I find that calling a child catholic,or muslim, or hindu, etc, is completely unethical and unfair to the child's development. It inhibits personal advancement and thoughtfulness because its a limitation that is imposed on them--a metaphorical ball and chain. Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins have argued, which I agree with, that you wouldn't call a child a republican, or a democrat, or any other political position because a child isn't old enough to understand the complex issues behind various stance--there is nothing more complicated than the nature of reality, which makes religious labeling even more disgusting.
The reasons why religions like this is obvious--its a form of early prostelization that sticks with a child more easily because their families and communities which they grew up with are peer pressuring them to conform to their societal standards. Children are also more susceptible to suggestions. However, it completely demolishes the chance for most children to have an unpolluted period of personal progress where they can individually learn about what beliefs they find most appealing. Religious families inherently tarnish this fundamentally important process.
In an ideal world I would like there to be laws prohibiting the prostelization until they are capable of making more sophisticated judgments. In conclusion parents are doing a disservice to their children by demanding that they stick to the family household religion . It really is a form of child abuse since it obliterates the potential for a child to learn for themselves, instead of being force fed a bunch of garbage created by iron age peasants.
I was raised a Catholic, and while I now disagree with some things about Catholicism, the overall experience was very positive.
No human can teach their children the whole truth, because they do not know it themselves. Every human will teach their children error.
Whether you call it religion or something else, children should be taught right from wrong.
Leaving children to think for themselves completely would be neglect.
Parents have a responsibility to teach what is true as much as they are able.
The Ten Commandments are the best basis for house rules possible. Some may disagree, but that's their business.
Even if people do not believe in God, the latter commandments are such that they should be universally accepted -and most people do teach similar things regardless of beliefs.
Requiring that one specific religion be observed as long as a child is part of a household is not inherently wrong as long as the requirements are reasonable.
Children will have to respect the beliefs of others -and respect authority -the rest of their lives. It is actually good practice.
They will eventually make up their own minds -and many people, religious or otherwise, react to this in unhealthy ways.
Things can go wrong, but no more so than in any other sort of household.
All will eventually make their own decisions, and should be encouraged to do so.
If one has good reason to hope their child eventually accepts a particular religion, they should make a good case for it.
Any good lesson a child is taught might take time to be fully realized -and are often realized only after becoming independent and choosing otherwise.
However, independence should be proportional to capability.
The child may eventually make a different decision, but should still respect house rules -which include respecting the beliefs of the householders even if one does not agree.
Some handle a child's decision to do things differently the wrong way -and some parents are encouraged to handle things the wrong way by unsavory characters while children are encouraged to rebel by the same or similar unsavory characters.
Unfortunately, it's a very evil world.
I was part of an excellent religious group which was subject to manipulation by external forces which made it seem like something other than what it was -and even split families apart -making family members believe falsehoods about other family members -causing people to err with bad information -falsifying communications, etc.....
I'd worry about the children who grow up in households that teach them to do such things -but they teach other peoples' children to do such, also.
