Teaching Religion - Wrong?

Question

I recently gave this whole religion thing a lot of thought and I've decided to settle this for myself.

We can agree on a few points here...
1. You're the same religion that your family is. (For the most part.)
2. You were taught what to believe.
3. Your church tells you what to believe.
4. The bible (if you're christian) sets limits on your opinions.
5. You were brought up on (some side of the world) so your religion is that of which is dominant in your country/area/city/etc,

If you can agree to these questions, then you have fallen under a spell. You have given up your right to believe in what you truely want. You were told as a child what to believe, so like all kids, you believed your elders and held onto those beliefs. I personally think it's wrong to teach something as personal as religion. What do you think? Shouldn't people have the CHOICE to DISCOVER what religion they want? I don't think we should be spoon fed what to think and believe. It just seems wrong to me...

Answer 1

Yeah. a pattern we see throughout pretty much all cultures is brainwashing...very few people are given the opportunity to understand more than a narrow point of view in their youth.

Answer 2

Luckily I was born and grew up in Sussex, the last English county to somewhat accept Christianity, were there is a healthy tolerance for different religions. I went to a typical English school which had religious education were we learnt and studied many different religions and philosophies. At no point in my childhood was I indoctrinated although I did go to church once a month, scout's church parade, our vicar was much liked in our community especially for his work outside the church.
As I grew up with religious tolerance, most of my family being non practising church of England, my gran and mum are ex sally army, no one told me what to believe in but to treat other people fairly and with tolerance.
I am not Christian but I respect other peoples religions I just don't like religious fanatics, the preachers of hatred and damnation and intolerant idiots.
I believe that everyone has the right to find their own way and belief or non belief system and should not be told what to think or believe in, indoctrination in any form is wrong.
I agree that it is wrong to force feed religion.
Andy

Answer 3

yes i think that is wrong, which is y i dont belive the same thing my dad does.
But u know it has gone this way for a while. Before people from Europe would come to the Americas and force the natives here to believe in the same religion as them. They would do that all around the world. And when people didn't agree to believe in jesus or w/e they would be killed.
It's sad but what can you do about it?

Answer 4

I would agree. We might be spoon fed what we should or not believe but, ultimately it is up to the individual to find the truth of their beliefs.

The tactics of the Church in my opinion are deceptive in that they allow no one to question. That is not teaching anything, it is wrong. Open up the truth, tell the true story of religion, how it began and why it still is here today. We cannot and should not take myths and superstitions of ancient peoples and reconstruct them into realities today.

Answer 5

I can see where you get these assumtions. It seems like practicly every religion is the same. But what I can tell you I hope helps you to see the difference.
*What I'm going to tell you here is the difference between Christianity and other religions. Christianity is a relationship between a Creator of the world and you. He sent His only son to die for us so we could be with Him forever when we die. Because of that, we don't have to get "religious". Even though we have access to this wonderful gift, doesn't mean we have to believe it or take it. It's like during Christmas (if you celabrate it). There is this wonderful present under the tree that God has given you, yet you have a decision to make: you open the present and accept it, or turn it down flat. Therefore your argument is already wrong. You DO HAVE A CHOICE and your choice is critical.
1. Yes I can say I am the same "religion" my family is. I'm Christian, but only cuz I really want to be. Like I explained earlier, I wanted that gift God had to offer me. I could leave right now, and my parents would love me, my friends would still care about me, but I would be making the biggest mistake of my entire life! When my mother was young her parents were Christian, but fell away from the faith. They got involved with bad stuff, yet my mother stayed in Christ. She kept up her faith kept up her relationship with Christ. And her parents got divorced. Then later, they became Christians again, and got back together. Cool Huh?
2.When your a Christian, God explains to you what and he expects from His children. Just like your parents(hopefully) set standards for your every-day life, thats how God is. And if we don't obey Him or our parents, we get diciplined or into trouble.
3.As a Christian you don't have to go to a Church. You can hve a small Bible study with close friends or just have devotions. Agian it's your choice. What ever you do, you do it to spend time with Christ. To have you daily fill. To experience what He expects from you as your heavenly father. So your church doesn't tell you what to believe. You have a choice.A good church will explain by the standards of what you're to live by, but it shoud never tell you what to believe.
4.The Bible is like the laws of America or where ever you live. They don't limit your opinions because you have choices and/or decisions to make:whether to obey or disobey. The laws of your country don't limit your opinion, they just let you know what is accepted or what is not accepted. You can still disobey the law, or you can obey it. Again, It's YOUR Choice.
5. Your last "fact" or "assumtion" is incorrect. I live in America and as you can see what is on T.V. regularly, the internet, magazines, ect... Christianity is definitely not dominant. But you might ask, "what about your city?" I'm not going to tell you the name, but I live in an extrememly libral city and am surrounded by witch craft and plenty of other stuff. Yet I am different.
*I hope that this helps you, and I can say I am definitely not spoon fed anything. Especially my "religion"! I have my testimony to prove that. I hope What I have given you helps to shine the light on true Christianity.

Answer 6

I've always chalked it up to brainwashing. Parents pass on their beliefs to their children at such a young age when the children do not have the ability to think logically... so when they are having tea parties with invisible bunnies and magical princesses, how can they determine that this invisible Jesus is real or not... eventually it beats them into submission as the same thing is pounded into their heads day after day, week after week... then they grow up and have children and the cycle repeats itself.

Only the brave ones will grow up to question this structure and decide if it's for them or not.

Answer 7

Agreed.
Same for public schooling.
You believe what your teachers tell you.
You believe what your friends tell you.
You believe what you know is important to believe inorder to be accepted by the group.
You have no choice or ability to discover.
You parent the way you see fit and let others do the same.
You will turn out animals and our kids will clean up the mess.

Answer 8

One thing that really bugs me, is that parents and preachers consider it sinful to learn the philosophy of another religion. For example, a friend of mine (back in high school), had very strong faith (as their family) but wanted to learn what about other religions inspire people the way christiantiy inspires him. His mother found out and he was punished and forced to talk to preachers about it. She threw away all his literature and forbade him from educating himself.

Why is it so sinful to have an understanding of other cultures? Why do some christians fear education? Why is it harmful to learn??? Wouldnt that STRENTHEN your faith, to know that you understand the philosophy behind other faiths, but still CHOOSE the path of christ?

(im not saying all christians do this, but i happen to know a few that do.)

Answer 9

If one is a believer in Christ then they have an obligation to pass that down to their children - I dont know about other religions but as far as Christianity goes we are required to do our best to speak of God to our kids in all situations and when they get older they will need to chose on their own

Answer 10

Jesus gave us all the free will to decide for ourselves what we believe. As for teaching religion, that is not important. What is important is the teaching of Christ and of faith in Him. Huge difference between religion and God. Jesus commanded us to preach the good news through out the world, the good news of His love and sacrifice so that we may be forgiven our sins and dwell in His house forever.