should religion have a legal age limit. so that children under 16 are not indoctrinated?

Answer 1

Yes

It should be illegal to brainwash innocent children with lies

who knows what long term brain damage is caused by childhood indoctrination?

.........

Answer 2

Then I guess you will not teach them your religion - evolution and atheism either? Or perhaps you are not truly impartial?

What philosophy or religion underaged children are taught is the prerogative of parents. This is true for atheists and for theists alike. It will still be true even if it is done in secret by both sides because of some country's political tyranny.

Unless, you like the Nazis physically removed children from parents with dissenting views and forced the state approved propaganda down the throats of these Hitler Jugend.

I suppose what you are proposing could be seen as a comrade to the methods of the Nazis?

Congratulations -- great progress!

Answer 3

16 may be to young because the mind is still expanding. Mature people have a lot of trouble with facts when trained and indoctrinated as a teen or younger. too many time religions takes advantages of young people for power and/or sex. church camps are the places most admit to losing their virginity this is boys and girls. A legal age limit and a little oversight into what really goes on in religion may stop some of these large settlements like the newest one in iowa.

Answer 4

Yes. It is the book religions that teach under age children their religion without the parents permission. Pagans Wicca especially do not teach anyone under 18 without parents consent. There are a few who do but generally most of us do not.
SD

Answer 5

Some religions believe that. The Amish will not baptize children because they are too young to really understand what they are getting into

In Judaism they have Bat & Bar Mitzvot at ages 12 & 13.

Answer 6

Why just religion? Why not all education? And make sure they don't overhear any politics or anything either. Maybe we should lock them in a sensory deprivation chamber till they are 21 so they can really freely choose.

Why are people so afraid of religion as opposed to other influences?

Take an honest look think of 25 people you see and interact with regularly...how many of them have been more damaged by religion than other influences? How many of them were do indoctrinated that they follow the faith of their parents lock step?

People grow up and do their own thing...or choose to follow what they were raised in. But most people really do realize they have a choice one they get out into the world.

Answer 7

That would be nice! My parents, though devotely Christian thought it much more important that my faith be genuine and not because they told me to.

They did as much as the could to teach be about world religions, philosophy and different belief systems. I think I am a better person for that and I thank them.

I've been a practicing Buddhist for years and my parents are proud of me because it was my choice and I genuinely believe and govern my life based on my beliefs. To them, it means much more that I do that under a different religion than claim to be Christian like them and be two faced about it.

I think if more people could be open minded and accepting like my parents we'd all be better off.

For example, in my small home town there were FEW Jewish people. In my school there was ONE Jewish child who was in my class. When I was six I told my parents I thought it sad that he had to be in school for his holidays, so my parents organized a meeting of the parents. After that meeting, the whole class took 1/2 hour in the morning to do whatever was traditional for him to celebrate his holidays so that he didn't feel alone.

All the people that were in that class with me have all grown up to be MUCH more open minded to others than many of our peers.

As for passing a law I'm not sure, but I think that practices like "adult baptism" are far better than 8 year olds being "confirmed"

Answer 8

Of course. My parents didn't force me into religion ever. I am an atheist. And yet, I value morals and traditions more than most religious people. I celebrate events like christmas, even thought I don't believe in God. Religion, in its current state, has more to do with culture than a belief in God.

Children deserve a right to decide their own religion.

Answer 9

I have a better idea, make it illegal for schools to teach kids as young as 1st graders that abortion should be encouraged, and that homosexuality is acceptable and should be encouraged.

As a father of 3 kids, I've been teaching my kids about Jesus, and that he loves them so much that he died on the cross as their sacrifice, to pay a debt that we can't pay on our own, so they can have salvation.

It's up to my kids to make that choice if they want to accept that free gift of salvation that Jesus provided by his death on the cross.

So NO religion should NOT have a legal age limit.

Answer 10

Yes. I am Catholic, but not by choice. My parents are both Catholic. If I say that I don't believe in God, they will most likely kick me out. We pray every night before dinner, and used to go to church every Sunday, during which I usually fell asleep (not on purpose), before Mum and Dad realised that they found church boring as well and stopped going.

However, it does usually teach the kids to respect religion, though, which is a good thing.

Answer 11

No. Every parent has the right to teach his or her child to love God and that God loves him/her.
Should atheism have an age limit, so that children under the age of 16 are not taught what you believe?

Should every home be monitored so that the government can dictate what parents teach? You sound like a Communist.
If that is the kind of government you prefer, move to a Communist country. I choose a democracy.


Does restricting the age limit for smoking and drinking do any good? No....this would not, either.

What is so horrible to you about telling a child that there is a God who loves them unconditionally?

So you don't believe it. Cool. What right do YOU have to tell every other person in the world what to do?


Time would be better spent if parents actually took an interest in their child's education. Many do not. They send the child to school, and that's it.

I would love to know how you think it would be feasible to force parents to NOT talk to their children about what they believe.