Do you consider religious indoctrination to be child abuse?

Question

If not, why??

Answer 1

No, the term is too loaded. Child Abuse is a legal term and we don't need to piggy back on that. When we do that kind of thing we cheapen the terminology.

I would not want to consider such for the simple reason that any idea or philosophy a parent tries to instill in a child could be considered a form of indoctrination.

Like it or not, parents have a great deal of latitude when it comes to instilling ideas in a childs mind. While I think that some ideas are harmful ones, so do others think that some of my ideas are harmful. In a diversified society, tolerance isn't only a virtue, it is a necessity. The moment we start to strip parents of their right to teach their children the family religion, we strip ourselves of equivilent rights. As sad as it makes me to see children infected with such pernicious memes as creationism, or the sort of self-loathing that so many forms of Christianity make core to their belief, or the outright misogyny of Islam or any of the other vile thoughts that parents put into their kids minds, I would not deny them the right to instruct their children as they wish.

All that I can do is to hope that the children so raised will eventually find their ideas in collision with the real world and that reality will eventually win out.

((Kaz))

Answer 2

Bit of a ridiculous point by Serena, I have to say. It is child abuse, and it should not be done. Children should not be taught that they are going to burn in Hell if they don't follow this and then that. Hardly double standards when atheism does not preach absolute rubbish! How would atheists possibly be considered child abusers in the mental sense, for getting a scientific explanation rather than telling them that they HAVE to follow the Bible. Should they not make their own minds up about their things, and not have anything forced on them, until they feel that they are able to make an informed decision it. By all means have a 'Christian adult' but under no circumstances have a 'Christian child' How can you brandish them as something they may have no intention of being, just because you follow it as well. And perish the thought of an actual Christian government too! The only extent you could teach them would be to contrast the two arguments but to answer the question, it is child abuse.

Answer 3

Of course it is.

So many of the religious apologists assume you must mean THEIR religion and say it's OK or better than OK, but what if it's some other religion. What would Christian parents' opinion be if they had to give their children over to Muslims for religious indoctrination and they came back unshakably convinced of the Islamic 'truth'? I bet they'd consider their children to have been abused then.........and they'd be right.

It doesn't matter, though, which religion is in question. Whatever it is, others could, would and do find it objectionable. The unavoidable observation that must be made is that all colours of religious 'truth' are not true from all perspectives and cannot, therefore, be truly true.

Teaching children false truth, which all religions and atheism is, is abusive and will inevitably totally screw up their ability to discern right and wrong, true and false, on the most fundamental level in later life. ,,,,,,, But that's the point, isn't it?

Answer 4

Explain what abuse is. Many of the answerers here do not know what constitutes abuse. It also seems that these people don't have children.

Plain and simple.
I try to give my children love and security. If they are brought up with love and security, they will love other people, and have strength and character to grow.
Abuse is violating the childs sense of security. Either physical or emotional.
As a parent, if I hit my child, I violated the trust between us. Do it enough times and he will become a insecure paranoid nutjob.
If someone on the street hits my child he is just a bum, and should be prosecuted for assault, but not child abuse. His actions will not affect my childs stability. My child will come to me for comfort, which I will provide...
Religion.
Part of my job as a parent is honesty. If i am a athiest, and that is my true belief (pun intended), I have to be honest with my children. Your child will know when you are lying to him. If you lie often you are ABUSING your child. Emotionally that is. Messing up his sense of justice, and that makes him insecure.
Same if u r religious. You must be honest and that will make your child confident.
So, no, it's not abuse. Give your children a stable, secure and solid upringing, and when they grow up they will have the ability to decide and do what THEY think is right.
(You could ask the same question to someone who doesn't earn a good wage. He is also depriving his child....)

Answer 5

No, because religion gives the children an understanding of morality. I believe atheistic indoctrination is child abuse; because, it teaches children that there is no repercussions for the misdeeds they commit during their lives. With out religion the end justifies the means. With out religious belief, one is forced to believe that every end is the same, there fore all means are equally justified.

Answer 6

PPPLLLLLEASSE! A child is the responsibility of the parent they are your custodian protecting, teaching and loving God's property. Now as a child you have no choice but to follow the religious direction of the house unless their is
physical and psychological abuse which can be validated by a legal professional. REprot it especially if it is physical abuse )sexual) by all means do it now! If this is not the case remember 18 comes quickly, exercise your free will when you are grown and do what you what with your life.

Answer 7

In some cases - yes.

If it instills a constant fear or phobia into the child, even unconsciously - yes.

Children are a tabula rasa and don't deserve that.

Besides, the christian religion says that childrens' soul are safe from torment(in the case of early death) until they can reach an age when they can decide for themselves. That being the case, let them decide later. If the power of that religion is so great, it will survive easilly.

Answer 8

My husband and I consider it not necessarily abuse but very disrespectful of them as people. We are teaching them an appreciation for people and their ideas and beliefs (our children are 4 and 2). As they grow, we encourage people of different beliefs to share what they feel and their relationship with the universe. We have three rules, no claims of truth or rightness, no fear (condemnations to Hell etc), and no bashing other religions. We have been asking our friends and family to write about what they believe or video tape it etc. We are saving this at some stock footage as we explore world views, cultures and religions. When the kids get much much older, we want them to take the writings and videos back to the authors and talk about what has changed and the like.

Answer 9

No, I don't. This is why: I was raised Baptist. I was taken to a Baptist church as a child. It wasn't until this past year that I have changed over to Pentecostal/Holiness. My parents don't agree but it isn't in their hands anymore. They taught me the basics, now it's my job to learn what is needed for ME. I know this is all coming from a religious stand point, but what should I tell my children when they ask me questions? I am a Christian and I am going to tell them what I believe to be right. I couldn't tell them anything less. That would make me hypocritical. That would be like saying "Well, honey, this is how I believe but it may not be right so you have to choose for yourself." That my friend would make me a hypocrit and I will NEVER deny God like that to anyone!!! If I deny Him on earth, He will deny He knew me when I am judged for heaven.

Answer 10

Yes. You have probably read or are probably reading The God Delusion.

It is child abuse to raise a child to believe something. The same goes for atheism... children should be raised in an open environment, and question things.

I consider it child abuse for the same reason I'd consider it child abuse to keep your kid's belief in Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy steadfast.