Religion and children

[turk179]

I was lucky enough to have parents who let me discover religion on my own. My mom was willing to answer questions about religion if asked but never forced it down my throat. I feel that rasing a child with a certain type of religion makes it harder for them to choose what is best for them when the time is right.

 

[Quiddity]

It's called reality.

And in the same breath you would cringe and the concept of Hell. I don't get it.

It would seem religion draws it's motivation from fear , sadness and death.

Quite the opposite. If justice and giving free will is seen in that manner by you then there is nothing I can add to enlighten you.

My daughter,9, is free to observe and ask anything she wants about any religion, but I don't actively encourage it. I do teach her to treat others as she would like to be treated and in addition that it is good to help even if you don't seem to get anything in return. She doesn't need to think she will be punished forever if she doesn't have a holy person pour water over her head. She has actually been spending her time reading a childrens bible and listening to bible stories on cd. I'm just glad she is reading more.:bounce

That's wonderful. Why would you think I would object to such things?

 

[Majikthise]

And in the same breath you would cringe and the concept of Hell. I don't it.

The only thing about the concept of hell that makes me cringe is that anyone would waste their time worrying about it.

That's wonderful. Why would you think I would object to such things?

I don't know if you would object or not , it was in answer to the topic at hand.

 

[Majikthise]

I always screw up those quote ballons.

 

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

You can always just tell them the alternative. That Hitler, Stalin, Mao and you and I or Mother Teresa all having exactly the same end, which is infinitely more troubling in my opinion. That poor and sick people who live their whole miserable lives and then just die. That's a much prettier picture... Tell me how it goes...

I told you it was a great way to keep kids in line. Geez, what do you want from me Victor? I say something positive about religion, and you jump on me, I say something negative about religion and you jump on me. This is really starting to get old.

B.

 

[jeffrey]

You tell them there is someone who knows everything they say, everything they do, and even everything that they think, and that if they screw up they will go to Hell forever and ever and ever.

Its a good way to keep them in line.

When well tell our children about Christianity, we talk about how Christ loves them. 'Jesus loves the little children..'

 

[flupke]

Is it right to teach our children so young about Religion? Should we not wait until they are old enough to make up there own minds? surly if we teach our kids when they are to young to make up their own minds this could be consideered as brainwash!
And does Religion bring about intolerance, violence and destruction? many wars have been started because of religion.

I am asking this for a study on religion i am doing in college so if you could answer these and have any more input on the idea of religion please feel free to let me know
thanks

It's utter brainwashing. The demographic spread of religions all over the world strongly suggests that most kids adopt the religion they were taught. "Making up your mind" is easy to say when you step into adulthood already being convinced about what people told you.

 

[dawny0826]

Is it right to teach our children so young about Religion? Should we not wait until they are old enough to make up there own minds? surly if we teach our kids when they are to young to make up their own minds this could be consideered as brainwash!
And does Religion bring about intolerance, violence and destruction? many wars have been started because of religion.

I am asking this for a study on religion i am doing in college so if you could answer these and have any more input on the idea of religion please feel free to let me know
thanks

My hubby and I are Christians and we have enrolled our oldest daughter into a Christian school. Her school has one of the best educational curriculums around and I think learning with teachers and peers of like faith is good for her. We focus moreso on Jesus Christ as opposed to focusing on particular religious traditions. As far as how our introduction to Christianity effects her life in the long run...I know from personal experience, having gone on quite a long and winding spiritual path myself...that she will have her own unique experiences in religion and will grow and mature in whatever she chooses for herself in her own time. Christianity is a choice. My prayers are that my daughter will choose that particular path but the choice is ultimately hers.

 

[flupke]

Christianity is a choice.

Choices are the result of analysis of the available facts and impressions. They are determined by the intrinsic character (native intelligence) and the data given by other people.

Do you think brainwashed kids have a choice ? Some may come in contact with other visions on life long enough; some were not brainwashed 'enough' to be convinced. BUT a lot of them are brainwashed enough: if it was not the case, there would not be a demographic spread of religions as it exists today.

The absence of a homogeneous spread of religions all over the world proves brainwashing.

 

[dawny0826]

Choices are the result of analysis of the available facts and impressions. They are determined by the intrinsic character (native intelligence) and the data given by other people.

Do you think brainwashed kids have a choice ? Some may come in contact with other visions on life long enough; some were not brainwashed 'enough' to be convinced. BUT a lot of them are brainwashed enough: if it was not the case, there would not be a demographic spread of religions as it exists today.

The absence of a homogeneous spread of religions all over the world proves brainwashing.

Whatever.

I was raised in a very Christian home and rebelled from the get go. It took me YEARS to make a decision as to what I wanted for my life. My path to Christ was long and difficult and I came to Him on my own accord...after fighting against everything my mother had ever taught me.

My husband and I wish we were influential enough to brainwash our children...you know...into eating their broccoli and maybe actually falling asleep by 9 PM. Picking up their toys would be nice too but to brainwash them into becoming Christians...nah...I don't think so.

Anyhoo...you can't force someone to become a Christian...so your brainwashing theories don't float in my household.

 

[flupke]

Whatever.

I was raised in a very Christian home and rebelled from the get go. It took me YEARS to make a decision as to what I wanted for my life. My path to Christ was long and difficult and I came to Him on my own accord...after fighting against everything my mother had ever taught me.

My husband and I wish we were influential enough to brainwash our children...you know...into eating their broccoli and maybe actually falling asleep by 9 PM. Picking up their toys would be nice too but to brainwash them into becoming Christians...nah...I don't think so.

Anyhoo...you can't force someone to become a Christian...so your brainwashing theories don't float in my household.

Exceptions prove the rule. A personal story does not disprove a trend.

The trend is clear: demographic spreads of religion exist. Whatever happened in your personal life (all respect) is clearly an exception.

 

[dawny0826]

Exceptions prove the rule. A personal story does not disprove a trend.

The trend is clear: demographic spreads of religion exist. Whatever happened in your personal life (all respect) is clearly an exception.

Who said I was trying to disprove your trends?

I simply wanted to make sure you understood that your theories do not apply to my situation.

 

[flupke]

Who said I was trying to disprove your trends?

I simply wanted to make sure you understood that your theories do not apply to my situation.

well, this then goes to the next level: even if you tell your kids to be critical, but you give them a life vision you have (christianity), this will influence them, whether you want it or not. How can you be certain your kids will have the same 'choices' you had ? How can you be certain YOU had a real choice ? In the end, you went back to where you came from, you didn't go to e.g. hinduism...

 

[dawny0826]

well, this then goes to the next level: even if you tell your kids to be critical, but you give them a life vision you have (christianity), this will influence them, whether you want it or not. How can you be certain your kids will have the same 'choices' you had ? How can you be certain YOU had a real choice ? In the end, you went back to where you came from, you didn't go to e.g. hinduism...

First off...I DON'T teach my children to be critical.

And I don't offer them any life vision. What we're having for breakfast tomorrow is about as deep as it gets at this point. I have a four year old and a fourteen month old. We're not exactly dealing with children who are ready to discuss religion and politics over a cup of coffee at this point. Do you follow me, here?

And yes, I realize that my children will be influenced by the choices that my husband and I make in life. But ultimately, my children will have to make a way for themselves.

Christianity is a choice. You have to understand that. No one could force me to become a Christian. I wanted that for myself. Yes, my mother was an influence growing up but so were my atheist friends and boyfriends.

Nothing is certain in life. I can't be certain that my children will have the same choices as I did in life. But that's the beauty of it...it's THEIR lives...THEIR paths to take.

As a parent...you teach them...you love them...you give them the best foundation that you can and then at a certain point...you let them go...to find themselves. I hope my girls will take a part of what we've taught them...but the choice is THEIRS.

 

[flupke]

First off...I DON'T teach my children to be critical.

And I don't offer them any life vision. What we're having for breakfast tomorrow is about as deep as it gets at this point. I have a four year old and a fourteen month old. We're not exactly dealing with children who are ready to discuss religion and politics over a cup of coffee at this point. Do you follow me, here?
.

Are you saying you will never send them to church and/or tell about christ ? Not even when they grow up ?

If you won't, I show deep respect. But I thought christians were supposed to spread the word...

 

[dawny0826]

Are you saying you will never send them to church and/or tell about christ ? Not even when they grow up ?

If you won't, I show deep respect. But I thought christians were supposed to spread the word...

You obviously didn't read my first post. (Insert melodramatic sigh)

My daughter already is enrolled in a Christian private school.

They sing a prayer before lunch...they go to Chapel on Friday. They learn about Bible characters. They also watch Disney movies during daycare...play board games and run around on the playground. They've also been known to play duck-duck-goose.

She's just so being brainwashed.

 

[Katzpur]

You obviously didn't read my first post. (Insert melodramatic sigh)

My daughter already is enrolled in a Christian private school.

They sing a prayer before lunch...they go to Chapel on Friday. They learn about Bible characters. They also watch Disney movies during daycare...play board games and run around on the playground. They've also been known to play duck-duck-goose.

She's just so being brainwashed.

Wow... Sounds pretty dangerous to me! :biglaugh:

 

[Katzpur]

We teach our children Christianity, Paganism, the views of many religions, the concept of Atheism and cultures. When well tell our children about Christianity, we talk about how Christ loves them. 'Jesus loves the little children..'

What do you tell them about atheism? That God doesn't exist? I think it's good to expose children to different belief systems, but how is it possible to remain entirely objective in doing this? If you tell your children that Jesus loves them, it stands to reason that they would assume you believe that Jesus was the Son of God. How can you teach them that Jesus was the Son of God if you're also trying to communicate the possibility that maybe there is no God at all?

It kinds of reminds me of a joke I heard once...

On New York's Upper West Side lived an assimilated Jew who was a militant atheist. But he sent his son to Trinity School because, despite its denominational roots, it was a great school and completely secular. After a month, the boy comes home and says casually, “By the way Dad, do you know what ‘Trinity’ means? It means the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

The father can barely control his rage. He seizes his son by the shoulders and declares, “Danny, I’m going to tell you something now and I want you never to forget it. There is only one God, and we don’t believe in Him!”

 

[Quiddity]

The only thing about the concept of hell that makes me cringe is that anyone would waste their time worrying about it.

It hardly even pops into my mind until someone claims it doesn't exist.

 

[jeffrey]

flupke, there is some credence to what you are saying. Some places if you do not believe what everyone around you believe, you are shunned. But I also think that you will find that alot of Atheists had some form of Christian upbringing. I myself did not have the same beliefs to some extent of what my parents had.