To All Atheist and religious people plz read?

Question

im atheist , does anyone else think that religion should be taught to a person when they are atleast 16, 17 or 18 and not when they are only 4 or 5. What really bugs me is that parents force religion onto their kids before they even get a chance to think for themselves.. Kids such as a 4 year old will believe anything.......to me it is like brainwashing someone into believing a religion. Why not let the kid grow up and then teach them religion and let him or her decide for themself to either believe it or not......................

im just wondering if anyone agrees. if you dont agree plz tell me why.

Answer 1

Mark this on the calendar- me, Storm King, a believer, actually AGREEING WITH AN ATHEIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I simply cannot believe that this would EVER happen!!!! But it has. I need a cigarette. I need some coffee. You have hit EXACTLY why there is so much confusion among mankind about God, faith, etc.,etc. The Westboro Baptist fruitcakes are a PRIME example of what you point out!! Alot of the so-called nazi neo"Christian" groups who want to kill EVERYONE who is not white (I am white and think they suck) were given too young in life what they did not, could not, comprehend and just look at the crimes that have been committed in the name of nazi/aryan/white/Christianity! You have underscored a serious problem in this and other societies around the globe. If my young son or daughter asked me "Who is God?", I would explain to him or her in a manner that their young mind could comprehend who God is. But I would proceed very cautiously from that point on so that I didn't overload them with information, and eventually cause them to become frustrated and feel overwhelmed. That is why I did not believe in God until I was eighteen. From about five until I was thirteen, every once in a while my parents would suddenly say,"We're going to church", and off we went. I remember being scared to death when the preacher stood at the pulpit and screamed at us. I asked my mom why that was and she would say that he was trying to make sure that we got the message. I asked her what the message was. Then I got an ***-chewing for asking. I grew-up hating God. My parents knew nothing of the Word, and every time I had a question about something, to test their "knowledge", they could never answer it. The battles of childhood can become the wars of adulthood if it's not done with knowledge, patience, and love. This is all merely my opinion, I just happen to agree with you. I've seen too many parents over the last thirty years say really stupid things to their young children like,"If you don't obey me, the devil's gonna getcha in bed tonight!" Wow. That's real cool to do I guess if you're a MORON!! I would certainly never try to tell the parent of a young child to not teach their young child about God, but damn- really, really know how to do it. Damn good question.

Answer 2

Children are taught by their parents since the time they are born. The first five years, the child's mind, attitude, everything, is on record. Parents teach mainly by example. If the parent is a Christian, the child will naturally be given Christian heritage. There comes a point in a child's life where they mature. When a child reaches age 13ish-16ish, they start rebelling naturally against their parents in their attempt to become their own persons. They are not ready to make very decision for themselves; however, they should be given more freedom to choose things that do not harm them.

As a Christian, I was indoctorinate into the Christian faith. I did not follow it when I became an adult. I am thankful for my parents caring enough of me to teach me their ways, values, etc. There comes a time in everyone' s lfe where they either choose who their god is.

For anyone to interfere in the relationship of a parent and child (unless there is a crime and/or abuse happening), is wrong. So, atheist or Christian, remember, you can have all the beliefs you want, but it will be your actions, not your words, that shape your child's life and values.

Answer 3

I disagree. Children are going to be exposed to religion and various other things at a much younger age. If a parent doesn't teach their child, then some random Joe Blow on the street will.

So it is very important that a parent instill in their child their moral beliefs, values, wisdom, and religion too if they believe.

It's your opinion that it's brainwashing, and it's my opinion that it's educating.

The child will grow up and decide their own path anyway. But as long as it lives with a parent, it has to follow house rules. So you run your house, and I'll run mines.

Answer 4

Everything learned at a young age that is an opinion and not a fact, is a form of brain washing. Whenever someone says "this is what I believe to be true, I cannot prove it but it is my belief and now I want you to believe the same thing" that's brain washing. And once its in your head as a child you will most likely hold on to it like its gold. Its very hard to let go of things instilled into you at a very young age, whether it be used for good or bad. Whether it be religion, racism, hate, love, kindness, empathy, indifference, etc. Once ingrained in the mind its like a security blanket.

Answer 5

At an early age you introduce them to the Bible, even if it is a child's Bible. The problem with the brainwashing is very few religions even read the Bible and most of what they believe is not even found in the Bible.

If a child is taught to read the Bible for themselves, they will eventually find the CORRECT answers and not just follow the traditions of men that their parents have followed for years.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22: 6

Answer 6

It is not like brain washing. My husband was what you call "brain washed" growing up and he is not even close to being a Christian. I am not saying by the worlds standards he is not a good person. He is one of the best men I have ever known. Being a Christian is not the same as being taught to be a republican from a young age by your parents. Having Christian parents does not mean that you will grow up Christian. I was raised catholic and I am so far from being catholic. I am not against catholics before anyone starts to get offended.
Now if you are just talking religious, well that is more of a habit in my opinion and once a person is not around those who help them continue with a habit they will lose it.
Being a Christian is NOTHING like a habit or something you do in a religious manner.

Answer 7

I understand where you are coming from but I would beg to differ with what you are trying to say.

I got to know about God and the Church when I was in Primary School, however only in 2004, when i was 18 years old, did I get baptised.

During my Pri. Sch years, my mom NEVER did force me to go for mass. She did encouraged however I did not go. But when I grew older the desire to know and understand more about God drew me to Him.

In all these time, I've come to experience God and trust in Him and I believe in my Faith. So naturally, when I become a parent one day, I would want what's best for my child.

It's the same with all parents. Wouldn't you want the best of everything for your child? EG. education? That's why you enrol them in a certain school? Have them go for tuition, at very young age, so that they can get excellent grades so that they will go into an excellent university and get an excellent job?

So what i'm trying to say is that I don't see it as "brainwashing". Rather it's more of providing what's good for my child and I would love for my child to experience the Love that I experience from the Father.

CHeerx ^_-

Answer 8

Let me answer your question with a couple other questions. Why do parents show their kids what is safe and proper to eat, why don't they just let them choose for themselves? Why do parents keep kids from playing in fires or jumping off the roof.
There is a point when parents' role is to guide the child to guide the decisions. Then there is a point where the child is responsible for making their own decisions.

Answer 9

I totally agree: it IS brainwashing. Most people, if they'd think about it for a minute, would realize that they only reason they belong to the religion they do is because it's how they were raised. They're sure their religion is the best, even if they don't know much about any other religion or, sometimes, even their own. Were people to make this choice once they were older and had more information, I think it would be better for everyone. I'd have a lot more respect for religious people if they came to their religion via an intelligent choice rather than having had it foisted on them as children.
And, Scott, you're mixing up knowledge with religion.

Answer 10

Just to let you know, I used to be what you are, and no my parents did not stuff religion at all down my throat. I came to believe and trust in Christ as my Savior at the age of 22.

Children need guidance. You say that you don't believe that religion should be shoved down your throat or anyone elses for that matter till they are supposedly what "wise enough" to know it. Yet you were brainwashed in school, by your science teachers. Your textbooks which claim evolution is so scientifically correct that to prove it is a waste of time. How smug is that, there is no way in testing evolution, you can not show in any measure by laboratory experiments that evolution happens they way they have detailed it to happen in the minutest sense. Come on, lets do some real thinking here on your part, instead of what others are telling you, look for yourself, check it out, to see if they are telling you the truth or not.

Are you intelligent enough to go and find out for yourself these facts, the school system doesnt think so. They only give you one side of a story. Is this not brainwashing? Think about it. If you get just one idea from some one and they keep pushing and pounding that one idea, above all others, and so define it to you as fact based upon fact, yet you have to take their word for it, without scientifice proof or data - what do you call it?

But hey your intelligent enough to see that right, even at 4 or 5 years of age even 6, they can not pull any fast ones on you, right.

One question in school did they ever in your time in class ever give you the right to pursue other ways of thinking, or did they ever give you more than just one side to the story of anything.

Hmmm something to think about.

One more question what is your definition of Brainwashing?