Brain washing - are christians the worst? Atheists and Christians answer! the rest will surpize you...?

Question

Alot of atheists claim that Christian parents raising their kids to be christians, and teaching them that God loves them and that Jesus came so that they may live, is brain washing and cruel and should be considered child abuse.

But my question is, following this logic, Atheists, shouldn't telling your kids there is no God be considered child abuse too? Especially since being an atheist almost entailes that you were an accident and that you have no purpose. (not always but there seems no way around that...)

So, because kids will hear about God, and they will be taught in school that GOD DOESNT EXIST - and evolution is A FACT. Then why can't christian parents fill in the other half and tell them about Jesus, EVERYONE gets evolution anti-god stuff at school and from other people.

I want answers and for you to say whether you are christian atheist or what.

It's kind of a debate - state your answers clearly

I like what someone said about guiding them, we show them what we believe and why and they choose, I came from a christian home and I'm still christian, but when I came to a certain age I chose. I read books supporting and opposing christianity, I have read websites and whatnot, I talk to atheists all the time and listen to their reasons there is no God. I went to some jesus doesn't exist website because I saw it in a question on here. I am very into science, especially zoology, I read alot about evolution, what I do is that I read both sides or all sides and then decide, with an open mind, I'm going to study UFO sightings in a little bit, with an open mind (I don't think there are aliens but I'm putting that aside). I think we should tell our kids what we believe and why, so they not only have a faith but can support it, and I think we should tell them what other people believe.
Telling your child, God doesn't exist, God isn't real, is the same as saying he is,there is no difference

They are wanted by God - two atheists can have kids on purpose and want them - but they will never tell their kids that they have a God who wants them and there are here for a reason (other than the parents wanting them) - I think you misunderstood me, I was confusing... :)

Schools teach evolution - evolution = we were not created we just burst into being.
My source, my dear? Yahoo answers, there are an abundance of answers stating that *telling a child about God should be considered child abuse* or *Why would you tell a 5 year old about Jesus?

open your eyes

Answer 1

Well first of all I'm an atheist.
To me, I think it's wrong to make your kids decisions for them. Parents should be there to guide and educate their children but not force them into something. If a parent tells their kids all about god and all about what they believe and the child still decides that they don't want to believe in god then that should be fine.
Same goes for me, if I told my kid that religion is a false hope and an easy answer to simple minds and he/she decided that he was going to believe in god then i would accept that.
We're all individuals and should be able to make decisions for ourselves.

As for it being abuse..I wouldn't quite consider it abuse. I would say that its wrong and in a way it kinda is brainwashing because you make that the first thing they learn instead of opening them to everyone else's point of view. But an atheist telling a child there is no god should be the same as a christian telling a child that there is god.

Answer 2

Your question is full of holes and inconsistencies. For example....you say...

"Alot of atheists claim that Christian parents raising their kids to be christians, and teaching them that God loves them and that Jesus came so that they may live, is brain washing and cruel and should be considered child abuse. "

What would you say about a parent who raises a child to believe that Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny are all real? Should that child expect ridicule as they get older if they have these beliefs? I'd think so.

You then go on to say....

"following this logic, Atheists, shouldn't telling your kids there is no God be considered child abuse too? Especially since being an atheist almost entailes that you were an accident and that you have no purpose. (not always but there seems no way around that...)"

Teaching a child to use independent thought and think for themselves and to use logic, reason and rationale when making a decision is NEVER a bad idea. No matter how you try to twist it. Also your belief that atheists have "no purpose" is strictly that...YOUR BELIEF...not mine.

Why would you want to teach your child that those of us who don't believe exactly as you do "have no purpose"????

And then you go on to say...

"So, because kids will hear about God, and they will be taught in school that GOD DOESNT EXIST - and evolution is A FACT. Then why can't christian parents fill in the other half and tell them about Jesus, EVERYONE gets evolution anti-god stuff at school and from other people."

It's not the place of the public school system to teach whether or not the christian god exists. Evolution, while not entirely proven, is the best science based explanation we have as to how people came into existence, and SHOULD be taught in the public school system.

If you don't want your children exposed to this "lie", then homeschool them or send them to a private school.

Answer 3

First of all evolution is not "anti-god stuff" .
Evolution is science , which is what they should get in school . It may conflict with YOUR personal beliefs . Schools teaching that we do not experience reincarnation conflicts with other people's beliefs .

I see nothing wrong with the following conversation between a parent and child : " Mommy , what is this god that I hear about on TV , and see on the chuches , and on my dollar bill ?" . "Well some people choose to believe in this really powerful creature that made us and everything else and has certain churches and rules to follow . We don't believe that there is a god though because there is no evidence that a god exists . And science seems to be on it's way towards explaining everything without there being a god . Besides even if there is a god , he can't be very good because of all the needless suffering on earth ."

I see nothing wrong with telling your children the truth , whether it be about Jesus , Muhammed , Santa Clause , The Tooth Fairy or God .

When an atheist or Christian tell their child not to play with matches because they may get burned they are giving them FACTS .

Not so when Christians are indoctrinating children about "Jesus is God" . This is at best an unfounded opinion . Christians claim that it is a FACT that god exists ( no scientific proof ! Just the opinion of many people that all this must have been the product of a "creator" due to biblical verse and/or the seemingly very complex nature of things .) , And they claim as a FACT that Jesus is the Son of God within the "rules" of the Holy Trinity .( There is hardly any evidence that a Jesus existed , and nothing but opininon that he was God . Most people don't believe he was god including Hindus , Jews , Muslims , Atheists , ... )

Atheists would not have to keep reassuring their children if they were not bombarded with God Messages constantly . For example : The Pledge of Allegience , South Carolina Licence Plates , Christian Christmas Music in all the stores , God Bless America singing at sporting events . Church and Temple advertisments in the Newpapers , Televangelists , and ON and On and On and On and All with no proof only an opinion that is forced upon children as FACT .

Answer 4

I think the difference is that Atheists rarely tell their children that they will go to hell unless they do/say/believe what they are being told. The conversation usually sounds something like, "Well some people believe in God, but your father and I don't." And often it's followed by an explanation of the major religions, and the pros and cons of each, because most Atheists that I know are more educated in world religion than the Christians I know.

And nothing about Atheism says that you were an accident and have no purpose. On the contrary, Atheists don't have religious beliefs to keep them from taking birth control or having abortions, so their children tend to be planned very carefully. And it's ridiculous to say that they teach their children they have no purpose. They teach their children that their purpose is here and now. This life is what they have, and THIS LIFE will be what they make it. There's nothing abusive about that.

And for the record, I am neither of those things.

Answer 5

For the same reason some Christians think Atheists are going through a phase or have been brainwashed by public schools. No matter what the topic there is going to be someone who thinks their way is the only correct way and everyone who doesn't fall into their way of doing things is wrong. Personally, I am an atheist but would never presume that a theist was ignorant, stupid, delusional. or the product of a barn yard union simply because I disagree with them.

Answer 6

I didn’t get a lot of anti-god/christian stuff in school. Most adults in my Sunday School class were public school teachers, so I think it’s not fair to say public education is anti god. Just because they don’t preach the gospel doesn’t mean they preach against it.
I think parents should teach their kids what they feel is best for them, but when that child can reason and make their own decisions about religion then the parents should respect that. A Atheist parent shouldn’t have a fit if their teen decided to become Christian and a Christian parent shouldn’t have a fit if their teen decided to become a Atheist. As a Christian/Wiccan I taught my son what I knew and then he decided what path if any to follow. Religion should be something that is chosen by each person, not something handed down the family like a trinket.

Answer 7

I think to tell your children there is nothing, there are no rules, and you will be worm food when you die is pretty darn abusive.

Think of all the places that try to irradicate God. Communist countries where they force women to have abortions to control the population. Where people are put in jail and disappear for criticizing the government. A country without God is a desolate, terrible place.

I am a christian and I was not brainwashed. You can't make a child believe in something they can't see because at some point they have to make up their own minds. But as a responsible parent you have to instill in your children a sense of purpose, a sense of right and wrong, a belief that there are consequences for bad behavior, that humans are precious, life is a gift...so make the best of it, and someone is watching even in the dark.

I wonder how many atheists don't try to teach rules for fear of brainwashing their children. Isn't telling your child there is no God, there is nothing to look forward to, there is no reason to treat others like you want to be treated, .....brainwashing. Isn't that convincing your child what you believe?

Answer 8

Teaching your children the truth of God is not brainwashing. Brainwashing is what goes on in concentratioin camps and to a smaller degree in public schools. The teaching of politically correct ideas is mild brainwashing. Teaching your children that they have a free will choice to serve God and go to heaven is the right thing to do. If Christians are wrong they still have lost nothing. Atheist's teaching their kids that they have no choice because there is no God , have denied their kids a chance of heaven. If they are wrong there are dire consequences for the children but even worse for the parents. The failure to teach their kids the truth of God is more evil than the simple unbelief of the child. As a Christian I have a duty to raise my kids in the fear of the Lord . I have done so and all my children serve God as do my grandchildren. This is a great joy to my wife and me. So from a " what if you are wrong "standpoint, there is no contest . Atheists are worst because of the consequences.

Answer 9

I'm not an atheist, and I will not tell my child that there is no god. I will show him the theories and let him make his own mind.

I don't find anything wrong in telling a kid that there's a god ... I was told, and nothing bad happened. It turns into something bad when the parents are fanatics, and they live every second of their lifes thinking about their religion - and they oblige the kid to live the same way. That's more than bad, it's destructive

I don't know how to state my beliefs in little words. I don't fit in any label

Answer 10

I don't really have an opinion either way. I was raised in a very Christian household, but I am not currently a practicing Christian as an adult. It was nice to have "definite" answers as a child, but my parents allowed me to be my own person as I got older. I understand people's need for religion, and they have every right to raise their children as they see fit.

P.S. Who says that evolution cannot fit into Christian beliefs? The bible does not define the length of a day during the time of creation. Nor does it explain the process that God used. Ancient calendars are not the same as ours, so why should we be so ethnocentric to believe that God's calendar is just like ours?