Being Harrased by Christians: The result of religious child abuse?

[simonsays056]

We're all agreeing that some religious teaching is abuse, and some isn't, right? Rez?

[Winter wind]

We're all agreeing that some religious teaching is abuse, and some isn't, right? Rez?

I disagree strongly

Religious teaching isn't child abuse. It can be misused, but not all religious teaching is child abuse.
Want proof? Did Mother Teresa abuse children all over the world?

[Marilyn Monroe]

I think religious teaching is a form of brain-washing. You have no choice in the matter if it's taught to you at a very young age. Once those thoughts are in there it's going to be hard to shake them even if you are skeptical of them.

[Winter wind]

I think religious teaching is a form of brain-washing. You have no choice in the matter if it's taught to you at a very young age. Once those thoughts are in there it's going to be hard to shake them even if you are skeptical of them.

What about from the other point of view?
Lets do a word swap. I think Atheism teaching is a form of brain washing. You have no choice in the matter if it's taught to you at a very young age. Once those thoughts are in there it's going to be hard to shake them even if you are skeptical of them.

So then no religion or Atheism should be taught at home. Any time the subject comes up, quickly change the subject to school or politics (cause you know that's going to be impartial and not a form of 'brain washing'). Every time a parent tells a child that there is no God, or every time a parent tells a child that there is a God, they are arrested and put on trial for child abuse. In the meantime, your child is taken away by the government.

A bit of a problem

[Zero Fries]

I go to a Catholic school and I'm athiest. I have yet to meet anyone who treats me worse because of my belief, or lack thereof, and many people I know really doubt the truths of the bible themselves. They've grown up in an era of liberal religious views, and hardly any of them attend church.

I think religious teaching is a form of brain-washing. You have no choice in the matter if it's taught to you at a very young age. Once those thoughts are in there it's going to be hard to shake them even if you are skeptical of them.

I somewhat agree, but I was raised Catholic and religious and am now athiest. However, Ill admit my parents were fairly unstrict about it all.

[Cephus]

Want proof? Did Mother Teresa abuse children all over the world?

In theory, considering her views that hardship was good for the poor, yes.

[rez]

I disagree strongly

Religious teaching isn't child abuse. It can be misused, but not all religious teaching is child abuse.
Want proof? Did Mother Teresa abuse children all over the world?

Winter wind you create your own methods to teach children about god, morality, and where it comes from. But you fail to realize this. You think morality and purpose comes from god, however, it comes from yourself. Failure to realize this is unhealthy!

[Jack]

I think Atheism teaching is a form of brain washing.

Among mainstream (non-extremist) atheists I don't think you'll find many examples of this. Atheists I've talked to and know are truly committed to the concept of free-thinking. They will honestly share their opinions when asked direct questions but do not have a desire to impose their own views on anyone else, least of all those they love. I don't doubt they'll encourage skepticism and questioning when their children investigate religion, but it's important to allow any person to make up their own mind as to their beliefs or lack of same.

[simonsays056]

I disagree strongly

Religious teaching isn't child abuse. It can be misused, but not all religious teaching is child abuse.
Want proof? Did Mother Teresa abuse children all over the world?

Oh, Winter, I'm already disappointed. Can we agree that some forms of religious teaching can be misused to the point that it would be child abuse? Are all forms of teaching to be protected without question?

Here's what really made me sad though, you argue that there is no such thing as a form of religious teaching that is abusive because (proof!) there was this one really nice woman who taught children all over the world and that wasn't abuse, was it?

I know that I'll sound condescending when I point out that you can't say that no dogs bark because you had a dog once that didn't bark.

[phoenix_fire]

I think religious teaching is a form of brain-washing. You have no choice in the matter if it's taught to you at a very young age. Once those thoughts are in there it's going to be hard to shake them even if you are skeptical of them.

Kids can and do decide for themselves. Parents will go to any extreme to make sure that their kids believe in Santa Claus, but at some point, the kids start digging in closets and attics looking for the presents. And I guarantee you that I have no residual inclination to wait up and watch for the fat man. If you want brainwashing, you should look at your child's television programming. Or their school curriculum. I'm pretty sure that subliminal messaging was in its experimental stages when I was a kid...I still have Captain Planet flashbacks every once in a while.

[Winter wind]

Winter wind you create your own methods to teach children about god, morality, and where it comes from. But you fail to realize this. You think morality and purpose comes from god, however, it comes from yourself. Failure to realize this is unhealthy!

sez who? Plus, God gives us the potential to be both good and evil. But our choices are the things that make us moral. Whats so evil in thinking purpose comes from God?

In theory, considering her views that hardship was good for the poor, yes.

Where is your source for that?
Hardship isn't just good for the poor, its good for everyone. Otherwise life would be oh so boring.

I always knew there would be a day when someone on this site would have a go at Mother Teresa. It was just inevitable.

[Marilyn Monroe]

What about from the other point of view?
Lets do a word swap. I think Atheism teaching is a form of brain washing. You have no choice in the matter if it's taught to you at a very young age. Once those thoughts are in there it's going to be hard to shake them even if you are skeptical of them.

From MPOV atheism isn't really teaching anything major, it can be if the parents are obsessed with it, but if they are nonchalant and go with the flow, not preaching, a child can develop their own philosophy, and explore on their own. With organized religion there's no choice, you follow the one train of thought which is hard to shake as you mature.

So then no religion or Atheism should be taught at home. Any time the subject comes up, quickly change the subject to school or politics (cause you know that's going to be impartial and not a form of 'brain washing'). Every time a parent tells a child that there is no God, or every time a parent tells a child that there is a God, they are arrested and put on trial for child abuse. In the meantime, your child is taken away by the government.

Not teaching a religion can be a very healthy experience. Religion is ok if the parents truly believe it all and follow it, that way they aren't being total hypocrits, but if they preach and don't live the philosophy then they are doing harm in MHO.

I wasn't talking about government intervention with religion, the parents would have to make the final decision on what they feel is best to be taught to their kids. There are some really far out religions that occasionally might need government intervention, or the police, when they teach violence and destruction of property. This is a big world, and their are a lot of nuts in it.