The New Intimacy

Do you think there should be a line/limit to teaching children religion?

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Contributor: Mwar Mwar
Juts curious to what people think. Do you think there should be a limit, whether age or content, to teaching a child religion?

I could see an argument for both sides. If people want there to be a limit, then you're allowing more rules/laws to be introduced into your home life. And whether a person wants more government in their home life is a different discussion in its own right.

If people do not want a limit, should they be encouraged to teach other religions? Or withhold some of the gorier stories of religious texts? (I think most do, but it's good to note).

There are repercussions to both sides. Which do you think would make more sense with the goal of creating an open, loving, thinking society?

Or should children be allowed to choose of their own free will at a certain age? What should that age be?

I would love to hear your views!
09/10/2012
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Contributor: Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah
Freedom of speech and religion I think applies to the children too.
09/10/2012
Contributor: Basalt Basalt
Parents have the right to choose and teach their child anything they want.
09/10/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I don't think it should be taught unless the child wants to know about it and is mature enough not to be frightened by things like the idea of hell.
09/10/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I think parents are the ones who should be making this decision. You wouldn't like it if the law was telling you to teach your child region, so I don't think the law should tell you that you can't either.
09/10/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I think religion is something that should only be taught at home. In private school, whatever, because you're paying for that service and everything that goes along with it. So you can *choose* to send your kid to a Catholic, Baptist, whatever school and get religion as part of the education.

In public school the only mention of religion should be the Pledge of Allegiance, and I'm on the side that it should be changed to non-denominational as well.

I also don't think that a law preventing religion from being taught in schools is the law butting into the home. I usually dislike laws primarily for this reason. This law would keep home in the hands of parents and leave school for things like English, Math, Science, etc. As it should be.
09/10/2012
Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
(Review Program Mentor)
I feel like religion is a strong part of culture, which SHOULD be taught at home. I feel like you should try and engage your children in your religion, but at the same time teach them that other people believe in other things and that that is a-okay. I see a lot of people that bring their kids up to look down on people of other religions.

When your kid is old enough I think that they should be able to make their own decisions about their faith, be it to stay with the tradition in your family or not. You should not ostracize anyone because they switched belief systems!
09/10/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
I think parents should be allowed to teach their children religious values, however I think the children should be allowed to ask questions and form opinions (even if it's different from the parents) without fear of punishment.
09/10/2012
Contributor: Noelle Noelle
Quote:
Originally posted by Mwar
Juts curious to what people think. Do you think there should be a limit, whether age or content, to teaching a child religion?

I could see an argument for both sides. If people want there to be a limit, then you're allowing more rules/laws ... more
I think it is important to teach them as soon as possible, but let them know there are other religions to choose from. I love that my kids are so involved in church, and they LOVE IT. My 12 yr old son wants to be a Youth Pastor, when he is old enough.
09/10/2012
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
I think it's an important part of history that certainly should not be censored in schools. For example, you can hardly have an engaging discussion on just why the Puritans left England and what the difference between the Pilgrims and the Puritans was without mentioning religion. Or explain the Holocaust without mentioning Judaism, or passive resistance without a mention of Hinduism, or the current controversies about Tibet without mentioning Buddhism, or bringing up some modern Native American vs. United States conflicts without bringing up traditional beliefs about sacred lands.

You can teach the basics of a religion without passing a value judgement (the followers of this religion believe this, the followers of this religion believe that, their holy book is this, if you want a more in-depth explanation, ask your parents). Religion has been a driving force of humanity since history began, and very likely before, and pretending that it wasn't doesn't do anyone any favors. Whitewashing history should just be called plain lying, and ignoring vast swathes of human history (good too - millennia of art, music, and literature, plus many scientific advances) so as not to give young people the impression that religion is ever good is just as much brainwashing as making believe that people have never done anything bad in the name of their religion.
09/10/2012
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Quote:
Originally posted by GONE!
I don't think it should be taught unless the child wants to know about it and is mature enough not to be frightened by things like the idea of hell.
How does a child know what they want? They want candy instead of vegetables - so what does that prove?

Are we going to be parents or let the children raise themselves?
09/11/2012
Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
Quote:
Originally posted by hyacinthgirl
I think it's an important part of history that certainly should not be censored in schools. For example, you can hardly have an engaging discussion on just why the Puritans left England and what the difference between the Pilgrims and the ... more
I agree with this. There's a difference between teaching about religion and teaching the religion itself. Mentioning it in history lessons or social studies is much different than explaining the religious beliefs to a child. I believe that religious instruction should happen in the home and the church. If a child wished to learn about any other religion, there are plenty of resources other than a public school class.
09/11/2012