[prog2djent]

As Above.

Is religion, when children are taught it from a young age, and that their parents/community teaching, or from religious institutions, are correct, is this child abuse. Is it the anti-thesis of freedom of choice?

[ufo2012]

Children can still make up their own mind?

[shezshez]

Yes, children are indoctrinated into a religion. Children believe what adults teach them, no matter what the fairytale is.
It's abuse. If I could I wouldn't let anyone under the age of 18 be a member of any cult...sorry religion, any only then if they have a thorough understanding.

[For The Love Of Giraffe]

It's not abuse. I think while it's wrong to force religion onto children, it's perfectly fine to tell them about it and let them choose if they want it later in life. I think any 'forcing' is incorrect, just like forcing atheism on a child too.

Just show them religion and atheism and let them decide for themselves when they're mature enough.

And don't just throw the word 'abuse' around to cause drama. Learn to understand that child abuse is far more severe.

[don_lad_]

I understand what you are trying to say but that is a crude and insensitive way of putting it.

[K the Failure]

(Original post by For The Love Of Giraffe)
It's not abuse. I think while it's wrong to force religion onto children, it's perfectly fine to tell them about it and let them choose if they want it later in life. I think any 'forcing' is incorrect, just like forcing atheism on a child too.

Just show them religion and atheism and let them decide for themselves when they're mature enough.

And don't just throw the word 'abuse' around to cause drama. Learn to understand that child abuse is far more severe.

You can't just 'show' someone religion and atheism, and then let them choose to believe. Belief is not a choice.

Although I agree with you that 'abuse' does sound sensationalist, there exist certain groups whereby children have been indoctrinated with irrational and dangerous ideas which I would class as psychological and intellectual abuse.

[willbee]

As someone who has experienced both growing up in religion and abuse, I think I can say for certain that being brought up in a religious community is not a form of child abuse.

[For The Love Of Giraffe]

(Original post by K the Failure)
You can't just 'show' someone religion and atheism, and then let them choose to believe. Belief is not a choice.

Although I agree with you that 'abuse' does sound sensationalist, there exist certain groups whereby children have been indoctrinated with irrational and dangerous ideas which I would class as psychological and intellectual abuse.

Yes you can. It's quite simple - you tell them about God and what some religions believe and they can decide if they feel that is true for them. Many kids grow up and assume something may have made all the things around them, so it's easy for a God to make sense to them. I wasn't told about God or told it was certain so I have to believe it - I was told about God and decided for myself later that I felt it made sense and chose to believe. In the same way, some kids may think it's rubbish and just believe God is made-up.

Why can't belief be a choice? You choose what you believe and believe it. You don't have to be forced into a view to believe it. That's how people can choose to go from atheist to theist and vice versa when shown the other side after growing up as the other. They choose to believe something different.

[chickenonsteroids]

No.

They can raise a child with faith (as many many parents do) and the child will (for the most part) turn out completely fine. So abuse is really the wrong word. Unless you want to include raising a child up with the idea of Santa abuse too.

It only becomes a problem when they are forced to believe something or are shunned when they begin to question things thoroughly. The thing is, the child could go through a state of doubt and still return to the religion or completely leave. A lot of people make the mistake of assuming that they possess a universal truth when it comes to religion (both theists and atheists) and dislike it when someone opposes their opinion. Which is silly. Don't threaten them, don't ridicule them, don't do anything that'll stop them asking questions. Answer them yes but don't call them stupid if they want to do more independent research.

It goes for people of any religious orientation (Muslim, Christian, atheist etc) never assume you're 100% correct. No one cares if you think your book is perfect or your logic is so outstanding you can't be wrong. Just encourage free thought free from ridicule and you'll give them the ability to think independently.

I went off on a tangent there but really religious up bringing isn't abuse. Atheist parents can commit the same error by complaining when someone wants to join a religion. So it isn't really exclusive to religious parents imo.

[K the Failure]

(Original post by For The Love Of Giraffe)
Why can't belief be a choice?

'Choice' for me is a conscious decision. If it was a choice then I could flick it on and off like a switch anytime I wanted. People can be convinced into a belief by one reason or another, but there is no 'choice'.

[prog2djent]

I was brought up on nothing, my parents never told me about God, or religion, and I only became properly aware of it in about year 7. I was allowed to make up my own mind and I've ended up thinking a Supernatural, sentient God(s) propose, the Abrahamic and other major religions for example ... is a load of twaddle. Paganism and Satanism teach us more about the human condition and morality than the others. And anything "good" the major religions have to say seem so retarded and designed for simple minds, dealing in absolutes, no real philosophical quality. I honestly can't understand how people don't see how religion is ultimately a form of control, people can interpret it differently, or decide they want to join for personal reasons, i.e becoming a Christian or reborn Christian beacuse you have led a crappy life you are ashamed of, or you have been hard done to, but these people, from what I see, are fairly, erm, average. I doubt you would find a nuclear physicist, a life long athiest, who had is family killed and all their work destroyed, and an attempted assassination of him by the government for leaking information (and yes I am referncing a specific case haha) who suddenly "turns to God". I'd seek comfort in slowly killing myself with morphine induced dreams rather than knowing some bloke called Jesus Loves me.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

yep. religions would crumble without childhood brainwashing.

[For The Love Of Giraffe]

(Original post by K the Failure)
'Choice' for me is a conscious decision. If it was a choice then I could flick it on and off like a switch anytime I wanted. People can be convinced into a belief by one reason or another, but there is no 'choice'.

So you personally only believe things you're convinced into? You can't choose to believe something by yourself just by seeing choices available and picking one? I'm sure at some point you've been able to make a choice about what you think is right without people having to force you into a view. Maybe there are persuading arguments on both sides, but you're not helpless enough to not be able to choose which side you believe in without force. Either way, you have to choose to let someone convince you into a particular belief.

[speedystef]

Whilst I agree with what people saying in that hypothetically, yes, children do have the choice to change in later life but I think we all know it doesn't work like that.

For a start, after unknowingly/knowingly worshipping a God for 10-14 years of life, you wouldn't want to change your pattern of life and begin doing something different.

Also I don't mean to make such a gross generalisation but families that generally impose such strong religious behaviours on children, are families that take religion extremely seriously and would be willing to "disown" the child if they stepped out of line with the religious teachings. Meaning that even if a child is unhappy with the religion they have followed since childhood, they won't want to change their minds and risk ruining a familial relationship as this is likely to be of higher value to them than being true to their religion (especially if they don't fully believe in it then there's seemingly no harm in not being true to it)

Just want to say that I know this is a sensitive topic and I have no problem with religion whatsoever this is just an opinion on the thread title

[Bellissima]

not at all! this is so ridiculous, it's like a little atheist religion bashing pat yourself on the shoulder for not abusing children fest...

when children are old enough they can make their own decision, when they are young i actually think the kindest thing, from EXPERIENCE, is to tell them about heaven and god. i am NON RELIGIOUS, i do not believe in god. i will 100% tell my hypothetical future children there is a god until they are old enough to start questioning that, then i will leave them to their own devices.


i think FORCING a child against their will to follow a religion/believe in god when they start questioning what has been said is wrong (NOT abuse)... but the same is also true for atheism.

it would only be abuse if the parents were psycho religious fundies that abused their children and used hell and god as an excuse... but again the abuse there is the actual abuse, not the religion, even if it is being used as an excuse.

[Inverse]

(Original post by prog2djent)
As Above.

Is religion, when children are taught it from a young age, and that their parents/community teaching, or from religious institutions, are correct, is this child abuse. Is it the anti-thesis of freedom of choice?

It is. Thank you for making this thread.

[Schmokie Dragon]

Parents teach their children how to behave. Some people teach their children to be kind, considerate and just. Some teach their children that a god exists and should be respected. How do you distinguish between one set of moral teachings and another?

If a parent believes their child will be harmed by not instilling religion into them, can you blame them for trying to protect their child?

I am both an atheist and an antitheist. I'm not advocating religious indoctrination, but I think the situation is rather less simple than some are trying to make out.

The whole issue of free will becomes clouded when you take into account social context and upbringing. How many of us who didn't have a religious upbringing can really say we make choices free of any 'taint' from our upbringing?




This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[FSP]

(Original post by prog2djent)
As Above.

Is religion, when children are taught it from a young age, and that their parents/community teaching, or from religious institutions, are correct, is this child abuse. Is it the anti-thesis of freedom of choice?

Religious people could say the same thing about Atheist parents.

your thinking is very similar to the Australians who forcibly took kids away from indigenous people to civilise them.

The Whole idea of Democracy is people have religious freedom for all faiths.When you start making exceptions its a dangerous road

[Aspiringlawstudent]

Yes, yes it is.

[PinkMobilePhone]

of course it's not "child abuse". I think you need to look up the definition of 'abuse'.

Definition

Abuse is defined as any action that intentionally harms or injures another person. Abuse also encompasses inappropriate use of any substance, especially those that alter consciousness (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamines).

I highly doubt any religious parents are intentionally harming or injuring their children. How many religious parents do you know that think "MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA I shall teach about God to HARM YOU my son!!!" *insert evil cackle*
??