DO you think christians indoctorinating thier children can be considered child abuse?

Question

emotional abuse of a child.
christianity falls under emotional abuse.

Answer 1

Yes I do. I may not have a popular opinion on this matter but I do consider forcing a religion down a child's throat to be child abuse. Its core teachings, ranging from blind obedience to a God who burns people in hell to the ludicrous notion of "original sin" to universal love of everyone even child molesters, I believe are both psychologically and emotionally harmful -- and something that should never be taught to a young child as being an absolute truth.

The concept of another person dying for you might fill some people with joy, but I fail to see how telling a two-year-old child that they are responsible for an innocent man being humiliated, tortured, and killed, is beneficial. Not only is the child responsible, she is directly responsible: Christ died for her sins. It is her fault that a man was brutally murdered. The guilt inspired from this is immense: since it is her fault, she must "make up for it" somehow -- by being Christian, by accepting that Jesus was God, by being a good person, by going to church every Sunday. After all, it was her fault he was killed, so the very least she could do is accept him as ruling her life.

The subjects of "being saved" and "original sin" also tie in here. The doctrine of original sin basically states that we are all born imperfect -- that we are by nature dirty and sick creatures, who are incapable of being "good" in our natural state. Our best-laid plans will go to waste, and all our good intentions will turn to rot and dust. In essence, you are telling a child that they are born worthless. There is, however, a way for the child to 'redeem' herself and become something 'good' -- by accepting the additional guilt that Jesus was mutilated and killed because she is only human, because she (like all humans) has strengths and weaknesses, good points and bad points. But instead of accepting this -- that humans are naturally both good and bad -- it is emphasized that all humans are bad and will never amount to anything unless they have an innocent man suffer for them. This, too, I cannot see as anything but psychologically and emotionally damaging.

Answer 2

This depends on several factors. There are many religions out there who claim to be Christian when in fact they are not.

The Christian doctrine as given in the New Testament is good for teaching, but it should not be forced upon anyone, child or adult.

Many "Christians" tenaciously cling to the Levitical laws given in the Old Testament. If one is a true Christian they are no longer under the laws of the Old Testament, yet they quote these laws as being required to follow. If one is not a Christian, then yes, they are still bound by the Old Testament laws. Jesus gave two commandments that replaced all the Old Testament Law, 1.) to love the Lord God with all your heart and all your soul, and 2.) to love your neighbour as your self. These are the only two laws that Christians are required to follow because they cover every situation.

So in some instances yes, it could be considered child or adult abuse. A child should learn yes, but should not have to make any decisions until they reach the age of accountability if they are in a Christian church.

Am I a Christian you may ask. Yes, very much so. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Do I think everyone should be a Christian? Yes.
Can I make everyone become a Christian? No, I can not. I cannot make anyone do anything against another's will unless done with force. I can tell others all of the joys of being a TRUE Christian and not just a Christian by name.

Answer 3

If you raise your child to shop only at Wal-Mart there is a good chance she'll avoid Target when she grows up. There may be no real reason to avoid Target but she'll find herself somehow doing exactly that.

People send their kids to church in an effort to teach them some sense of morals. But, in the group setting of Sunday School and Church they quickly learn there is an "us" and "them". There is a dim chance that they will ever actually read the Bible with a critical eye or explore the "them".

Every mother knows that an infant's love is there right out of the womb. There isn't a need to teach the child how to love.

Answer 4

No. "Child abuse" can be defined as the physical, phsychological, or emotional abuse of a child. Indoctrination of a child into a culturally significant group for them and their family is hardly abuse. The only time it may even be remotely considered abuse would be if they were indoctrinated into some group that said they were "Christian" but used it as a cover to do illegal activities, such as feeding poison to a child or sexually abusing a child.

Answer 5

Oh, you mean indoctrinating them with THE ONE and ONLY inspired word of God, which actually says in Luke 18:17 "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."? Well, in my honest opinion, I would have to say that since God had the foresight to know that it's easier to get through to children about what God wants from us than it is to get through to adults, then no, it is in no way, shape, or form child abuse to teach children that no one comes to the Father but through the Son, Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

I suppose that depends on the level of indoctrination. I don't think it's healthy, but I'll stop short of calling it child abuse.

More importantly, the trauma of being torn away from your parents is probably far worse than religious indoctrination. My parents were religious and I had a fantastic childhood. Once I was an adult, I realized I was an atheist.

Answer 7

No.

Just like it wouldn't be child abuse for you to indoctrinate your children to your beliefs.

Answer 8

i think of it unlucky that a baby is born right into a house that teaches no longer something approximately God, so they by no potential also have a huge gamble to be sure simply by fact their parents talk so poorly approximately God, they brainwash the youngster to be hateful. i think of its a shame that a parent would not pray for his or her ill baby after the wellbeing practitioner has completed all he can, no they simply prefer to pull the plug and enable the youngster die particularly than pray. i think of its unhappy that atheism brings in communism attempting to do away with the rights of parents to healthful their very own godless schedule. you may actually see how a rustic is destroyed via their godless indoctrination of God powerful present of young ones to us. it relatively is relatively disgusting and immoral.

Answer 9

Yes, and you do too, if you also think teaching a child to drive with a blindfold on is child abuse. Faith is a blindfold that is self abusive all the way. then the church steps in and profits from the mess they intentionally created. I predict one day we will win a serious law suite against religion in this country.

Answer 10

Not really - no more so than any other religion.

There are some Christians who teach hatred or exclusivity
that probably are abusing their children by most people's
definition, but the majority of Christians do not do so.

Answer 11

No, as long as they are real Christians who Follow Jesus Christ and make a reasonable attempt to follow the Bible in it's entirety in context, It is the best thing that you can do for your children.

You must, just like God Himself, however allow said children in the end to make their own choice to follow Jesus. God has no grandchildren.