is indoctrinating children with religions ABUSE???

Question

is it? is it fair to make someones christians or muslims by bombarding their impressionable minds with religious idealogies???

Answer 1

Oh yes, definitely. In fact I think you should save the children and start killing Christians right away. What's stopping you? To the victor go the spoils, you'll be called a hero.


that's it for me tonight folks, GOOD NIGHT!!

Answer 2

The same question could just as easily be asked about culture, nationality, any philosophy (including political and economic), most sciences, etc.

You cant teach a child that anything is the truth without affecting them. Do you then not teach them anything unproven? If so that means no more evolution or any other scientific theory--and none of that scientific theories are essentially true crap-ether didnt hold up despite all the 'evidence', and all theories change over time.

At the end of the day you cannot deny that religion has done good. It teaches social responsibility, morality, freedom, etc. The same things that most atheist hold dear are taught from a different angle in religion. The entire thing shouldnt be thrown out just because some people within are a problem and tend to take things too literally. If we start that practice then we'd quickly run out of people.

Answer 3

In a way it is I remember when I was 14 around this time my parents discovered my Yule altar and they were very mad! my mom destoryed it and threw it on the ground I was very sad and confused but It sure didnt end there she smacked me in the face saying that I was going to hell for practicing the devils work. I was angry at them I wanted to hate them and run away but I had no where to go and I realize that they were just doing what was best for me so I let it go without any problems...So really if parents start presseuring their children into becoming a certain religion (like mine did still pressuring me to become catholic even today -.-) then yes it is abuse I personally think that parents should let their own children choose but Its my opinion anyway have a good day..

Answer 4

As a formerly indoctrinated Roman Catholic, I can tell you that the psychological damage inflicted on me was long-term. It took me a long time to finally shake off the tremendous guilt feelings that the Catholic Church trades on, when it tells its adherents that they are born sinners and are worthless in the eyes of god unless they repeatedly confess and repent their abominable sins (especially of the carnal kind; even natural, normal sexual fantasies were forbidden) to the "representative" of Jesus on earth - the Catholic priest.

Yes, indoctrinating children who have not reached the age of reason into some organized religion (in the case of the Catholic faith) is a form of child abuse. I lived it.

To "The Cricket": Yes, Dawkins devotes almost a whole chapter on the subject of religion as child abuse in "The God Delusion." I wholeheartedly agree with his very reasoned take on why this is so, because, as I said, I lived it. But I realize that if you're a believer no amount of reasoned logic will sway you. So be it.

Answer 5

To me this is a scary assertion. If it be abuse, who is going to enforce this standard? The government? I, for one, do not want the government deciding what teachings are child abuse.

I think society as a whole needs to be very careful about using its collective power to tell individual families how to raise their children.

We need a lot more collective discussion about religion and raising children before we go down the totalitarian road of telling families what they can and cannot teach their children.

Answer 6

No,there is nothing wrong with teaching your child moral values.I believe that this country was founded on christian values.If you read your history books youwill find our nation was powerful and respected until it began turning away from God.Every person has a right to teach their children things they believe wiill benefit them.Besides no true christian will try or can force their children to believe in any belief system.

Answer 7

And so, just what do you suggest as to bringing up children?
The ideals of Rosie O'Donnell? probably.

Btw, abuse is the single most abused word in the English Language.

When you were dropped on your head as a baby it was an accident not abuse.

Answer 8

No, it is not abuse.

Parents have the right to teach their children whatever they want, so long as they raise them to be productive members of society, and there is no actual abuse involved.

Teaching one's children one's beliefs is not abuse.

People still have the free will to choose what to believe or not believe later in life. That includes people raised in religious homes. People raised in non-religious homes can become religious later in life, and vice versa.

As a sidenote, wasn't this subject discussed in Richard Dawkins' God Delusion?

Answer 9

Teaching children what you believe to be right is not abuse. Are you suggesting that as children grow up they are incapable of making up their own minds? Christianity insists on the individual making a decision for themselves.

Answer 10

Again - which religion? Christianity and Islam are both Abrahamic religions - they are definitely not fit for children.

Most Pagan and indigenous religions are fine for kids, though, because they teach them that they have a loving place in the Universe.

Answer 11

Yes it is. They have as much right to their own beliefs as you do, but many parents insist that they must all share the same beliefs regardless.

A much better method is to expose them to various religions, let them research them on their own and then allow them to make their own decisions when they are mature enough to do so (12 is an appropriate minimum).