In all religions parents and other adults make kids prey, go to church, and follow many other religious things they do. They tell kids many scary and untrue things that the kids can not understand. Is this considered forcing and brain washing the kids into the religion. Here is a video of a "Jesus camp". So do you think kids have a free will when it comes to religion, or are they being brain washed?
You can't simply not tell your kids about your faith, can you?
Yes, you can. My parents taught me morals directly, not through a religion. I have also always been free to choose a religion, however the only one I have ever considered is Buddhism but I haven't read much yet.
More on topic, I very much believe children are brainwashed into religion.
Maybe some are, but what's the alternative? Childhood is when you lear morals. It's when you learn how the world works. You can't simply not tell your kids about your faith, can you? I think my parents had the right approach: "This is what we believe. For now you have to go to church with us. When you're older you can either decide to make this faith your own, or you can choose another. The decision is yours, though we believe this way is correct." I made the decision to follow Jesus and I know it was the right one.
They showed you propaganda promoting there religion simply by bringing you to church and subtly promoting there beliefs. They seem to not have promoted any other belief nor even exposed you to it. It would be like Adolf saying "Its ok, you don't have to believe the Jews are bad, now just watch these propaganda videos and listen to_____ propaganda then you are free to choose yourself.
Unfortunately, yes. There are lots of kids out there who are brainwashed into religion. I myself wasn't one of them. My family isn't exactly what you would call religious. We haven't been to church in a long time...(Like 2 months)
They seem not to have promoted any other belief or even exposed you to it
So I guess you suggest they had taken me through the worship services of every church in existence. Not exactly feasible. Also, you are not correct. They took pains to expose me to as many points of veiw as possible.
So I guess you suggest they had taken me through the worship services of every church in existence. Not exactly feasible. Also, you are not correct. They took pains to expose me to as many points of veiw as possible.
You hadn't mentioned that, as I had said. If you did not mention they had given you any other view points. And taking you to each "Church" would be unforeseeable, yet teaching them the main points of the usual religions, or better yet giving you a book of each religion would be.
you hadn't mentioned that, as I had said. If you did not mention they had given you any other veiw points.
Yeah, sorry. You're right on that.
or better yet, giving you a book on what each religion would be.
Well, I'm pretty sure when they said that I was still hiding from reading lessons... still, they did the best they could. I admit they weren't experts on many religions, but it's definately possible to teach a child your own faith without brainwashing them. Also, my last post looks rude upon re-reading. Sorry, I wasn't thinking strait.
I've gone to a Catholic grade school now for 9 years, transferring next year. I've been exposed to this stuff since kindergarten, in every thing that happened. I was one of those little kids who believed without knowing, until I was about 9. That's when my thought process started evolving into what I am now. I thought things through completely, and tried to look at things from different perspectives. My family isn't very religious, we stopped going every Sunday when I was about 8(only went for Christmas and sometimes Easter). Once I started thinking about things more, I chose not to believe, because I really didn't have to. Things had gone well for me when I didn't pray, when I didn't believe, when I didn't love. My life was successful for a 10 year old. I figured it just wasn't worth the effort. And after that, I also saw a lot of documentaries about life, the universe, and things similar to the OP. That reinforced my adamant concrete philosophy.
But I do understand and even appreciate the Bible used in the right way. The Bible is supposed to be used to expose you to stories and lessons (I'm not very familiiar with the Old Testament, but the New T is this way to me). You're supposed to pay attention to the stories and draw your own conclusion from it, not what the pastor or reader says it means. The Bible is for you to decide what it means to you.
I agree fully with all that say that children should be introduced when they are capable of making the decision for themselves. Especially with sacraments, because with Catholicism, once you go Cath, you never go back. You're always a Catholic if you're baptized. It's a very important decision. I say that things should be explained to kids starting at 10, then when they're at least 15 they are allowed to make the decision themselves. For 5 years they should be exposed to it via different perspectives, then they will make the decision for which religion.
Better yet, we should just eradicate all religion from the face of the earth.
Has anybody noticed that on one thread Christians are condemned for teaching their faith to thier kids, and on another Christians are condemned for not knowing their faith? I'm not sure that's exactly fair. You can't condemn people either way. There has to be some correct position.
He's basically saying the discussion is over and the thread should be locked. It's apparently backseat modding, and the mods hate it. I got into a little argument with Cen over it...
He's basically saying the discussion is over and the thread should be locked. It's apparently backseat modding, and the mods hate it. I got into a little argument with Cen over it...
haha yes that was the joke. "Yes" and the thread should be over. I haven't read the thread though, so it's really just a joke. Also my belief on the topic, though.
I think some kids are because my grand parents dont force me but they just give me the "ok if you dont go to church your going to go *ell" which in christainty is true so they are giving me a "guilt trip" basically so it makes me feel guilty or they will say ok "then we wont see you in haven" but i know they just want whats best for me in the long run ohh i also forgot to metion my grandparents go to a very liberal church and my grandfather is a deacon
Has anybody noticed that on one thread Christians are condemned for teaching their faith to thier kids, and on another Christians are condemned for not knowing their faith? I'm not sure that's exactly fair. You can't condemn people either way
But they are not being condemed either way. Your making it sound as if we are putting two opposite expectations on them.
Teaching your faith to you kids, making them grow up and believe in it and essentially scaring them and brainwashing them into your religion is a ridiculus notion if you dont really believe in the religion you are teaching, is it not?
