Is it right to force religion down our children's throats,?

Question

Surely good parents can bring up decent children, who have manners, respect for others, know right from wrong, etc etc without being brainwashed the ways of their parents... if when that child is an adult and is able to make up there own mind after what they have seen in life then fair enough....

Answer 1

You've hit the nail on the head. Religion, the curse of modern society, has to be forced into young growing minds by fear and threats. People who brainwash and indoctrinate their offspring with these vile and outdated beliefs should be prosecuted for child cruelty. If a person chooses superstition and myth later in life, so be it, it is their choice. But leave the kids alone, eventually we will have a better world.

Answer 2

far from it.

when we are children we are primarily conditioned to have manners/ettiquet, and this is done through religion, which is why some children know how to treat people, and thoughtful to others, an element of caring and consideration is an accustom.

I feel that children should be definalty be informed of a religion, and indeed follow it. but when they are older at least they will have some strong foundations of how to be, in a positive light. they will also understand what religion is and if they feel that their religion is not offering them anything, then they can change it

I believe that religion grounds an individual and for this reason religion is good, amongst the obvious.

Other children, without offending anyone, if lost to make up their own mind, then why would we have an education? why bother at all with them? because we care and want them to prosper oin life. it is when they are young that foundations remain in them when they are older.

if they are told after, they are lost and dont have nothing to refer to, which was embedded into them when they were young. the way your going about it, they definalty wont care after, so give them something to believe in, they can change when they are older. but never see it as forcing. the only reason why you may think that is because you may not be religious. but dont take that out on the child. guide them in an interesting way. theyll thank you for it, when they're older

hope this helps

Answer 3

I read something by a long-serving US Police chief who had come to some conclusions about young offenders.

He said that well-meaning liberal parents aren't giving their children boundaries, but rather are leaving them without guidelines, trusting that if they give them plenty of information, when they get to sixteen they will, as you say, make up their own minds. (They are also making sure they have healthy organic food, but not monioring what garbage goes in through TV etc.) The prisons are full of young people being visited by 'nice' parents wondering where they went wrong.

Anyway, the bottom line was the recommendation that parents allow their children to be taught Christianity (or whatever is your cultural norm). This will provide them with the clear 'this is right, that is wrong' that they need. Then, when they reach their teens and decide for themseves whether or not they believe in the religious message, at least the moral grounding will be there.

I'm glad I was given a Christian upbringing. I have somewhere to turn for clear moral guidance (the Bible), a faith, spirituality and sense of belonging.

Answer 4

no you should no force you child into a religion. i was not and nor is my son. i was brought up to have manners, respect for others to no right from wrong etc. The only time i had religion forced down my throat was at school and the would make us attent a christmas service every year at school.

Answer 5

When you're a religious person, your entire mindset will change and you will no longer see imparting religious teachings onto your children as 'brainwashing', but a necessity.

I have well-meaning parents who brought me up Christian and I haven't the heart to tell them that when I was old enough, I started to examine what I was taught and decided for myself what I would or wouldn't believe in. However, I totally understand that they're doing what they believe is the right thing.

Bringing up a kid religiously isn't just a personality-development thing, and you have to understand that. If parents feel that bringing up their kid religiously will save their soul, by golly that's what MUST be done, at least to their mind.

You clearly don't share the views of many religious people out there, but don't be too quick to judge them for bringing up their kids that way. If you believed that an organic diet can prevent cancer, wouldn't you want to bring up your son on an organic diet? It's all a matter of sense of duty.

Answer 6

There is not much we can do about it, if is the parents that is bringing up the kids.
I am Hindu and thus vegetarian. How could I have my own kid (5 years old) eat meat at home?
I give her many tapes and DVDs about Telletubies, Fimbles, Princess, Shrek, etc for her to watch, nevertheless, she prefers to watch about the pastimes of the Lord Govinda, about the Srila Prabhupada (our guru) and she watch it over and over again. She even start learning how to do Puja and chanting the Holy Names of Krishna by watching me doing it.
Children copy what they parents do; when they are teenage they may rebel if they were not satisfy by what they had got and may change they believes but after 25 years old many don't find anything better and thus continue what they parents had given to them and they follow it as a sheep, instead with a commitment to find the Truth in a critical way.

Answer 7

We have no right to force religion down anyones' throats... However, doesn't stop some people from trying to do so. And, yes manners respect etc should be taught... not necessary to add religion to these, and when they are old enough to make informed decisions for themselves then they can decide if they agree with or not religion.

Answer 8

Brainwash the ways of the parents? hee hee. Spoken by a true single person. No offense, but please only a child would even attempt to compare parenting to brainwashing.

Real parents know that brainwashing is part of learning at all levels. Take potty training, I mean really, dry paper wipes verse soap and water?! What barbaric culture teaches potty training with thin paper! The audacity of brainwashing.

It is harder to train a hardened criminal to avoid breaking the law, then a child.

Answer 9

hmm .....do unto others as you would have them do to you....there is life after death....there will be justice done for the evil in the world.....God loves us....we have somewhere to go to for help in our times of need....we have a saviour who is perfect in all He does, who understands us and is coming back to put it all right...when we fail there is still hope...all ideas taught clearly in the Bilble along with the ten commandments if you want a moral code..what is so bad about that??Also Jesus said that we need to become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven... but I guess that is beneath you. Also I have not met anyone yet who has not made up their own mind on these matters, have you???

Answer 10

I agree that parents shouldn't force their beliefs on their children.
BUT, when I have kids I will take them to Sunday school and to church sometimes.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I'm not a Christian as such, but I live in a Christian country and I think it's important to understand the culture of the country you live in.
I will also be teaching them Greek, Roman and Norse mythology and will probably try to take them to some temples and suchlike cos it's also important to understand other cultures.
Brain-washing is not right, but education is vital.