Father Heathen
Veteran Member
I didn't mean "you" as in you specifically, but anyone who would have to rely on such a tactic to keep their kids in line. I made no presumptions about your parenting or that you even had kids.
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When Should a Care-Giver Teach a Young Child About Hell?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
I didn't mean "you" as in you specifically, but anyone who would have to rely on such a tactic to keep their kids in line. I made no presumptions about your parenting or that you even had kids.
BSM1
What? Me worry?
When you have tried everything else, and you still love the little demon, you might have to resort to tactics you find distasteful. Rather you like it or not, as an adult you have you have to be in control.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Up to the parents and a possible way to an ad for another caregiver.
When the caregiver can demonstrate that the belief is true and not until then.
When one person arranges things so that another relies on the truth of what they say, they take on the responsibility to ensure that what they're saying is true... over and above whatever responsibility they have to themselves for their own beliefs.
Someone whose beliefs are only justified by a gut feeling or hope that they're true may be unwise, but if they try to instill those beliefs in others with that level of support, they're breaking a moral obligation.
Short version: if you deliberately get people to rely on you, you have a duty to be reliable.
Axe Elf
Prophet
Early on, it would be little more than telling them about a Santa Claus that might withhold presents unless they were "good" boys and girls. But once they find out you were lying about Santa Claus, they might start to wonder about this God character too.
By the time they were old enough to understand abstract concepts, I would want to teach them more accurate information about "hell" to counteract all the pop-culture nonsense that would otherwise be the source of their information about it.
By the time they were old enough to understand abstract concepts, I would want to teach them more accurate information about "hell" to counteract all the pop-culture nonsense that would otherwise be the source of their information about it.
Never, it's upsetting that some people stoop to religious terror to frighten children.
stvdv
Veteran Member
I was lucky the priest told my parents that my brother died, was the will of God
After that they taught me that all that sort of hell crap from the Bible was not true
Never had any fear, even better, I knew it was a fantasy, not true
They did trick me a few years with Santa Claus. When finding out they lied, I was
quite angry. But then they tricked me again and said "can you play along for 2 more
years, your sisters are young, they still like it. Of course we must give you presents
like your sister, even if you don't believe. Are you oke with that? That was a smart move
Just tell the truth "Some people believe hell exist. Don't believe them. It doesn't
exist. So you can never go there". They believe their parents when young
Better tell them the truth, before you send them to a christian school.
Oh by the way, lying about Santa Claus is zero as compared to hell. In my church even
people of 80year+ still believe in hell. None of them in Santa Claus.
After that they taught me that all that sort of hell crap from the Bible was not true
Never had any fear, even better, I knew it was a fantasy, not true
They did trick me a few years with Santa Claus. When finding out they lied, I was
quite angry. But then they tricked me again and said "can you play along for 2 more
years, your sisters are young, they still like it. Of course we must give you presents
like your sister, even if you don't believe. Are you oke with that? That was a smart move
Just tell the truth "Some people believe hell exist. Don't believe them. It doesn't
exist. So you can never go there". They believe their parents when young
Better tell them the truth, before you send them to a christian school.
Oh by the way, lying about Santa Claus is zero as compared to hell. In my church even
people of 80year+ still believe in hell. None of them in Santa Claus.
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Jeremiah Ames
Well-Known Member
Do it as early as they are able to understand. (What eternal torment is)
Then tell them it’s an evil lie spread by evil people who use it to control others.
Then tell them that there are special buildings called churches, that believe this concept.
Then tell them it’s best to avoid such places, since life will be much better that way.
djhwoodwerks
Well-Known Member
As there is no evidence such a place exists, scaring a child with such garbage is child abuse!
Just because you don't believe and don't see the evidence, doesn't mean hell doesn't exist, it is very real for me!
Axe Elf
Prophet
When you say, "It is very real for me," are you suggesting that you have first-hand personal experience of hell? Or merely that you reject the Biblical account of the second death in Revelation 20 in favor of the pop-culture idea of a flaming hell in which one is tortured forever?
djhwoodwerks
Well-Known Member
Death in the Bible means separation from God, the second death means eternal separation, not annihilation.
Axe Elf
Prophet
Well that doesn't sound like death at all. That sounds like eternal life in a sucky place. Not at all like the first death, which destroys the body. One would think that the second death destroys the soul.
"Then death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire." --Revelation 20:14-15 (Amplified Bible)
Here even the state of death itself is destroyed in the fire. So either there will be those who were chosen for eternal life, or there will be nonexistence--there is no death any more after the dead are resurrected for judgment. Unless you think the ones thrown into the lake of fire live forever too, just in eternal agony--but then, that doesn't sound like mere "separation from God" either, does it? And what of the "death" component of the "second death"? What dies, if the soul lives forever in the fire?
Nah, that just seems silly all around--a petty god who would torture people eternally for doing what he made them to do in the first place? That doesn't sound like a reasonable god. The Biblical description makes a lot more sense in terms of a first death that destroys your body and a second death that destroys your soul, if you were not created for salvation.
Kelly of the Phoenix
Well-Known Member
I'd probably have to explain it because they'd probably hear me say "guuuurrrrrl, she is SSOOOOOO going STRAIGHT to hell" often enough that they'd get curious.
Then demonstrate it.
If you have good reasons to believe that Hell exists, then you can explain them. If you don’t have good reasons, then you have no business teaching a child that Hell exists.
Curious George
Veteran Member
Imo, they ought not.
But I would ask back when, if ever, should a group of people be able to dictate what religious beliefs a parent should choose to instill in their children?
Only do this if you want them to become terrified of life and have nightmares. What a horrible thing to do to a child; they have enough problems with being mistreated by all the other little savages who are their peers in school.
Probably not, but the state must have some concerns as to the welfare of children above the rights of any parent. And if the teaching is more like child abuse then it should be limited - especially in schools.
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Curious George
Veteran Member
So you think that a group should be able to dictate which religious beliefs parents teach to children?
You don't think there are -- or at least could be -- religious beliefs a society has the right to suppress? If you do not think there are any such beliefs, what do you make of the Thuggees?
If they are abusive, yes I do. My evil paternal grandmother beat religion into her own children and threatened me with the tortures of hell from the age of two.