christians say we're all born sinners, that's why we have to teach our children right from wrong. i disagree

Question

when we're teaching our children right from wrong, we are actually teaching them how to behave within a community. our "sinful" nature is only a survival instinct.

i could go on and explain my point, but i don't think it will matter to most christians, so i won't bother, but i'll post the question so, agree or not?

Answer 1

I have to agree with you. Theoretically, if you can't hold your own head up or focus on any object for more than a couple seconds, there's no way you could have committed a 'sin'.

As for teaching our children right from wrong, that is absolutely done to teach them to survive in your specific environment. Today we think slavery is wrong, but three hundred years ago it was a way of life that only some people (not all) objected to.

Answer 2

There is a lot of diversity to "Christians" and you don't provide any source. In any event,as a former Catholic,I can tell you that - whatever the official doctrine - what people actually think and feel and truly believe is another matter. I was never brought up to the idea that I was born into sin; on the contrary,my parents always took the view that babies and small children are innocent. The teaching of right and wrong is a parental instinct which may overlap with religious dogma but certainly does not originate with it.
How can you justify asking a question declaring that all Christians subscribe to a uniform doctrine,and then - going further - imply that they all rigidly adhere to it? I'm no longer a Christian but when I was it was never my impression that I or my family were programmed robots or whatever you're suggesting. Probably most Christians - of the various denominations - regard any infant as an innocent. If you're talking about fundies (if that is their belief), then say so.

Answer 3

I think that we do have a responsibility to teach children right from wrong, not because we are born sinners but because children are born stupid. They will eat anything, touch anything, stick forks in outlets, walk off cliffs, etc. In nature, the human animal is governed by our own strength pitted against the strength of those around us. Children naturally will hit and bit and scratch each other, until one of them establishes dominance, like dogs.

Moral understanding is something that will come naturally to some, like walking. Others will never come to understand it, no matter what you do. However, in an environment devoid of moral examples, children will tend to grow up amoral. No matter what, we live in a Christian culture full of nudity, underage sexuality, rampant commercialism, 13 year olds getting liposuction and breast implants, etc. Either we teach our children to resist these things or the Christians will turn them into mindless mall-rats and soulless consumers.

Answer 4

Not all "Christians" are from the same camp-and the "survival instinct" part of the question seems to focus on a certain act.

Many Christians are caught up in the Patriarchal idea that being "Born of Woman" is "original sin", and that of course is just plain wrong-so, it`s hard to "agree or not"

Go ahead and explain your point-it`s good to talk things over with yourself.

Brightest Blessings-D.D.

Answer 5

As a mother of five, of course I teach my children right from wrong. I want them to grow up to be productive and good people. Capable of making good choices. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they do not.
There are many children growing up without any guidance from parents. Children forced to take mind bending drugs because people wont take the time to discipline or work with their children.
Sure, I believe in God. But, I don't expect him to raise my children.
That is my job. I made them.
I do think if kids are not taught the basics, they have higher chances of committing crimes, both violent and non violent, because they end up lacking the concept of consequences.
Our over crowded jails and prisions back up that fact.

Answer 6

The word of God (The Bible) is to be final authority for our lives unless we live under a higher goverment which dictates who we are and how we are to behave. What standard do we embrace if it is not the word of God. The majority of people you meet will have their standard for living and their own personal opinion about sin. The problem is when you walk away from these folks you now have 10 diffrent views of sin; "Who's right" Well you might say that you are.
I will not say that my opinion is right because it is my opinion and my opinion carrys no weight aligned up against the Word of God. Since I'm only the mail man of the Word please read what it says and see if this helps:

Romans 3:23 (Living)
Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal;


Romans 3:25 (Living)
For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins.

Proverbs 22:6 (Living)
Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older, he will remain upon it.

Answer 7

We're not all born biased towards doing bad things. However, we ARE born one, not understanding morality, and two, biased towards doing things that make us feel good. In other words, there is no such thing as true original sin, but it can still be beneficial to give kids at least a basic understanding of morality.

Answer 8

"Sin" is a vestige of a much more primitive stage in human understanding of the universe. The savage, finding himself at the mercy of nature and the elements, invents "god" as a personification of nature's forces, a being whom he can propitiate for protection and sustenance. But when the god fails to make rain, grow the crops, or what-not, the savage arrives at the conclusion that he has offended god - "He's mad at us." THAT is where "sin" comes from; it obviously has nothing at all to do with "morality" as we conceive of it today.

Teaching children that they are "born sinners" is in fact a form of child abuse. Christianity insists that people are NOT responsible for their own actions, since they're to be blamed and punished for faults that aren't theirs ("Original Sin"), while their sole shot at "redemption" is bound up with believing in the power of another man's sacrifice to vicariously remove the blame.

Answer 9

Well I'm a Christian and I am a little bit of both. I disagreed because everyone is a sinner yes even babies thanks to Adam and Eve. I agreed we do teach them right from wrong so they can behave when you are not around and hopefully they can do a little better then their parents.

Answer 10

I agree we are all born and shaped in inquity. That is however not the reason we teach our children right from wrong. Instructions given to kids by parents are a directive to keep them out of harm's way and show them ways of protection and to be obedience to their parents and creator. Now remember you spare the rod you ruin the child and that is bibical. Also never fear to ever ask a question of importance pertaining to life.