Should the Bible be taught to Minors?

[sojourner]

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure that one out. We either have brainwashed children running around believing in Yahweh, scarred for life by the idea of Hell and stories of violence and misogyny, or we have an authoritarian government that regulates religious freedom.
Once again, it appears that the only solution is to make me supreme evil overlord.

Or we have responsible people teaching their children about the love of God for humanity, and about the concepts of hospitality, forbearance, love, mercy, inclusion, and kindness, who are empowered by the concept that they are valuable parts of creation, learning responsibility in caring for the environment and for the less fortunate in a humble way.

 

[Smoke]

The Bible contains many things that many people in our modern society would find cruel and barbaric. It contains racism, sexism, homophobia, violence, bloodlust, and rape. Does anyone think this should concern people that this is taught to children as the infalliable word of god?

Certainly not. Not because of the violence and stuff, but because "the infallible word of god" is an untenable concept.

 

[I Keep Unicorns]

If it is taught, it should be taught as a work of fiction. The horrific content concerning stoning, prejudice, killing, rape, etc, is a perfect example of how NOT to conduct yourself.
The basics of various religions, I believe, should be taught at School as a way of letting that child get a good idea of what it is they believe in for themselves. The emphasis should be put on that child's personal choice. Critical thinking, above all, should be taught.

 

[ChristineES]

If it is taught, it should be taught as a work of fiction. The horrific content concerning stoning, prejudice, killing, rape, etc, is a perfect example of how NOT to conduct yourself.
The basics of various religions, I believe, should be taught at School as a way of letting that child get a good idea of what it is they believe in for themselves. The emphasis should be put on that child's personal choice. Critical thinking, above all, should be taught.

If you want to teach it your children as fiction, that is fine. But we don't believe it to be a work of fiction so we don't have to tell our children that we think it is. Children after a certain age should not be shielded from what happens in the real world. The things that happen in the Bible are still happening to people.

 

[I Keep Unicorns]

If you want to teach it your children as fiction, that is fine. But we don't believe it to be a work of fiction so we don't have to tell our children that we think it is. Children after a certain age should not be shielded from what happens in the real world. The things that happen in the Bible are still happening to people.

I absolutely agree that children, after a certain age, should not be sheilded from what happens in the real world. The bible is not the real world, however. The fact that some people still believe it's true is the real world, but it's content is mythical, void of evidence and therefore has little place to be taught as fact.

It is one thing to inform children of the dangers of the real world; it's an entirely different thing altogether to tell children they will burn for eternity in hellfire if they do not repent for their sins.

 

[ChristineES]

I absolutely agree that children, after a certain age, should not be shielded from what happens in the real world. The bible is not the real world, however. The fact that some people still believe it's true is the real world, but it's content is mythical, void of evidence and therefore has little place to be taught as fact.

It is one thing to inform children of the dangers of the real world; it's an entirely different thing altogether to tell children they will burn for eternity in hellfire if they do not repent for their sins.

The Bible doesn't actually teach about anyone burning forever. Not all Christians believe in a eternal pit where souls roast for eternity- in fact, very few do believe that. And some of the things that happened in the Bible: Wars, rape, etc. still do happen nowadays.
Even if you believe it to be a myth, remember that myths even have some basis in reality.

 

[T-Dawg]

Or we have responsible people teaching their children about the love of God for humanity, and about the concepts of hospitality, forbearance, love, mercy, inclusion, and kindness, who are empowered by the concept that they are valuable parts of creation, learning responsibility in caring for the environment and for the less fortunate in a humble way.

Responsible people?!? This isn't some sort of utopian fantasy world !

 

[fallingblood]

I absolutely agree that children, after a certain age, should not be sheilded from what happens in the real world. The bible is not the real world, however. The fact that some people still believe it's true is the real world, but it's content is mythical, void of evidence and therefore has little place to be taught as fact.

It is one thing to inform children of the dangers of the real world; it's an entirely different thing altogether to tell children they will burn for eternity in hellfire if they do not repent for their sins.

The Bible has had a massive impact on the real world. It has influenced many ideas of the real world.

Also, there is quite a bit of its content that isn't just mythical. We have learned quite a bit from examining the Bible. In archeology, the Bible has helped a great deal. It has given us some additional aspects on what we are discovering.

That is not to say that the Bible should be taught as fact, because in its entirety, it shouldn't. However, to ignore the historical and real world impact it has had would be ignoring quite a bit.

 

[I Keep Unicorns]

The Bible has had a massive impact on the real world. It has influenced many ideas of the real world.

Also, there is quite a bit of its content that isn't just mythical. We have learned quite a bit from examining the Bible. In archeology, the Bible has helped a great deal. It has given us some additional aspects on what we are discovering.

That is not to say that the Bible should be taught as fact, because in its entirety, it shouldn't. However, to ignore the historical and real world impact it has had would be ignoring quite a bit.

I see exactly what you mean; agreed.

 

[I Keep Unicorns]

The Bible doesn't actually teach about anyone burning forever. Not all Christians believe in a eternal pit where souls roast for eternity- in fact, very few do believe that. And some of the things that happened in the Bible: Wars, rape, etc. still do happen nowadays.
Even if you believe it to be a myth, remember that myths even have some basis in reality.

The bible doesn't teach about condemnation to hell? The bible doesn't tell you that that's where you'll end up if you reject the idea of Jesus and do repent for your sins, etc? What version of the bible are these Christians reading from?

I am for the teaching of children the harsh realities of the world and how to deal with them, prepare for them, etc, as well as the teaching of various religions and the studying of various religious texts. I'm against the teaching of any religious text as a literal truth regarding things such as the creation of the Earth, or a foundation on which to base one's life. I believe children should be allowed to decide for themselves if they believe in any given religion of those they have been studying, and the complete freedom to say if they don't believe in any god.

 

[ChristineES]

The bible doesn't teach about condemnation to hell? The bible doesn't tell you that that's where you'll end up if you reject the idea of Jesus and do repent for your sins, etc? What version of the bible are these Christians reading from?

I am for the teaching of children the harsh realities of the world and how to deal with them, prepare for them, etc, as well as the teaching of various religions and the studying of various religious texts. I'm against the teaching of any religious text as a literal truth regarding things such as the creation of the Earth, or a foundation on which to base one's life. I believe children should be allowed to decide for themselves if they believe in any given religion of those they have been studying, and the complete freedom to say if they don't believe in any god.

I don't take all the bible literally, a lot of Christian don't. We take some of it symbolically, including the creation story. Yes, there are Christians who take the entire Bible literally, but not all.

 

[lockyfan]

In some places the bible needs to be taken literally. Like when Jesus said to love your neighbours as yourself

As a matter of fact the bible says that children should know it in Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Also 2timothy 3:16-17 tells us the WHOLE bible is good for us.

If you dont take it seriously or take some things to be symbolic (I would like to know what you think is symbolic about the creation story) that are not then how are you etting the full sense of God's word?

 

[Revoltingest]

At first, I thought the OP a silly attack on Xtianity. But it occurred to me that if Huck Fin is to be censored, if some of the cartoons I watched
in the 50s are banned from TV now, then this would seem to be in keeping with current general standards. When I think of great literary works
like A Clockwork Orange...who would want their pre-teen kids reading that? I had mine wait til they were mature enuf to handle it. Beethoven's
Ode To Joy has never been the same since.

 

[lilmama1991]

I believe in preparing kids for the real world.

I agree and i also believe that everybody should know about the bible

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

In some places the bible needs to be taken literally. Like when Jesus said to love your neighbours as yourself

As a matter of fact the bible says that children should know it in Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Also 2timothy 3:16-17 tells us the WHOLE bible is good for us.

If you dont take it seriously or take some things to be symbolic (I would like to know what you think is symbolic about the creation story) that are not then how are you etting the full sense of God's word?

So when Jesus says "feed my lambs", you don't take that as symbolic?

Do you think that when Jesus called Peter the rock on which he would build his church, he meant that he built a literal church on top of Peter? That'd hurt.

 

[Dezzie]

I feel that no specific Religion should be pushed upon a child. It has nothing to do with the barbaric topics either. My stand point on this has to do with your child not having their own way of thinking and believing at that age. When you push a Religious belief on them at such a young age, it is brainwashing IMHO. You aren't giving them a chance to grow on their own...

If you teach a young child about God and Jesus, it engraves that believe into their brains. They grow up thinking that is the truth and everything else is wrong. Teaching them at such a young age makes them close-minded to what else is around them. This of course depends on the severity of the teachings. Some people teach Religion in a very innocent way but others are just... crazy about it.

I would personally wait until my children are old enough to understand. Religion is such a broad topic... I don't even understand it at times and I am 22!

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I would love for my children to read something like contained in the book of Dueteronomy, because it's so child friendly

How about Leviticus, and Judges, and Joshua? All perfectly appropriate child-themed books. :yes:

 

[Butterfly Christie]

Oh darn, I voted no but I meant the Bible shouldn't be taught to minors. The poll question and the title question switched up what yes and no would mean. *lol* So I meant yes on the poll question.

I think the Bible should be taught, along with other religious texts, in a non-biased way to let kids decide for themselves, but at an age where they are able to reason well enough. Not when they are too impressionable to accept something unreasonably. That is just like brain washing.

I can't help but think of the amount of people that wouldn't be religious if it were not for the indoctrination before the age at which they were able to reason. I consider that a form of brain washing. When they can reason they are already incredibly committed to it to the point that they think if they think a thought of unbelief they are evil, of the devil and in danger of eternally suffering. Do you know how traumatic that can be to a child? To give them the idea that if they don't believe they will be tortured for eternity? You can look up to see that where someone is brought up greatly determines what religion they will most likely have. This is from religious indoctrination in peoples up bringing. If you grew up in the US you will most likely be a Christian but if you grew up in the middle east you will most likely be a Muslim. There is a minority of deviants in every case though of coarse. Kids think because they are raised this way it must be true, and this is something obviously leading many people away from the truth. This can be seen even if you are a Christian, or Muslim because it's happening in both religions, that have different views on what is true and what isn't.

 

[fallingblood]

So when Jesus says "feed my lambs", you don't take that as symbolic?

Of course not. Because Jesus knew he was going to be crucified, and didn't want his lambs to go hungry. He was a good shepherd.

 

[fallingblood]

I would love for my children to read something like contained in the book of Dueteronomy, because it's so child friendly

How about Leviticus, and Judges, and Joshua? All perfectly appropriate child-themed books. :yes:

In an appropriate situation, what would be wrong with it? If you are advising your child, when they are of a decent age, why would that be wrong?