Daddy, You go to church, why can't I go to church?

I'm sorry son, I can't take you to Church, you will have to wait until Steve Shaw and Richard Dawkins say it its OK.

Daddy, You go to the pub, why can't I go to the pub?

I'm sorry son, I can't take you to the pub, you will have to wait until the entirely sensible law of the land, that wiser people than I have set up for your protection, says it's OK.

Or betting shop, or casino, or polling booth, or 18-certificate movie, or battle front...

Yes, I really do believe that religious indoctrination is something that children need protecting from until they are old enough to be able to weigh, without pressure, the pros and cons. It's what a responsible society does about the things we decide are best suited to adults. I firmly believe that religion is one of those things. Indoctrination has the potential to damage children (wanna deny that, Jacko?). Of course, I don't mean religious education in its true sense. That is mandatory I reckon, and it would be a very good preparation, if properly delivered, for that day when the young adult is finally exposed to the doctrine. This won't work very well for religion, of course, which is why daddy thinks it's OK to take sonnyboy to church. The priest has told daddy so.