to church when we go and 2 do not. The oldest comes sometimes, usually on Easter, Christmas, etc.. That is his choice and I will respect it. Religion should not be 'forced' on anyone. Nor should it be drummed into them teaching them what you believe and brainwashing them are two different things!

My step brother (my mother/my stepfather) was pushed from birth until the day he went to college. Under my step father's roof you have to go or else... My brother is now 23 he doesn't go to church, he is completely agnostic. He was pushed so hard he turned him away completely. Then parents wonder where did we go wrong??? And they wonder why he doesn't come to visit when they try to force him to go to church if he does go to visit.

My poor Grandmother lives with them now and they force her to go to the Lutheran Church as they won't drive her or allow anyone to take her to her church. It's wrong to force religion on anyone. Tell them what you believe and then it's up to them to decide!