Would you favor a law making it illegal to provide kids under 10 with religious texts? (Bible, Quran, etc.?)?

Answer 1

No. That would be religious intolerance....and I do not want the government telling us how we can raise our children. :)

Answer 2

I reject a lot of religion because it makes your spiritual life experience very impersonal, and tells you how and what you should do to experience whatever you feel or want to call "God." My philosophy is to be curious, and to try not to judge things too quickly. To be ready to be proven wrong, and to accept it when it happens. To be kind to others, to be rational and responsible, and to take care of myself and enjoy life. I find "God" when I am in nature or listening to music, most of the time. Spiritual moments are when worries float away, when everything seems right, when you can look at the ugly in yourself and the world and still feel at peace, when the patterns become clear, even for a second. To me, religion and spirituality are two different things. Religions are man made, and are a path some people believe is necessary to be a good, wholesome person. Without the path set forth by Christianity/Judaism/Islam/Buddhism/Tao/... you will not have a good life and you'll have a worse afterlife. I don't know how people can presume to hold knowledge of the afterlife, of "God," of how we came to be, and to say that others' theories are wrong. If I am not a Christian, I am going to hell. But if I don't follow in Buddha's footsteps, I will not live a full life. And so on, and so on. Apparently, the only way to be saved is to follow every religion simultaneously! "I am spiritual, not religious," is a cliche by now, but I believe the two really are separate, one being a natural, internal (or external, depending on what you believe/feel life is) experience and the other a set of external rules, an advertised road to happiness or salvation(whatever that is, anyway!). Wishing you happiness and peace. :)

Answer 3

Only if the provider is NOT the parent or legal gaurdian. I've had too many run ins with the Gideons standing outside the junior highs, handing out day glo new testaments. Legally, they cannot come onto school property, and it was one of the teacher's "joyful" duties to chase them away. And they are exceedingly rude to adults. I didn't even know what they were handing out, wasn't teaching that day, merely picking up my eldest child. So I asked "what are you handing out?", and the man gotr downright confrontational and vulgar with me.

It's not the books the kids need protection from, it's the people doing the handing out, IMO.

Answer 4

No. I may not approve of the contents, but infringing on freedom of the printed word is appalling, only to be done in the case of extreme harm. An intelligent parent will keep misogynistic and violent texts like the bible out of the hands of children.

Answer 5

No. Censorship is the way backwards. I'd promote the reading of lots of religious texts and a discussion of all the possibilities anyday. But it will be a sad day when atheists start banning books.

Answer 6

Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of RELIGION, or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. [emphasis added, YIS]
The United States Constitution, Amendment 1

Answer 7

Nowadays society is very touchy about ANY form of child abuse. I believe telling little kids that if they don't do what they're told they will be dragged down into a pit of fire and tortured for the rest of their lives .... horrendous child abuse. I believe that telling little children that they must pray to Allah five times a day or Allah will kill them in their sleep ... a heinous crime.

It may be unconstitutional to ban religious education to minors but it's against the law to scare the crap out of them too.

Answer 8

I can completely understand where you are coming from, but I would respectfully have to disagree with you for several reasons.

First, it sets a bad precedent. If religious texts can be banned for children what about political ideology? If you start banning what a kid can learn and only exposing him to what he can doesn't that in a way also lead to brainwashing?

Secondly often religion is fundamentally tied into a persons culture what you would be saying is that a key aspect of someones culture cannot be taught to them when they are young.

Third I would consider it a violation of privacy in that the state is regulating the job of a parent. I would also see it as a violation of the separation of church and state. Namely the state is telling the church who and how to teach.

Answer 9

Well as long as I can still have Easter and Christmas presents and food. Colored eggs, chocolate Bunnies! My stocking hung by the chimney with care...
If these go - then no.

I do like your idea to protect the young from adults though. Nothing is as dangerous as an adult with an agenda. **Shivering**

Umm, in America (last I heard) there is a separation of church and state, so religious policing of families would never get this law(s) past.

Answer 10

This is a very interesting question and there are precedent cases which can be looked at for comparison; such cases as, prohibition of pornographic and adult materials, operation of motor vehicles, TV and vidio entertainment, inappropriate literature, use of alcohol and tobacco, employment and military service and voting could all be set as comparisons.

We are very willing to restrict our children from taking part in other arenas that may possibly harm them mentally or physically; why not consider the same for fantasy of questionable value?

Yes... This is a very valid question and it is certainly worthy of consideration by our legislators.

[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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Answer 11

No, mostly because religion is not only for after death. But morals, giving a child religion give them morals. No matter what the religion. I have been learning about my religion sense I was able to walk to the children's readings during Mass. The point, I wouldn't be the kind person who is willing to go out of my way for people. The person who is upset when her mother just talks to her in a stern tone because she knows she is displeasing her mother. It teaches a girl that standing out on a corner of street with your boobs hanging is not the best way of life.