Do you think it is cruel?

Question

To indoctrinate your children with religion? My Dad let me go to church if I wanted and also gave me lifts to other faiths meatings so that I could explore and make up my own mind. In the end after much research I just had to become an atheist. I do believe it is cruel.

Answer 1

I have often thought about this question.

I do think it is unfair to the kids to be indoctrinated into whatever faith the parents believe in, they rarely get a chance to find their own truth if their minds are programmed at such an early age.

That said, I don't see an easy solution lest people take 'turns' parenting, so group raising of kids. Preferably by a loving group of 'parents' with as many different beliefs as possible.

Answer 2

I'm not sure cruel is quite the word, but it is often counter-productive. If a child is pressured to go along with parents in their religious practices, he or she is more likely to rebel when they get to the age where such pressure is no longer possible. If, on the other hand, the parents simply set the example, children will often take their parents' religion to heart.

Coercion is never a good idea when it's the heart you want to convert. Gentle and respectful of individuality must be the key.

Your dad did the right thing in allowing you to see different ways and beliefs. It would not necessarily lead to atheism, however. In another child it might have led to something quite different.

Answer 3

I don't think it's cruel. I was given a Catholic upbringing even tho my Mom's agnostic and my Dad was a non-practicing Baptist. It's good to have some kind of spirituality while growing up, as long as the parents aren't pushy and demanding you stay within that religion if you're unhappy. Mine didn't so I was able to do a lot of soul searching until I did find the right faith for me, which is Hinduism.

Answer 4

I dont think it is cruel if you accept that once the children grow to a certain age they might not want to be of that religion or they might not want to go to church etc. Its not cruel to share your faith with your children and teach them about the religion that you follow.

Yes, you should also teach them about other faiths but it isn't wrong to have them baptised in the faith that you believe in.

Answer 5

I think it is important that parents bring up their children in the way they believe is best. If the parents are christians, I think that telling them the bible stories and teaching them about the Commandments and Jesus etc is important..If the parents are living the christian life for real then they have to set an example..in love. Children can make up their minds later whether they will remain in christianity or not. If teaching is done in love then to me it is no more indoctrinating than teaching them anything in order that they they be prepared for life on their own. They will get other beliefs at school..and more on tv etc.

Answer 6

I think any responsible adult should appreciate that it would be advantageous for any child to learn about all religions without discrimination, perhaps then there would be a better understanding about man's freewill and also an appreciation of how different cultures practise their religion or not.

Perhaps this in turn will help our children to be friends with all cultures and allow different religious denominations to follow what they personally feel is right for them - PERHAPS IF WE DO THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN, THEY WILL STOP KILLING EACH OTHER!.

Answer 7

Yes, We were brought up to come up with our own choice of faith (I'm from a family of 6 sisters and two brothers!)
My Dad and Mam would have liked us all to believe in Christ but left it to us whether or not we did, Happy to say we all did but we went our seperate ways about it, me, my brothers and another sister became Catholic, Two sisters are Chrisians an the others are Protestant.
Even though we did all go the Christian way if we were to become athiest or Muslim Or anything else our Parents respected our thoughts,

Your Dad seems very wise!
x xx x xx x

Answer 8

Good for dad! My mom raised us without religion, as she believed it was important for us to find our own spiritual path. I've done the same with my children, and my daughter is passing that along to her children as well :)
I wish my mom had taken the step further.. she didn't really help us or guide us with religion when we had questions.. I did that with mine. If they wanted to go to church, I went with them. If they wanted to go to shul (synagogue) I went too.. etc.. I think it's important that parents be there with their kids .. there are a lot of people who want to indoctrinate your children as well as their own.
Cruel? I don't know.. perhaps extremely unfair.. when I think of cruelty, I think of physical and emotional harm, scarring one for life. While some faiths may have that effect, I don't think parents intend that for their children when raising them in a particular faith.

Answer 9

Most religions teach the same basics: respect for others, decent behaviour, honesty, etc. I'm not saying people follow those teachings, I'm saying that they're there.
I don't think there's anything wrong with giving kids the opportunity to learn good behaviour and that they are ultimately responsible for their own actions and must accept the consequences.
That's what's wrong with the wild youth of today--no one's taught them that some things are wrong, and they're always wrong. The PC brigade have taught that "everything is relative", "just do what's right for you", "it's your life, it's your decision" for far too long. Obviously some people think "it's right for them" to cheat, lie, steal, use your credit cards and identity to defraud all and sundry, kill others over petty things, etc. But hey, who are we to judge their actions, right? WRONG!!
and if that's cruel, well welcome to the real world.

Answer 10

Yes. A family I know forced their child in to a small special relgious unit inside a top private school.

As a result he was rejected by the kids of the main school proper.. on bus journeys to and from school... as "one of the weirdos" - because his parent's force him in to religion. Cmon... kids should be studying math, english and history... not having 50% of their class time devoted to religious matters. Ridiculous.