Religion doesn't make you who you are

Or that raising your child religious is somehow brainwashing them and not allowing them to choose. Quakers aren't allowed to become members of the religious society of friends until they're 16. Children are educated about quakerism, but not indoctrinated and not pressured to stay.

Indoctrination - "the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically."

I find the opposite. I know so many people, both online and in person, who have acted like I must be stupid because I'm religious and I believe in God.

Why do you think that is?

I don't underestimate the power of indoctrination.

Or that raising your child religious is somehow brainwashing them and not allowing them to choose. Quakers aren't allowed to become members of the religious society of friends until they're 16. Children are educated about quakerism, but not indoctrinated and not pressured to stay.

A superiority complex. That's why some atheists are so judgemental about people who don't agree with them. What, as a Quaker, I define as God is probably different to the definition that many other religions have. I chose to be a quaker. I wasn't brought up quaker. I started reading about it, and I looked into the religion. It just feels right and it's what I believe in. It was my choice to become a member of the religious society of friends. As a quaker, we are all equal. We don't have a dedicated preacher. We practice unguided worship, we sit in silence unless moved by God to speak.

Key word being uncritically. Children's meetings encourage asking questions...

But presumably the children receive the same well-rehearsed answers to their questions so as to reinforce the 'truth' of the religion. To this extent allowing or even encouraging children to ask questions about the religion their parents want them to follow is just another aspect of indoctrination.

I don't underestimate the power of indoctrination.

“I had one reviewer tell me that he didn’t care what the data said, he knew that what I was finding wasn’t possible,” says Schweitzer. “I wrote back and said, ‘Well, what data would convince you?’ And he said, ‘None.’”

Try going to one, before you come to the conclusion about what they're like. It's actually against Quakerism to proselytise. We don't attempt to convert people, or force our religion on others.

I'm not suggesting here that the children of Quakers (or those of other religions) are being forced to believe but presumably the parents have a strong desire for their kids to recognise the 'truth' and reap the spiritual benefits of their own beliefs and which will not fail to be reflected in how their children's education is pursued by them. Unless you are going to suggest that Quakers are more or less indifferent to what their children believe with regard to religion. Encouraging children to ask questions in this context doesn't automatically fall outside of the methodologies of indoctrination (and indoctrination as a concept doesn't imply force); questions and answers might even be a very effective way to get children 'on side' before they are old enough to ask tougher ones or consider with more critical skills the given answers.

Except you can't become a member until you're 16. We also don't purport to have any type of guaranteed path to heaven or the like. There is no promised benefit from being a Quaker. We just try to do what is fair, and promote peace. And equality, hence why Quakers have been performing same gender wedding ceremonies for decades.

Well, that's very admirable (that's not sarcasm, I know it's hard to tell on the internet sometimes) but this makes me curious, do Quaker parents keep their Quakerism secret from their children until they are 16? You can see where I'm going with this.

Of course not. Do atheist parents? I think the kid would eventually wonder why mum goes out every Sunday morning, wouldn't they? It's more raising your kids with certain values and ethics.

Of course not. Do atheist parents? I think the kid would eventually wonder why mum goes out every Sunday morning, wouldn't they? It's more raising your kids with certain values and ethics.