"As to the idea that Don expresses, it is ludicrous. To suggest that parents don't have a right to teach the children they created their own value system and religious beliefs goes beyond the pale. Because you don't believe in these things, you believe that all folks who do should be prohibited from passing on their beliefs? What then, beyond food and clothing, is the role of the parent? Nice theory, but wholly impractical. That would be like me prohibiting you from teaching atheism until a child is old enough to make their own determinations."


Thank you so much for making clear your total lack of respect for my right to express an opinion, Mick. I've noticed before this tendency you have to jump in with your mouth while the brain is still searching for first gear, and completely misinterpret what you read.

Where do you get the brass balls to assume that I don't believe in religion, and further assume that I would be teaching atheism. I do have a faith, though that is none of your blasted business.

My point, which you obviously missed, is that I have the right to make life or death decisions for myself alone. Not for my wife, my child, or any other member of my family.

Moreover, since my child is reliant upon me for nurture, it is my responsibility to place my faith second to his/her well being. I do not have the right to decide to allow another human being to die.

For followers of extreme fundamentalist religions which forbid human intervention in the progress of illness to the point of allowing death to intervene, they SHOULD be prevented from imposing their beliefs until the children are old enough for an informed decision.

They should, in those circumstances, confine themselves to informing the child as to morals and ethics, and such information about their religion as would not lead the child to suffer feelings of guilt about not being dead.

For God's sake, Mick, what precisely is ludicrous about that?

And what d'ye suppose Jesus or Mohammed would have said about allowing children to die for OUR faith.

Don T.