I asked a question in regards to whether it's fair to force a child into new religious beliefs, if they enter into a new household.
I would BET MY LIFE that it's not fair. I know that firsthand.
I knew a guy that was in foster care. He went from home to home, worshipping everything from God to Buddha to Satan.
Do you think that's "good" for a child? Do you think that's right?
Well, if it's right, then suicide must be right, because that's how his life ended.
2007-12-28 17:28:05 · 36 answers · asked by [[Princess For The Day]] 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not "blaming" religion; I'm stating a fact. That's the reason he gave, and that's what caused his pain and suffering.
2007-12-28 17:34:20 · update #1
As I ALREADY said, religion was what he claimed his reason was.
2007-12-28 17:36:28 · update #2
That is a very sad case, I for one believe that religious indoctrination from a young age is a form of child abuse..
I absolutely abhor religious nuts who try to spread their beliefs (poison) upon others constantly...
I hope he finds peace in the Nextworld as it is obvious he did not find it in this world...
Blessed Be... )O(
2007-12-28 17:45:59 · answer #1 · answered by Bunge 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not fair; in fact, I would consider it abusive. Providing care for a child does not entitle anyone to force that child to adopt the household's religious practices.
In situations like this, I sometimes ask myself, "What if it were Satanism?" In other words, in a situation where people are wondering if something is okay, or claiming that it's good for kids because it's religious, I ask them, "OK, what if the people in the household were Satanists, which is a religion, and they had certain beliefs and practices. Would it be fair for the child to participate then?" People who believe that certain things are okay will do a complete about-face when it's put that way. Foster kids are forced to do a lot of things, but Satanism is not one of them, the kid would be yanked out of there so fast it would make the foster parents' heads spin.
Whether it's right or wrong, however, it does not follow that "suicide is right". That is a non-sequitur - the one issue has nothing to do with the other.
2007-12-28 17:32:26 · answer #2 · answered by Godless AM™ VT 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I strongly believe in the right to practice any religion you want, as long as it remains harmless to others. (I have my doubts you, Christianity) A standard liberal answer, but true, nonetheless. Forcing anyone to change their beliefs just because they live in your house is beyond unfair, it's damaging. I'm half convinced I want to enter the foster care system, just to give a few kids some hope for normalcy. Don't really see what religion has to do with your friend's suicide, though. The religion is only a small piece to a larger puzzle.
2007-12-28 23:30:53 · answer #3 · answered by Dissent21 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's right to force a child into a religion in the first place. Religious beliefs should be up to the individual to decide and if that means that the parents need to wait for the child to grow up and mature more before he/she decides for themselves then that's how it should go. But if the child already has religious beliefs it isn't right to completely disregard and disrespect those.
2007-12-28 17:32:08 · answer #4 · answered by Hella Rad 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So are you blaming religion for his suicide?
If a child is in a normal home the family chooses the initial religion... thats fair because the child is often too young to know. As the child gets older and more capable of making their own decisions he/she may choose at that time to learn more about other religions.
2007-12-28 17:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by sshazzam 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's not fair.
The way you write I can feel the anger.
and I am sorry for your lose.
I don't know what the answer would be. we hope that children are born to a loving couple.
So when a child is forced from house to house and religion to religion how is that the answer to a child with out a family.
I am sorry he committed suicide. It hurts those left behind so very much.
2007-12-28 17:37:11 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ ♥ C.J. ♥ ♥ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're absolutely right...exposure to as much diversity and information as possible is completely wrong. One should be brain-washed into one mold and then forget about it. And, tragic as your friend's suicide is...I am sure that it had everything to do with religion and nothing to do with his bouncing around aimlessly, unwanted, from foster home to foster home. And no, I am not trying to be insensitive, but the statistics bear that people in his circumstance commit suicide at obscenely higher rates than everyone else, regardless of their exposure to religions or lack thereof.
2007-12-28 18:05:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No it is not right, ever. Foster Care should have the families signing an agreement to let the child think freely about his/her religion. Is it what caused his suicide?
2007-12-28 17:32:09 · answer #8 · answered by Emily 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is the decision of the parents what religion a child is raised with, just as they determine the neighborhood, school, city or town, lifestyle, arrangements, language, etc. It would be totalitarian and collectivist to allow someone else to make that decision. There is such a thing as poor parenting and when that involves abuse, neglect, domestic violence, drug addiction or some other issue, the government has to step in.
2007-12-28 17:32:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. It's not fair or right to force religious beliefs on a child who is new to your home.
2007-12-28 17:38:26 · answer #10 · answered by oldernwiser 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋