Children and religion

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:26 AM

I'm a strongly atheist parent (and my wife as well), but we send our daughter to religious instruction (liberal protestant) for we think that, firstly, a background of ethics does her well (I find close to nothing wrong with a liberal Christian ethic) and, secondly, that the stories of the Bible are a part of our cultural heritage like the brothers Grimm tales. When she asked me if there is a God, I told her the truth, namely that there are people who believe there is one and that there are people who don't believe there is one and that her parents don't believe there is one. She quickly said that she also does not believe in God and I told her that she should wait with such a pronouncement until she will be much older.

I don't know what is so bad about Jehova's witnesses for they never come to my door, I also don't know how (or if) they indoctrinate their children, but at the first glance I cannot see much wrong with taking children to adult activities like watching football or going to a folk festival or going from door to door.

But I do strongly object to any permanent scars and mutilations done in the name of the parents' religion to childrens' bodies. If they want to do that as adults I don't mind.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: Paul Burke
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:09 AM

Parents inevitably pass on their beliefs to their children, it's difficult to imagine a way of NOT doing so. The important thing is that any society that belives in choice must provide a way by which they can learn to make that choice later in life.

Religions have always attempted to apply (to a geater or lesser extent) emotional pressure on young people not to apostatise- this varies from parental disapproval, through rejection by their birth culture, to in some cases attempted or successful murder.

It must be made clear to the leaders of organised belief systems that any pressure beyond the mildest is unacceptable. How to get that across in the presnt climate of confrontation is another matter.

In that context, I am very grateful to my Catholic parents, who expressed only their personal disapproval and fears for our eternal future, when almost all their offspring opted for a humanist/ atheist belief. It may have comforted them that we have largely retained the ethical and moral framework which they belived derived from religion, and which we believe derives from a rational view of human society.

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:07 AM

These gits take children along in the belief that people won't tell them to fuck off in the presence of chidren.


eric

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:00 AM

Two issues here. First, the general one about children having choice of religion - and I can only speak from a Christian (mainly Orthodox) perspective of course. A Christian believes that having been admitted into the Church pretty much guarantees passage to the "better place" provided you have not committed serious sins. In the case of children, who have had limited opportunities to sin yet, this means that in the case of accidental or otherwise early death, being "in the Church" is a guarantee of Heaven in itself (I am using the term "admitted into the Church" on purpose here - in fact for some dogmas like RC or Orthodoxy one has to be actually baptised, and thereafter tutored by your Godparents up to adulthood).

In centuries past, when child mortality was much higher, this "guarantee" was a major factor in parents choosing to indoctrinate their children - and have them baptised - early. The reasons have largely elapsed now of course, but the practice remains.

Of course, even I managed to loook cute at 8 months old being immersed into the fond and displayed starkers for all to see before being anointed with oil on all (ALL) my importants parts while bawling my heart out. The imagery of doing the same as a teenager or older doesn't bear thinking! (OK, you do have late converts of course, and they are dressed in a white robe while being immersed, but still...).

But the issue of the JWs dragging a kid along on their door-to-door canvassing is something else altogether. This is not part of the child's indoctrination or religious education; the child is there simply to impress the adults opening the door; it is a selling technique, and the child is being EXPLOITED. Pure and simple.

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 04:59 AM

Children in religious homes do not get this choice, the parents religion is rammed down their throats almost as soon as they can speak,these poor kids are brainwashed from an early age.

I'd say the same for strongly athiest parents whose children might be brainwashed from an early age there is no god.

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: skipy
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 04:51 AM

They make me puke, as do all funderMENTALists!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Children and religion
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 04:26 AM

I might be tempted to report said knocker of doors to the social services, that's no way to treat a child, dragging her around with you while you knock on people's doorsteps, and harangue them with your pet obsession. Not only that but the uncouth response that JW receive at some doors is not fit for a child's ears.
Giok

Subject: Children and religion
From: Alan Day
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 04:12 AM

I recently had a visit from a Jehova's Witness, nothing unusual about that, but with him was a little girl of about five.
As adults we have the opportunity to choose our religion or not choose it.We can also choose the religion that meets our requirements.
Children in religious homes do not get this choice, the parents religion is rammed down their throats almost as soon as they can speak,these poor kids are brainwashed from an early age. I respect that children should be brought up to respect good and evil,but why should they not have a chance to choose or not to choose their religion when they are older and more fully understand the choices available to them.
Al