If religious instruction were not allowed until a child had attained the age of reason...?

Question

would we be living in a different kind of world?

Answer 1

It would be a much better world. People would not be “brain-washed” from birth.

I get so tired of every “brain-washed” Catholic walking up to my desk, and telling me I am going to Hell, because I am a Buddhist.

The worst statement ever said to me was, “Listen White-Boy, you need to stop being gay, and have kids. You need to raise your sons in the name of Christ!”.

I am a Buddhist, so I am not required by my philosophy to have children if I don’t want to. Not having children does not make me gay. My girlfriend can attest to the fact that I am not gay.

Also, as a Buddhist, if I have children, they don’t have to be Buddhist if they don’t want to be.

Most people that were raised in a Christian, or Muslim religion, from birth are angry all the time. Most Buddhist are stoic. Maybe that is because their parents didn’t force religion on them.

Answer 2

It would be a different kind of world, but I think not for the reasons one might suspect. At its core, this is a completely unenforcible policy. I think for any large group of people to adhere to it would be indicative of a tremendous cultural shift in not only what we value, but how we educate our young people. Not only that, but it would also indicate an age at which people could largely agree that a person becomes capable of critical reasoning. The implications are enormous, and I doubt if any society will ever be able to come to terms with such a necessarily counterintuitive and voluntary policy.

Answer 3

According to the Arminians, no. Leave the child at home, there is no reason for the kid to come to church. "Suffer little children to come unto me"? No, Jesus, the kids don't need you, they're already saved. Don't call us, they'll call you.

No need to distinguish them from the atheists' kids through baptism either, they're all the same, they're all going to heaven. I wonder how the Jews would have felt in the Old Testament if a Gentile were to tell them the same thing about the mark of circumcision.

Answer 4

I think we definitely would be living in a different kind fo world. First of all, more people would not believe in religions. Second, those who do believe would be fighting like cats and dogs to save the souls of the children who are kept in the dark.

Answer 5

I would let my child choose if they wanted religion in their life or not, but to have religious instruction to where they were forced to believe in something is wrong.

Answer 6

Most people never seem to reach that magic age.

Answer 7

actually any body is not nstructed by religion till he reached the age of 18 or once he became aman (may be at 17 or16).
we are in one world of course

Answer 8

Where have you been? We ARE living in a different kind of world now because so many parents years ago neglected to teach their children from day one about God, right and wrong, manners, and self respect.

Answer 9

Different, yes, of course. Better ? Who can say .

Answer 10

If you don't teach a child religious or non-religious, whatever you choose...eventually it will come back and hit them AND you in the face.