Do a lot of atheists really think like this?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071112225209AAJisSx&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiDBcUzvxukb1HbnMSCIhSQkg8_pqQp0ZHQ--&paid=answered#NbUvWDG0UjbJuZmjSjps

Look at so many of the answers by other atheists. You complain that christians are judgemental and intolerant and so many atheists actually agree with this kind of thinking. Please restore my faith in the normal everyday atheist out there and tell me you cant really think like this.

You dont see anything judgemental? They are basically calling religious parents child abusers.

ben
then anything you teach them would be considered brainwashing

I am glad that not all atheists think like that, but it is a bit scary that so many still do.

So many atheists that answered its child abuse want respect for their beliefs and dont think its right for the religious to push their beliefs on them but then make outrageous statements like teaching them religion is child abuse which clearly shows zero respect for their beliefs and takes it to a level of where they are actually calling these parents criminals and harming children. If a religious person was to claim atheists are harming their kids by not teaching them the values instilled by goign to church you say they are intolerant and how dare they judge your way of life and the way you are raising your kids. Yet you have no problem doing exactly that to religious parents.

Dont believe in God, I dont care. But calling religious parents child abusers just elevates the disdane for religion to such a hateful level, imo.

I could say taking away hope and faith is child abuse too

but I am not going to because I would never assume that it is child abuse to not teach someone my exact same views and beliefs

and not all christian religions teach the same things about hell

Is it ok for an atheist to teach their kids that religious people are all ignorant and stupid and liars and all the other bad names SOME atheists have for christians on here? Is that child abuse to "brainwash" them into hating religion?

squirt
I am sorry you had issues with whatever religion you were put thru, but dont you think some kids of atheist parents or parents that never went to church went thru diff kinds of hell growing up, too. There are extremists on all sides of an issue. My problem is the blanket statement, that many atheists did agree to, that raising a child religiously is child abuse. Isnt that kind of rhetoric a tad bit harsh?

ben'
this isnt an outside force or influence. These are the childrens parents. Do you think you have the right to tell parents how they should raise their children? How would you feel if a christian called you teaching a child to dislike church brainwashing or child abuse? You dont think its at all harsh to call it child abuse? You are calling it child abuse to teach them a belief system. How is your belief system any more valid? They arent teaching the kids to go out and kill people or hurt other people.

ben
You are only focusing on the negative points of religion. Some of the most murderous gvts were atheistic, not religious. Do you not think religion has done any good for society? You claim atheism doesnt withhold knowledge, so how can you ignore the psychological studies that have shown that faith in a God and organized religion does in fact have many positives in society today? A loving religious support system as a kind of extended family has a great deal of positive influence on a child. It can also help to alleviate pressures on the parents.
It is your opinion that your belief system is more valid. Just an opinion.
To jump from yeah I believe my belief system is better than yours to my belief system is better and yours is child abuse is just ludicrous, imo.

If you really think it is child abuse then you must think that these children should be taken away from these parents. Is that what you really think?

Answer 1

I don't see it as abuse, unless or until you use the threat of hell to control your children. religion can be taught to small children in a toned down, tame way. Heck, my sunday school experiences as a preschooler were nothing but fun - crafts, snacks, stories - all good!

It can be abusive if the parent used it to instill fear. But then any parent trying to daily instill fear into their small child is abusive, regardless of their religion.

It's all in the approach you take, IMO.

EDIT- Kerri B, I'm actually starting to get sick of you. You don't have the first clue as to what most of us think, so how about you go have yourself a nice big cup of SHUT UP AND STOP BEING A JUDGEMENTAL BLEEP. I hear they make that for those one cup coffee makers now.

Answer 2

It is definitely wrong for parents to instill such ideologies in their children, especially when children that young are so impressionable. It is brainwashing.

If the Army tried to seduce children at that young an age it would considered unethical. When a company targets children in their marketing it is considered controversial. Yet, no one seems to think there is anything wrong with people doing the same with religion. It is blindly tolerated.
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EDIT 1: "How is your belief system any more valid?"

My belief system does not discourage learning.

Christianity is quite explicit on this matter - Eat the fruits of the tree of knowledge and you are punished. Build a tower to reach for the stars and you are punished.

Christian zealots are always standing in the way of science and progress. One upon a time it was astronomy: The Earth was flat, the Earth was the center, the Earth was 6000 years old, and that was that. Then it was medicine: Diseases were caused by evil spirits. People who heard voices were not schizophrenic. They were witches.

Even in the 21st century some things are still the same: The study of evolutionary biology and stem-cell research - two fields with such tremendous potential to benefit human civilisation, and all the Christians zealots do is fight it.
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EDIT 2: "Do you not think religion has done any good for society?"

I agree that a lot of good has come out of religion - some of the finest works of art, architecture, literature, and music are inspired by religious themes. I also agree that religion promotes a sense of love and community. However, that was at a time when human civilisation needed religion. That is no longer the case. Why not have art for the sake of art? Why not have love for the sake of love? Why bring archaic dogma and superstition into all this?

Answer 3

Sorry, but by not our kids to follow our beliefs what we are doing is giving them the choice to learn about religion when their minds are capable of knowing the difference between reality and fantasy. If you make kids believe in santa claus of course they will they don't know any better than to do whatever you tell them to.....same thing with god and religion.....you tell them about being good and going to heaven and then being bad and burning forever in hell then they will be scared and believe whatever you tell them to and at that young age it is imprinted in their minds. Wait until they are old enough to understand and they will choose what they think is right......I don't think it's any more right to force your child to be atheist either....they have the right to choose....sadly many people are so brainwashed as children that they will never know they had the right to choose.....they will always believe that faith is not a matter of choice...that they must believe or that they will suffer in hell for eternity. It's sad that so many people think they have the right to make such an important, personal decision for their children.

Answer 4

I lived it. Don't tell me I can't agree. I have been through hell because of god, church, religion and anything else associated with it. You haven't lived with insane fear your constant companion. Nor have you had the anguish and torment. I was not punching below the belt, that was already done to me. I am not judgmental and intolerant. I stay as far away from cults as I can. This is my honest, heart felt opinion. My first born children were raised in the evangelical church. I was spirit filled. They have so many problems from growing up in that warped environment I don't know if I'll ever be able to reach them. I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for this. My baby I raised exposed to the truth. She knows how to reason. She has both feet on the ground and is very solid. My children could honestly be used in a test for comparison of being raised christian versus Atheist. And, you call me intolerant and judgmental.

Answer 5

I don't think teaching children is a form of child abuse. I hope our country never becomes one that takes away the right to teach beliefs, right or wrong.

Liesel.

Answer 6

I'm atheist, and I don't think like that. I was raised Christian and I wouldn't dare say that it was abuse. My family didn't abuse me, what they did do is raise me and teach me their beliefs and what that feel to be the truth.

Luckily they didn't judge me and were accepting when I came forward with my beliefs and what I feel to be true.

Answer 7

I stick by my statement - to say a child is born into sin and will go to torture FOREVER after death if not to do everything the parents say about Christianity and its teachings is absolutely child abuse!

Answer 8

One form of psychological abuse is consistently making threats.

Like, I don't know, "You'll burn forever and ever in Hell with no end if you don't accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior"?

A lot of atheists find it astonishing that anyone could willingly say something like this to their kids, and yet it happens every day across the country.

Answer 9

you have to understand our point of view. telling a kid they are going to hell if they do this, that and don't do this and that etc and putting down any original thought and threatening to disown them for having individual beliefs seems very traumatic and mentally and emotionally damaging. when my granddad found out i was an atheist he got really really mad at me. one of the very few times he did so. he and i never formally made up for what happened before he died. and that small experience was rather distressing and disturbing. v.v i can't imagine what children of fundies go through.

Answer 10

you are asking a question about a subject that they feel passionately about. You are bound to get some "judgemental" answers. I can ask a question directed towards religious folk, and i would expect the same thing.

Addition: EVERYONE IS JUDGEMENTAL.