Would all religion die if it was against the law to raise your child into a religion (cant chose till adult)?

Question

Dawkins argument against this practice is peerless. A child is too ignorant and inexperienced to make such decisions, yet you see bible camps and Islamist child armies (see memritv.org, its unreal, kids no more than 6 years marching for Allah). Parents committed to pushing their religion on their child.

Children are entirely dependant on their parents. No child in his/her right mind would flatly reject Islam in an Islamic country, and even in countries with there is more freedom, children still want to please their parents and know what gets them the goodies, and what gets them the stick.

If humans had a real choice, religion would die. There would be no programming from birth and no religious identity that mirrors nationality or racial indentity. If your given a religion at birth, you are essentially given a nationality, afterwhich, stubborn ignorant loyalty keeps the fiction seered in the brain.

Answer 1

Many countries (and of course the religions) would reject the idea because religion is used as a method of control. How many Middle Eastern countries have a religion with equal or more power than government?

Answer 2

WHERE do people come up with this stuff? I'm reminded of a line from Rush's song "Free Will": "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Why is this relevant? Simple. Even if parents choose to not "push" a religion on their children, they are STILL essentially making a choice for them. But to answer your question: 1. If it happened in my country, I would either break the law and teach my kids what I believe anyway because they're MY children, or I would move. 2. No, I don't think it would be better. Kids are STILL able to choose their own religion. People who are raised in Christian homes still become atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Wiccans, or pagans. Conversely, people who are raised in atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, Wiccan or pagan homes can become Christians. Furthermore, even though I was raised Christian, my mom NEVER forced it on me. Yes, she did make me attend church at least on Sunday mornings until I was eighteen, but that was HER right as a parent. And despite that, she was still quite supportive of me throughout the time I was an atheist (a total of almost eight years, not including the time I was a skeptic, which was from when I was about five until I was thirteen, at which time I became an atheist), AND when I was Wiccan (for almost six years). She debated with me when I brought it up, but she never forced it down my throat. At the time, I thought she did. And no, I don't think we would become more advanced. I enjoy technology, and I enjoy the advances we've made, but at the same time, I wonder what we're giving up in order to "advance" civilization.

Answer 3

OK, lets forget the fact that such a practice is oppressive and works against fundamental human rights.

Having said that, religion would not die out because you haven't removed the need that people have to believe in a higher authority. Don't ask me why the majority of the human populace believe in God, they just do.

Not only do rituals, customs, and traditions feature strongly in religion, they are also part of human nature. The expression of God in the form of religion represents a fundamental identity for many. Such an expression cannot be easily legislated against.

So, unless one wants a repressed and robotic society, in that parents cannot pass cultural heritage and values onto their own children, then one needs to think up a much better "strategy" than the idea proposed.

Answer 4

While I absolutely agree that most children are not smart enough to truly understand the complexities of these issues, I am hesitant to make it a criminal offense. How do we differentiate between critical thinking and atheism? Most atheists would agree that that is the single most cited reason for why they are atheists so how are we not then preaching a "religion"?

Do we just not talk about religion? So now we have a bunch of 20 year olds totally ignorant about any religious issue?

Answer 5

You want religion out of government and law !!
And,now, you want law and government controling religious dictates and practices !! Sounds about right for someone who would like to see it eliminated all together, now, doesn't it ?? But, it simply isn't going to happen !!
For one, to practice religion in the clear "letter of the law" by most religious standards -- the training of a child in the "way it should go" is a strong part OF the practice OF the religion -- And, to not do so is to NOT be following the religious dictates OF that particular religion -- to interfer with this is to interfer with the free practice OF that religion -- a clear over-reach for a government SO intent on "seperation of church and state" --- how can you have a true seperation OF church and state --- if you have government (the State) dictating the dictates of the practice OF religion ?? Impossible !!!

Answer 6

Talk to a person who became a Christian at any point in there life after childhood, its called a testamony. Then you can ignore this question because you will get it. Its not programming its helping your children so they dont have to fall so low in life that the only thing left is turn to Christ. Honestly make your next question for testamonies (real life ones) of people who became a Christian later in life if you really want a true answer to your question.

Answer 7

As a Christian, I want my children to learn my faith from me and not from some other form of religion.

Humans do have a real choice. You choose to believe or not.

And yes children are most likely to follow their parents teaching, as it should be.

In some countries it is against the law to teach Christianity and yet you will find many Christians in those countries. God bless them all and you too.

Answer 8

IF


What you haven't taken into account is that parents teach best by the example they set. This includes table manners, telephone manners, hygeine, teamwork, scheduling tasks etc. Christianity is something we ARE, not something we do, the child would observe us walking and practicing our faith. NO LAW could prevent the child asking questions about why.

More importantly , NO LAW could prevent God from entering the heart of a child. In fact, many of us do come to God as adults, when we are not brought up in a Christian home.

Even when Christianity has been illegal, people have given their lives for it......................

Answer 9

so is that true with all thought. i mean what about sports teams, what about country loyalty. So what we are saying is that children are like sponges and they will do whatever pleases their parents. so if they do not chose until they are adults does that mean this is the time they chose everything or just religion at this time. what makes you so sure that it is fiction. What proofs do you have that all religion is based on ignorant loyalty.

Answer 10

How do you explain the converts, then?
Islamic child armies are actually more a result of the government and the religious education it mandates.

I'll give you one thing; The whole Palestine/Israel conflict would go into nonexistence if it weren't for the religious parenting.