2007-05-02 10:07:00 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The people who baptize & indoctrinate do NOT believe we are free to choose, they believe their religion is the only right one.
As an atheist, I try to teach my son the fact that there are so many ideas out there, and he is free to believe whatever he chooses to believe, and he is also free to change his mind.
2007-05-02 10:14:25 · answer #1 · answered by zmj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There you go generalizing. I'm Christian and we never baptize anyone until they make a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ (kinda hard for a baby to do). That union with Christ is the thing baptism is a symbol of. It's a choice we make to believe. We do, however, dedicate (quite different thing) babies to our Lord. Why? Every good and perfect gift is from above. It is our way to openly make a covenant with the Lord about the precious child He has given to the family. At this time the parents promise God they will consciously teach this child about God and His Holy Word and try to live as an example before the child. To raise the child up in the faith, that he/she may know God and receive Jesus as personal Savior when the time comes. It is a recognition that God is the giver of life. That He is our source for all good things. He truly is most generous to those who obey Him and He takes care of all our needs. We would have nothing & be nothing if it were not for His bountiful grace and favor toward us. I 'm not sure I can explain it well enough but I know to dedicate your child is a very good thing.
2007-05-02 10:29:22 · answer #2 · answered by Joyful Noise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are free to make certain choices after we reach a certain age. Children are also "indoctrinated" to not play in the street or operate machinery. Like it or not, it is customary in almost all societies for adults to raise their children in the family's religious tradition, if the family has one. And trust me, my atheist friends are raising their children as atheists, so it's not just theists who raise their children in a certain way. Also, parents tend to immerse their children in their own culture, and sometimes, culture and religion are very heavily intertwined (as in my own Italian Catholic family). I was raised in a very strictly religious household, myself. And I don't feel "abused" or "indoctrinated". Instead, it made me wonder about religion, and I began exploring many different relgions and studying theology as soon as I got old enough to start doing my own research.
2007-05-02 10:19:06 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because until a child is old enough we as parents , make important decesions , regarding our children. We raise them up with our faith and standards , and with any lick it will stick so when it comes time for them to choose they will choose to do those things that are right and true. " train a child up in the way it should go and when it is old it shall not depart from it." Psalms 119:11
2007-05-02 10:13:43 · answer #4 · answered by dancinintherain 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As Americans we have the luxury to make a choice to practice our religion of choice and we should respect the hardships our forefathers endured to hand down this precious gift that others do not have throughout the world. It is up the our parents to give us guidance to become respectful contributing citizens of this country and this world as decent human beings. Choosing to instill these characteristics through religion is a parents choice. It is also a young adults choice to continue with the religion they were raised with or to seek out another means for finding their own spirituality.
2007-05-02 10:37:09 · answer #5 · answered by chigirl68 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because children are only allowed to make one choice- their parents.Kind of sad when that happens.How can a belief be validated when it is indoctrinated from childhood?That is like telling your kids that the Easter Bunny is real and never letting them learn that may not be true.I was lucky enough to be raised by Atheist parents who never told me what to believe nor kept me from believing as I wanted.
2007-05-02 10:11:46 · answer #6 · answered by Tobeornottobe 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is the parents commitment to raise the child in the ways of God. ( a dedication) Later in life when the child is accountable for his actions the free choice to continue to follow or not is his choice.
2007-05-02 10:12:36 · answer #7 · answered by Dennis James 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok , I think only catholics baptize children.
I'm a baptist and we only baptize adults, I was baptized(full emersion) when I was an adult.
Baptists do however have a dedication for babies, but baptism is an adult decision.
2007-05-02 10:14:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe in baptizing babies.
But I do believe in parents teaching their kids what they think is right - no matter what religious context or belief system that falls under - it's called parenting, it's what a mom and dad should do.
2007-05-02 10:13:16 · answer #9 · answered by daisyk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Old Jewish rule is that one is only free to choose after the age of reason(12 Years of age) until then upbringing and
all teaching is the responsibility of the parents.
2007-05-02 10:12:47 · answer #10 · answered by nikola333 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋