On the indoctrination of children into religion (esp. Christianity.)

[sufjams]

I'm not going to throw my own opinions at everyone just yet, as I want to build off of what some of you have to say. I just want to clarify, that there is no more a such thing as a 'Christian child,' than there is a 'Neo-conservative child.' Religion is far beyond a child's realm of understanding. Whether or not a child goes to church and learns to believe its teachings is largely up to his or her parent/s.

That being said, what do you all feel are the effects/benefits/harms of the indoctrination of children into religion? Do you feel that the ethics a particular church imposes could help a child (your child?) Do you feel that ethics are better taught independently, by a parent (you?) Input from real parents would be interesting in this thread.

This video might get you interested. It's an edited preview of a real documentary entitled Jesus Camp. This particular preview was probably put together with bias, but no fake footage was included. Watch these two clips in their entirety.

My selection of videos might imply that I'm only making this thread to strike down the matter at hand, but I'm sincerely interested in what you guys have to say. Besides, this documentary was received suprisingly well by both Christians and non-Christians. Many Christians found it righteous, while many non-Christians found it apalling, as expected. You be the judges.

Pt. 1

+ YouTube Video

Pt. 2

+ YouTube Video

The whole documentary is on youtube. It's composed of nine seperate 10 minute segments. Here's the first if you're interested in watching the whole thing undoctored.

Jesus Camp.

.

[Justananomaly]

"Hook em' while they're young." - The Tobacco Industry
If only Christianity only had their numbers..

(Ok I stole that from Dogma, bite me.)

[Beef Taco]

I think parents have a responsibility to train their child in the way that they feel is best.

[ChurchedAtheist]

I think the religion they are brought into doesn't matter, as long as they are taught to be accepting and tolerant of others. Christianity, at its core, is about love. sadly most don't see that.

[sixstring38]

i could not view the video because i have a filter that will not allow youtube to load (thanks to a certain porn addicted younger sibling). any way, i think that most religion is fine. i am a christian, and i do beleive that the only way to heaven is through a realationship with Jesus Christ. but i feel that if the religion a person belogns to is not teaching them to harm others (so radical islam is out), but to love everyone, then it is not that big of a deal. now, i do not beleive that you can say that a child cannot decide if they want to be of a religion or not. i know for me at age 10 i decided to dedicate my life to Christ. If a child does not want to be a part of something, they won't be. I felt Jesus' love for me at age 10,a nd i decided that i needed it. it was my decision, no one forced me. I know if i never did my parents would still love me. I think a bigger concern should be the brainwashing of children in countries such as pakistan and syria. many textbooks tell childrent that the holocaust didn't happen! they are also trained at a young age to ahte, and that being a suicide bomber is a good thing. i know this doesn't represent all muslims, but there is a fair amount that do these things.

[J2800]

Parents should be allowed to teach their kids what they want, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other religion.

[Marshillboy]

I don't know what the **** that **** is in the first post, but I guarantee it aint the Christianity I was "indoctrinated" by. Seems like some Jehova's Witness lukewarm religious nutjobs screaming at kids about some misinterpreted scripture readings.

[BusterBluth]

Naw Im pretty sure they are Christians. Pentacosta I think. Even though the video was kinda baised ( It could have done without the sinister music in the background) It seems like the core messege of Jesus which Is to love and forgive has been almost removed.

[Trogdor]

Originally Posted by Marshillboy

I don't know what the **** that **** is in the first post, but I guarantee it aint the Christianity I was "indoctrinated" by. Seems like some Jehova's Witness lukewarm religious nutjobs screaming at kids about some misinterpreted scripture readings.

Agreed that I couldn't stand watching over a minute of it. Those people are close-hearted and close minded to others and speaking in tounges

Also, in Christianity and it seems to me that they are making a mockery of it

Originally Posted by BusterBluth

It seems like the core messege of Jesus which Is to love and forgive has been almost removed.

Agreed, that's what frustrates me

[ChurchedAtheist]

Originally Posted by Zach

Agreed, that's what frustrates me

and it's why im an agnostic. i see it like this: if you are pissing all over what your god taught, why the hell should I believe it?

[Alynn20091]

Well I have to say I did watch the whole documentry... I rented it from a blockbuster with my mom (who is not a christian). I am a christian. My father is not a christian either. For you to say that it is the parents choice is wrong. Growing up my mom followed the teachings of wicka, and my father was a drug adict. At the age of 11 I went to a church with one of my friends and I saw how they loved one another. That documentary is VERY partial, it was trying to show that these kids are being brain washed by their parents. But... What If those kids wanted to be there... what if they truely found that the love of Christ is greater than anything. Adults should not be judging them... in any way. I have reason to believe that those kids truely wanted to be there.
So to answer the question simply... I don't believe that the parents are the ones who are making their children "indocternated".

[Darth Drunk]

I do not see anything wrong with it, but when they grow older let them choose their own path. The way I see it, its like school, by a certain age you can decide if it is for you or not. Of course a younger child will not tryi it if it is not forced upon them. They will always want to go out and play.

[sufjams]

Pentacostal Christianity (the religion displayed in the video) is very common. In regards to the videos themselves, as I said, the first two were obviously doctored by someone biased, and I only posted them to serve as summaries of the documentary as a whole. I should have warned of the ominious, and tasteless music added, lol.

The third was the first part (of nine) of the entire video, undoctored, for those of you who might have had the time to watch it all.

Anyway. The point of this thread wasn't to show how 'crazy them Christians are,' it was to show the power that adult influence can have on children. Some of the kids in these videos are crying, on their hands and knees, over things they could never, ever understand at their age.

To me, this seems like a negative thing.

In response to Alynn; look at these kids. Of course they want to be there. But was it their choice to want to be there? Was it their choice to become so emotionally involved in what they were being taught? That's something worth speculation.

I believe no child free of influence would choose to go to church over any alternative use of their time. As it was said, they would far rather go outside and play. The reason for that is that they could never, really understand what it means to take on a religion. They could repeat what their parents, pastors, or other preachers have said, but they could never really accept the responsibility of a decision like that until they mature.

I suppose I wrote this assuming that was a given. I apologize if some of you disagree on that level.

But if we can move along, what do you think the benefits of a religious upbringing are, and how do they compare to the psychological effects of their implementation?

Obviously, many see the morals of religion as a plus. They're the main reason any moderate parent takes their child/ren to church. So, do the moral lessons of an altruistic religion (not one so close minded as the Pentacostal variation of Christianity) better prepare a child for life than moral lessons taught without the religious twist?

If psychological damage is any possibility at all, would it not seem a more responsible choice to teach a child how to discern morality for themselves, and leave religion to them when they grow older? That's the position I take. How do you disagree, or agree?

What else could sway the decision to bring a child up in a church? A sense of community?

What are some of the negative effects? A more intense fear of death? The concept of hell?

Personally, I once had to comfort my seven year old nephew, whom I found in tears over the thought that either of his parents might go to hell, and he might not get to be with them. It tore me up. He was brought up in a very, very lenient and moderate Christian atmosphere. Any religious adult has a healthy fear of hell. How do you think it might affect an impressionable child?

What else is there? Pros and cons.

[ChurchedAtheist]

Originally Posted by sufjams

I believe no child free of influence would choose to go to church over any alternative use of their time.

actually, when you are a kid seems to be the time when church is FUN! some buddy invites you, and you have a bunch of fun in bible class. I know whole families who got dragged into the church by their kid loving it(the fun, not any religious stuff)

[QueenIce07]

Originally Posted by EndUnknown

actually, when you are a kid seems to be the time when church is FUN! some buddy invites you, and you have a bunch of fun in bible class. I know whole families who got dragged into the church by their kid loving it(the fun, not any religious stuff)

That may be true for some. But my younger sister and I hated it. We would have preferred to do something else. I remember falling asleep all the time. I'm glad my mom stopped making us go by the time I was in high school.