Should belief be private?

[bobhikes]

I believe teaching of children is very important and teaching religion which most of the world believes in and shapes society to be extremely important. My problem is that it needs to be all religions so the children can understand how the world works.

Teaching one religion is like teaching about only one country or one people bigoted. School teaches many versions of Sciences, Many different writting styles and many different maths. They teach all the arts and different sports why not all the religions of the world.

I wonder how the world would be if all the children are taught all the religions of the world for their 12 years of school. What religion would they pick and would they be more tolorant of other religions.

 

[blackout]

its because thats what I was raised to believe, If we were raised right we were taught that it is right to treat people well help them out.

ohhh and what can i do to help?

I find this personally to be a matter of the heart.
Someting one is born with.
But this is me.

Hopefully I/we can pull through this on our own.
It is how I would prefer it.
To many people these days,
the loss of a vehicle, or whatever
is the final straw that brings everything down.
I'm not alone in this.
I cannot bring mySelf to beg on the internet.
I have too much pride.
I don't want to be anyone's charity case.

 

[tarasan]

I believe teaching of children is very important and teaching religion which most of the world believes in and shapes society to be extremely important. My problem is that it needs to be all religions so the children can understand how the world works.

Teaching one religion is like teaching about only one country or one people bigoted. School teaches many versions of Sciences, Many different writting styles and many different maths. They teach all the arts and different sports why not all the religions of the world.

I wonder how the world would be if all the children are taught all the religions of the world for their 12 years of school. What religion would they pick and would they be more tolorant of other religions.

firstly we dont know all the religions of the world, so we couldnt teach them all, there are many many so would the top five be better?

but yeah in schools i definately believe they should be taught, but do you believe that their parents should teach them their own religion?

 

[blackout]

I believe teaching of children is very important and teaching religion which most of the world believes in and shapes society to be extremely important. My problem is that it needs to be all religions so the children can understand how the world works.

Teaching one religion is like teaching about only one country or one people bigoted. School teaches many versions of Sciences, Many different writting styles and many different maths. They teach all the arts and different sports why not all the religions of the world.

I wonder how the world would be if all the children are taught all the religions of the world for their 12 years of school. What religion would they pick and would they be more tolorant of other religions.

This is why UU is the only church I will bring my children to.

They occasionally ask me to do my "magic cards" with them,
(the tarot)
but I never pull them into my own stuff.
(though neither do I hide it from them)
If they are interested in what I do,
they ask. If they want to try what I do,
I attempt to make it relevant to them individually,
and age appropriate.

I let them come to me on their own, or not.

 

[TheKnight]

Should religious beliefs (which, let's face it, can't really be externally verified) be kept solely to the individual, or are people with beliefs justified in passing these on to their children? Should the beliefs be allowed to be publicised within society or should they be kept personal?

From my own perspective, I think that people are free to believe in whatever they want, be it a god, fairies, invisible donkeys - whatever. My beef is when they introduce it into society (schools, in particular - why are the young always targetted?!), and they are given certain privileges or are allowed to say certain things because of their beliefs.

A person should be allowed to publicly express their religious belief so long as society in general supports that expression.

The young are targeted because early on they don't question what they are told.

Every parent teaches his/her child in the ways that he/she feels are correct. The young are "targeted" because they need to be given direction by someone and it might as well be their parents. And if it's their parents then they will inevitably be inculcated into the ideals of their parents.

are you serious over in England i just discovered the Lib Dem guy was an athiest, it isnt a big deal for me, anyone who votes someone in because of their religion and not their policies is stupid.

A person's religion is a part of who they are and, like it or not, plays a large part in their decision making process. Thus, it is important to know what a person believes, and how that belief affects their actions before voting for them. To separate the person's policies from the rest of the person is to try and live in a La La land where the vast majority of people take the time to objectively make decision outside of their personal beliefs.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't think people give children or teenagers the benefit of the doubt. Do you really believe that a child or teenager will accept and believe anything he or she is told- especially the third grade and beyond? That said, teaching religion- not about various types in history but of the faith itself, does not belong in schools. But if I want to talk about my faith with someone and the other person has no objection (and vice versa), then I don't see a problem.

 

[LuisDantas]

Thirded

 

[Noaidi]

Well what Noaidi was trying to say was to not seperate ones religion from himself but to keep ones religion to himself.

Yes, that was what I meant. I'll give you an example.

I live in a very remote community and the vast majority of the people are fundamentalist Protestant. I have often been called a sinner, wicked etc by local people because they know I am an atheist. My point is that they should be free to believe what they want, but without trying to impose it on me or judge me because I am different from them.

Religious education is taught in the local school but the bias is overwhelmingly towards christianity, and often from the point of view that their religion is the only one that is correct.
At school assemblies, the minister will often rant to the pupils about how the evils of the world are due to us all being sinners and how we are destined for hell if we don't change our ways (it's important to state here that there are children as young as 5 in the assembly hall, listening to this).

Personally, religion should have no place in society beyond the home or the place of worship. It should not be part of education (other than teaching it as a historical / cultural phenomenon), politics or any other public sphere of life.

 

[Noaidi]

I don't see how it's any different from political beliefs, or being out of the closet. We should never feel we have to hide who we are.

I agree that we shouldn't have to hide who we are, but neither should we be ramming who we are down other people's throats (I know that's not what you are advocating,though!).

 

[Noaidi]

I don't think people give children or teenagers the benefit of the doubt. Do you really believe that a child or teenager will accept and believe anything he or she is told- especially the third grade and beyond?

In some cases, yes they will believe what they are told because often the mode of indoctrination involves fear or instilling a sense of betrayal to the parents if the child does not believe.

 

[sandandfoam]

Parents teach children - it's the way of our species.

 

[Noaidi]

Parents teach children - it's the way of our species.

Yes, but that teaching should be free from fear based on what will supposedly happen if you don't believe in this god or that god.

As an atheist, I didn't give my daughter any instruction regarding religion. As a result, she was free to believe or not. It turned out that she became drawn to Eastern religions / philosophies - a decision she made based on her own research and free from any input from her parents.

 

[LuisDantas]

With all due respect, Noaidi, I find the idea that children may make decisions free from any input from their parents quite puzzling.

You're possibly taking this idea of respecting her own ideas a bit too far. Reality doesn't quite allow a parent NOT to be a reference of some sort for its own children. Don't sweat it - it is in fact a gift and a joy. And it certainly does not have to manifest as disrespect for her personal rights and choices!

 

[blackout]

No one should shove or force their stuff on others.

No matter who they are.

It's obnoxious and rude and intrusive.

 

[Noaidi]

With all due respect, Noaidi, I find the idea that children may make decisions free from any input from their parents quite puzzling.

You're possibly taking this idea of respecting her own ideas a bit too far. Reality doesn't quite allow a parent NOT to be a reference of some sort for its own children. Don't sweat it - it is in fact a gift and a joy. And it certainly does not have to manifest as disrespect for her personal rights and choices!

I see what your saying, but I'm referring specifically to religious aspects of life. Of course as a parent, I will teach my daughter right from wrong within the society she lives in. That's because we all have to adhere to these norms to get along. But I feel children shouldn't be exposed to god, jesus, FSM, Thor etc (in the sense of being brought up to believe in these entities) until they are ready to question it for themselves.

 

[sandandfoam]

No one should shove or force their stuff on others.

No matter who they are.

It's obnoxious and rude and intrusive.

I take my kids to see motorbikes and bike stuff all the time. I buy them motorbike stuff, they know Harleys are the best bikes, they have bike t-shirts and they think bikes are cool.

Obnoxious rude and intrusive?

 

[LuisDantas]

Fair enough. It looks like we're disagreeing on language emphasis, if even that.

 

[LuisDantas]

I take my kids to see motorbikes and bike stuff all the time. I buy them motorbike stuff, they know Harleys are the best bikes, they have bike t-shirts and they think bikes are cool.

Obnoxious rude and intrusive?

Shame on you.

Just kidding. I don't really think there is anything wrong with praising bikes in your kids' presence, of course.

 

[Noaidi]

I take my kids to see motorbikes and bike stuff all the time. I buy them motorbike stuff, they know Harleys are the best bikes, they have bike t-shirts and they think bikes are cool.

Obnoxious rude and intrusive?

StephenW
I feel you are missing the purpose of this thread. My opening post is concerned with religious belief. I'm sure you don't tell your children that they will be punished as sinners if they don't follow your love of motorbikes. Well, hopefully not, anyway...

 

[Noaidi]

Fair enough. It looks like we're disagreeing on language emphasis, if even that.

That's the problem with written communication, I suppose. Sometimes the subtler inferences are lost.