into any religion, and that they should make up their own minds when they get older rather than their local priest or parents have the monopoly and force their opinions onto them?
2007-05-10 06:55:08 · 59 answers · asked by Montgomery B 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no i dont think it is brainwashing. i am a christian and i am raisning my 2 kids in a christian home and church. i will teach them my beliefs and if they dont agree, they can stop attending when they become adults and move out of my house. i dont think religion is something toi fool around with. everyone will find this out when jesus returns!!!
2007-05-10 06:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by jody g 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well, it's a very confusing subject, because you are raised usually by an adult. Depending on what that adult believes, you usually learn about it at a very young age. You know how people say children are like sponges (they take in everything they see and hear)? They are, and you cannot stop adults from manipulating them, anyway. And I thinkg that if they weren't brainwashed in the first place, how could they come to know how to choose what religion they want to believe in? Our parents are contributors to the chioces we're going make. Then it gets into the whole nature vs. nurture thing. But II think it's not only children that are brainwashed into religion, If someone is persistant enough, then people begin to believe it. Like in propaganda or any advertisement you see on television.
2007-05-10 07:05:05 · answer #2 · answered by baisezmoifool 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes absolutely
Here's a true story about childhood brainwashing...
About 14 years ago my wife and I were being shown round a school because we were deciding which school to send our son to. We had picked a good day because it was "Book Week" and that day all the children had come to school dressed as their favourite story book characters. When the tour was over we waited outside the headmistress's office to have a chat with her and all the children were in the school hall having a great time.
Except one little girl.
This little girl was outside the hall door crying her eyes out.
We asked a teacher what was wrong, thinking that perhaps she was being punished for some terrible misbehaviour.
"Oh that's *****" said the teacher "She's a Jehovah's Witness child. Normally she's not allowed in the assembly hall because they're not supposed to attend other religious ceremonies and although her parents have told her that on this occasion it would be alright to go in, she's so scared that God will strike her down that she won't go in"
And if that isn't brainwashing to the point of child abuse I don't know what is
And I want no part of any God that scares children like that
2007-05-10 06:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
Yes, totally. But the organised religions want them in the fold as soon as possible and certainly before they're able to ask probing, grown up questions. Indoctrination and brainwashing are part of every religion, they'll just never admit it.
2007-05-10 07:35:08 · answer #4 · answered by Wildman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hold to the conviction that parents should live their lives in front of their children, that if they are true to what they believe, the kids will see it and be attracted to it; kids do not fall for anything false no matter how much one may think they are being brainwashed by parents and the clergy. Religion is one thing, faith and a relationship with God and Christ is what needs to be lived out.
2007-05-10 07:04:21 · answer #5 · answered by afuzzydame2 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. My parents didn't force religion on me and I'm a very open minded, moral person. I don't "Belong" to a particular religion, but I do attend Catholic mass often with my Catholic husband. I like the fact that I can become Catholic if I want...and not that I was forced into it. Religion should be something you embrace if you choose to do so.
2007-05-10 06:58:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, everyone should be able to decide their own religion. What will happen, but then they will end up brainwashing their kids to hate blacks or something.
I seen on the news, where these parents brainwashed their kids to hate jews, and i thought that was cruel.
2007-05-10 07:00:19 · answer #7 · answered by Stephanie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The esteemed Dr Richard Dawkins says the same thing in his seminal book The God Delusion-he, and I agree wholeheartedly with him in this-refers to religious parents who make their children believe in their misguided ideas as child abuse of the worst order-the example of the priest firstly touching the girl-then being told her friend(who was not Catholic) would burn in hell-guess which one she had nightmares about?
2007-05-10 08:15:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they should visit different churches so he/she is exposed to different religions. When they get older then it will be easier for him or her to choose. I was and still am a Catholic, but I had friends from different religions while growing up. I was always invited to their churches and I would go. I'm glad that my mom let me experience that. It didn't make me want to change religions cause I felt more comfortable in mine. I didn't like the idea of going to church daily or having to wear only skirts and dresses like many of my friends.
2007-05-10 07:02:25 · answer #9 · answered by Doll 101 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree. My parents may have dragged me to church and put me into a Christian school for a bit when I was a kid, but they never forced their beliefs on me nor did the teachers at my Christian school come to think of it. I followed my own path that was right for me and I'm a very centered person now. I made up my own mind. I don't go to church because I don't agree with everything they do and believe, nor do I read the Bible. But I'm very close to God and in touch.
2007-05-10 06:59:30 · answer #10 · answered by Water Witch 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I agree entirely. I do think it would be wrong to force atheism on them as well though. I think they should be allowed to make up their own minds. When i've spoken to some religious people and pointed out that if they had been born in different countries they would probably be a different religion they seem to miss the point.
2007-05-10 06:58:07 · answer #11 · answered by donquixotereturns 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋