Forcing children to follow a certain religion?

Question

Why is this still allowed? Is it not a form of brainwashing and should it be made illegal? I believe it classes as child abuse.

What are your opinions?

Answer 1

yes, it is.. thats why so many believers are so difficult to reason with, they learn it as fact, and cant think outside the box.

It really is quite heartbreaking, and i think something should be done about it.

Answer 2

my opinion is,you don't know what you are talking about,

that is my opinion.

being a Christian is NOT being brainwashed.

I might say that you were brainwashed to believe that there is no God.

would that be the truth?

did your parents abuse you by making you not believe?

why don't you let us raise our children and you raise yours,ok.

Answer 3

it shouldn't be illegal you teach your kid not to believe other teach them to believe, I'm raised as a Christian so what it does no harm i do the best in school, and am very smart, you act like teaching a kid to believe in god is torturing them, keep your beliefs to yourself

Answer 4

Well, for my childhood, I got lukewarm teachings. Church every once in awhile, only talked about god at school (religious school). There were some things that happened that good have been better, but overall, it was not as bad as what some people experience.

Some people are forced to go to church everyday, read from the bible and only the bible, when speaking, must speak in context of god and how great and fulfilling it is. That is child abuse.

Answer 5

and what is the difference between telling them about God existing or not?  Either way can be considered brainwashing as it is all a matter of belief anyway as no one can prove they are right.  

You know what else goes on right under our noses that no one does anything about----Real physical Child abuse- do you have any idea how many kids are beat to death daily? Mind you neighbors, family, friends all hears the screams and cries and yet no one does anything and you are worried about Religion.    Get your priorities straight.

Answer 6

isn't forcing a kid to wear clothes a form of brainwashing?

im an atheist, but i know child psychology. Children have to be brainwashed (children like below age 10 or something) because they lack the ability to make their own decisions.

The Frontal cortex, which is where we do our "reasoning", doesn't fully develop until the age of 25 on average btw :]

Answer 7

parents have a right to raise their children as they see fit.

You do not have a right to tell some one how they can and can not raise their children.

If parents want to raise their children in a religion they have a right to.

Answer 8

Members of the Baha'i Faith are to teach their children about every religion and even atheism, then when they are fifteen they can enroll in the Baha'i Faith if they wish. but, and this is from much personal experience, there is never any pressure placed on them. If you do not know about the Baha'is, it is the best and probably only way the world will achieve world peace.

Answer 9

It's not child abuse, child abuse is..

1. You'd be dead or emancipated by law and in a Foster Care Home.

2. You wouldn't have a computer.

3. Your picture would be all bruised and you'd probably have only 1 arm.

That's true Child Abuse, all the other people, yeah right.

Parents should have control over their kids, not vice versa. Though I'm not sure if parents and children should have a "Trade trade" relation.

Cause look at :Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Vanessa Hudgen... They aren't pestered with their Parent's Righteousness or whatever, and look at them now.....

Trust me, what parents do to their kids, they can do it! They gave birth to their own kids! *Besides adopted ones, that situation, .. I'm not so sure about*.

Why not put your shoes in your parent's places? You can't judge things unless you really know em'. And the celebrities? Pfft read the news?

Answer 10

The Secular Authority have not yet come up with a better way of educating the very young yet. Big brother is working on it.

ADD: Get this through your head folks! Babies are NOT little tiny adults. They must be raised not reasoned with.

Parents pass on their beliefs to their children no matter whether they are religious or not. When the children get older THEN they can make decisions for themselves.

Answer 11

I was raised Catholic , but now I am Agnostic .... I wanted my son to experience religion and get an understanding of it for himself .. so i sent him to religion classes when he was younger . Now he's 17 and has decided that he wants nothing to do with religion ...

   I believe all children should have exposure to religion but be free to make up their own minds when they become older ... Without pressure from parents .

   It's not child abuse (THAT"S RIDICULOUS) . It's part of a rounded education . How else would my son know about the religious people around him . He needs to know and understand others to deal with the world he lives in . Making your children ignorant of others because of your preconceived notions  is child abuse .

Answer 12

I think we should let our kids chose their own path .

Answer 13

You mean as apposed to people forcing there children to become atheists just the same thing. I will raise my children within my faith. When adults if they choose a different path they will be loved not an ounce less. Forcing a religion on a child and raising a child within a religion are two very different things. My children are taught about all faiths and within our own family are subjected to at least 5 different religions and some family members are atheist too.

Dont go assuming people of faith are forcing anything down there children's throats its a generalization and we all know what they are? Useless.

Peace to you...

Answer 14

Okay... I experienced a terrible intro to born again christianity when I was 15.... read some of my questions and my profile if you want to know more.  Most people.. christains, pagans and atheists are horrified when I tell them about it and it left terrible mental scars in my life.  I will have the deal with those scars all of my life.  But this terrible act was NOT done by my parents... they were quaker at the time and had never even spanked me as I was growing up.  Even though I was christian I never taught my sons to be the hating christain that I was dealing with in my own life.  I instinctively knew that I was protecting them as I kept the haters from them despite the toll that it took on me personally.  Now I have found my path... Wiccan Witch.. my sons have found their own paths... which is as it should be.  People like my parents are a rarity in the Christian world.  The bulk I have found are haters in one form or another... they opt to fear and hate rather than embrace the love side of thier religion like my parents did.  I do think that what you are describing is child abuse but how to stop it is beyond me.  I guess we will just continue letting people like that scar thier children.  Some will make it through it.. surviving but crippled in so many ways.  I see it all around me...adult women who can't enjoy s*x with the man they love because they were taught that s*x was bad and dirty as a child and young woman etc... Sigh... I really don't know how bad it is gonna get.

Answer 15

I believe you are very young and foolish. Exposing your child to your faith, even "forcing" them to go until they are teenagers cannot by any means be considered "child abuse". However, using your religion as an excuse to physically harm, belittle, berate or otherwise your child would be child abuse. However, the vast majority of believers would never do such things. To take one vague statement, ("Forcing children to follow a certain religion?") and turn it into an accusation of child abuse is definitely a reach. Perhaps you should look up the definition of "child abuse".

Oh, and *DRINK!* -- it's a little early for me, but this question really IS a drinking question.

Answer 16

sadly, it is allowed in most, or maybe all countries, it is not illegal as maybe should be...

Answer 17

would you tell a buddhist that they can't teach their own beliefs to their own children?

freedom of religion is a big deal in our country

If you want an example of a place that outlaws religion look to communism of the last century... it didn't work out so well

The alternative is that the govt gives out a set of beliefs that the parents (or teachers) have to educate the children with.  Is it right for govt to force beliefs on children?

I don't think you are insincere but maybe you don't see the whole picture here.  It is a shame if kids are being taught things that aren't true, but the solution could never be for govt to step into the home and tell the parents what to teach the kids.

EDIT - if you want to differentiate between teaching your kids and abusing them that is fine... but it doesn't have anything to do with religious education.

Answer 18

Why wouldn't we allow brainwashing? It's more effective than regular old logic

Answer 19

I'm not a Christian, but I believe parents have the right to teach children whatever they want, as long as they aren't hurting anyone.

When the kids grow up they will begin to question things. If they don't, maybe it's better that they believe what they've been taught.

Answer 20

It will just make them hate it, but honestly no one will force my child to do anything she doesn't want, within reason.

Answer 21

I beleive I would have to agree with you, on this one.  Religion is a personal choice for each individual.  Thanks for asking.

Answer 22

It will make 'em become atheists instead of believers.

Answer 23

I believe that you are making too big a deal out of it.  I was raised Catholic and it did not harm me as a human being, therefore no abuse took place.