Children will believe whatever you tell them is true. But many people feel that is the best time to teach them about religion, and I can understand why, if a child can believe whole heartily that a guy breaks into your house to leave presents, then it is a perfect time to tell them that jesus is magic. I think it should be a form of child abuse to teach religion to children before they are old enough to make other important decisions in their lives. (And try to tell me that threats of eternal fire is mental abuse) Now some will argue, but I am not saying they can't learn manners, and morals. (you can tell a child it's wrong to hurt animals without telling them "the bible says")
2007-09-10 06:53:43 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it would be child abuse to tell them "in your closet is a giant scorpion. He loves you, and watches you all the time. and if you even thing bad thoughts he knows. And he is a jealous, angry scorpion, so if you ever start to believe in the monster under the bed he will send you to a place of nightmares."
2007-09-10 07:02:53 · update #1
coffee_pot12 if your children were removed it was not because they were indoctrinated at an early age. I never said that children should be removed because their parents take them to church, I do however see it as a form of abuse.
2007-09-10 15:35:15 · update #2
I completely agree, it's a sort of early-age brainwashing that can stay with them for life. If they waited until they were older to be exposed to it, when they are able to question what they are told and decide for themselves, it would be much better. I also think that as a fair comparison, if you are going to teach them about one religion you should teach them about all, that includes Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Greek Mythology, Aztec Mythology, and so on. They are all equally supported by scientific evidence, so they should know all of their options if they are going to choose a religion, since it will probably be a major part of their life.
And you're right, eternal hell fire threats are mental abuse, I never thought of it that way.
2007-09-10 07:01:50 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Steve 3 · 4⤊ 6⤋
While your last justification is absolutely true I'd like to point a few things out to you. Yes, we all know that children are impressionable and take what you say as truth, however, since it is also true that children learn things best while they are young it stands to reason that they would be taught these things from a young age. There is much to learn from the bible as opposed to organized religion but when the child becomes grown or at the age of consent, he/she can make up their own minds about what they've been taught if they are at all interested. I don't consider it a form of child abuse to teach children their parent's belief system but I can certainly understand what you mean and I can agree with some of what you've said. It's a highly arguable point and what if the worst case scenario is that the child comes away from all this with only the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule and the teachings of Jesus Christ? Is that necessarily a bad thing?
2007-09-10 07:05:41 · answer #2 · answered by Chris B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You make an interesting point. However, not all Christians who teach their children about their religion threaten the children with eternal fire. I would guess only a small minority of the fundamentalists / dispensationalists do that. You can't generalize about people that way.
All parents raise their children according the the parents' own set of values and beliefs. That can't be helped. Whether it is verbalized or not, the child is going to pick up on the beliefs of the parents, regardless of what those beliefs are. Christian, Muslim, Wiccan, agnostic, atheist ... the children will follow the parents.
The thing is, once the child is old enough to think for his or herself, then that child must choose whether to agree or disagree with the parents' beliefs. Some children agree, some turn 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
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2007-09-10 07:02:52 · answer #3 · answered by Stranger In The Night 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
What child when you try to teach them values or morals doesn't want to know why it is that way? What do you tell them then " just because"? I believe that when you raise your kids they should learn what you believe and why. I also think they should be allowed to question and look at other things if they have an interest when they are older. They are the ones who choose in the end anyway, If I raise them to know who God is and live a life that shows who God is, I have no fear that in the end they will make the right choice. You notice it is those Christians who don't really show the true picture of Christ that are talked about here.
2007-09-10 07:05:53 · answer #4 · answered by Connie D 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sure, No Religion taught for kids under 6 years of age! Hows that??? Wait, what about School Curriculum??? A Lot of what is being taught in Public School is just as "Real" as Santa Clause. I wonder if that is WHY God gave us All (Kids Too!) "Free Will" ??? So, just so I Understand Ur "Stance" here, Ur Kids ALWAYS DO WHAT U TELL THEM TO DO & WHEN & HOW U TELL THEM TO DO IT, Right??? AND, U think Scripture is ALL WRONG, Right??? Well then from where shall U "Derive Ur Version" of "Morals, Manners etc."??? So like....Just WHO or WHAT WILL BE Ur "Standard"??? The "Founding Fathers" of Our Country Recognized God as the "Supreme Being & Authority" upon Whom they Established this Country. Ah, but I see Ur "Problem"!!! U have "EVOLVED" into the "Supreme Being" capable through Ur "Own Minds' Wisdom" to decide for All (Kids Too!), what is "Best for All", is that it??? After all we're So Much Smarter then those "Old Men", cause we have "Science" that we "Created", Right??? Well, I guess we now see Ur "Pictures" of the "Radical" use of "Free Will"!!! One Picture U Present would "Force Religious Teaching" on Kids in an attempt to "Save Their Soul for Eternity", while the Other picture would "Force Ur Will" upon Kids "Forcing" Them to Do Whatever U Say They Should in Accord with Ur Science & Standards!!! Seems to me, that U have a "Gripe with God, rejecting His Authority that is "Cited" by "Other Radicals" (Ur Picture) and Instead, U, want to be the "Puppet Master" is that what Ur saying??? Well, Maybe if U "Post" Ur "Rules & Desires" here, we could All "Adopt" them & then live in a "Perfect World". U know, this is the THIRD TIME I have asked someone to PLEASE Post Their "Better Morals, Rules or Standards" here & Maybe, just Maybe, some day Someone will do it??? John
2007-09-10 07:41:15 · answer #5 · answered by moosemose 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"I think is should be a form of child abuse to teach religion to children before they are old enough......"
Your words are dangerous and insulting...
I can say this from experience...Those words were used by an EX boyfriend who claimed all Christians are crazy,and with that ammunition he made a false child abuse call in 1990.
My 4 children disappeared into the foster care system, the oldest girl escaped and survived on her own...
she is now 33 with 2 kids of her own...
the twins would be 29 but we do not know if they survived foster care where they were drugged, beaten, gang raped and put to work in a seattle strip club at age 16....
The boy was 2 1/2 and the EX took off with him..when the boy was 16 the EX kicked him out in NY...
The boy is 19 and found his way home to me...and the years of living with a hate filled agnostic dad the boy believes in God.....because God is Love
Do not wave the term of child abuse around...You have a very sick and wrong view of Christianity....That has been used as a weapon against families on numerous occasions and can be viewed as a hate crime in certain circumstances.......as mine was....
2007-09-10 07:16:02 · answer #6 · answered by coffee_pot12 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is why the church I attend does not let you make a decision until you can explain your faith to the pastor so it is clear that you understand.
By the way I was never threatened with Hell and Brimstone so that had no effect on my decision.
Also they have to start before school starts or that is a whole new series of indoctrination that we would have to avoid because that would not be fair to the religious parents who then have to explain why everything the child learns in school is propaganda, which it is even if you do not think so.
2007-09-10 07:04:10 · answer #7 · answered by mrglass08 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Social indoctrination begins at conception. It would be wrong not to teach our children the values of good stewardship. What is abusive is not teaching your children boundaries. We are paying for the free-wheeling, hands-off approach to child rearing of previous decades. Religion puts it all into context.
Religion is not the problem. The misuse of religion to justify hate and human atrocities is abusive.
2007-09-10 07:03:50 · answer #8 · answered by mediahoney 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Almost everyone agrees that maybe "young" children should not be "taught religion" by actively advocating any religious world view: theistic, atheistic, agnostic, new age,... But should we teach students about religion? Yes, so they can have informed opinion.
2007-09-10 07:06:07 · answer #9 · answered by Robert S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a mother and I will raise my children the way I see best and it is no one else's business or concern.
My children witness my life everyday. . . through the way I live they see my beliefs. . .just as any child watches their parents. You and no one else can tell me that I am living my life wrong by setting an example of what I believe to my children. . .just as I would not tell you that you are raising your children wrong, if you even have any yet.
2007-09-10 07:05:46 · answer #10 · answered by sparkles9 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No-one tells children that Jesus is magic. But responsible parents who know the truth about Jesus and Christianity are conscience bound to convey those critical facts to their children. The fact that much of the rest of the world is ignorant of these truths is no reason to withhold them from children.
2007-09-10 06:58:36 · answer #11 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋