All religion is indoctrination, or in other words brainwashing. From when we're born our parents tell us what to believe, and the reason we believe them is because we're babies at the time. We don't have the mind capacity to argue with what is said to be a fact. It is at about the age of 13 (when we enter our teenage years) that we develop a rebelious mind and start to question faith in a religion. Then everything from there is on the dice.

For example. Christian Kids. I seriously feel bad for these children. Right after they're born they're indoctrinated. Their parents send them to Sunday School. They go to Church where they listen to a Priest Preach the name of God and the Holy Trinity.

Well, enough of that. I just found out Veggietales was made to teach Christian Morals! I'm being brainwased by a children's show!

What is your religion?

Believe What You Believe.

XLVII

[This message has been edited by XLVII (edited 08-17-2004).]

Just because you're brought up a certain way doesn't necessarily mean you'll turn out believing the same things. A kid I knew, used to live on my street, his parents were very strict Christians (creationist, no taking the Lord's name in vain, refusing to hear the views of others) and he's turned out totally different to them.

If you really want to know, he's an atheist metalhead, which must piss his parents off.

Then again, when some kids do rebel against their parents' beliefs, or just form opinions of their own, a lot are brought up knowing nothing different, conditioned to treat other views as wrong. I do feel sorry for kids in religious households, both for that and the fact that all the Christian parents I've seen have been very strict on their kids.

my parents, especially my dad who is anti-catholicism, are NOT Catholic. But now I'm in the process of becoming Catholic.

Just because people as parents teach their children their religion doesn't make the religion wrong. Or the kids brainwashed. You'd teach your kid athiesm I suppose wouldn't you?

my parents raised me completely agnostic, as that's what they were, and they encouraged me to explore various religions on my own.

i did, and i made discoveries for myself.

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Happy:

Just because you're brought up a certain way doesn't necessarily mean you'll turn out believing the same things. A kid I knew, used to live on my street, his parents were very strict Christians (creationist, no taking the Lord's name in vain, refusing to hear the views of others) and he's turned out totally different to them.

If you really want to know, he's an atheist metalhead, which must piss his parents off.

Then again, when some kids do rebel against their parents' beliefs, or just form opinions of their own, a lot are brought up knowing nothing different, conditioned to treat other views as wrong. I do feel sorry for kids in religious households, both for that and the fact that all the Christian parents I've seen have been very strict on their kids.

You are just as bad as the people you criticize. You feel sorry and look down upon people that don't share the same beliefs as you.

Since you feel sorry for a children raised in a religious household. Do you feel sorry for children raised in an atheist household, or even an agnostic household? What about a Buddist, Hindu, or Islamic household?

Edit: Just a few extra thoughts

Parents are allowed the right to raise their children the way that they see fit, as long as they are not permenantly huting their child. It doesn't matter if you or anyone else disagree with their methods or beliefs, just like their opinion doesn't matter on how your parents raised you.

[This message has been edited by napoleon_complex (edited 08-17-2004).]

It's very, very difficult for a parent to resist indoctrinating their child. Many parents feel wholeheartedly that their religion is a true and good path, and want their child to share in the morality and goodness that they perceive it to provide.

Also, a surprising amount of christians were raised in other faiths, and have found their ways to the various branches. At least as many christian children abandon that and find other paths of faith.

In other words, being born into a religion is not a bad thing. It allows you to contrast two different faiths, and allow you to choose your own path without succumbing to silly extremism. That's how it was for me, man.

quote:Originally posted by Furyion:

In other words, being born into a religion is not a bad thing. It allows you to contrast two different faiths, and allow you to choose your own path without succumbing to silly extremism. That's how it was for me, man.

I agree. It was like that for me, as well. Had it been reversed, my current way of thinking might be completely different. I'm grateful for having experienced both sides of the coin.

However, I would think that having different religious beliefs than your parents (at least while you live at home) would be a great way to hone your tolerance level and respect for people of other faiths as an adult.

Being born into Mormonism ... makes me want to follow Judaism.

Eh, I know there's people that become the complete opposite of their parents. I forgot my point. Anyway...er. Rough Night. I'll think later. No wait. I got it. I guess my point in the first place was to say that religion is indoctrination, and the children of parents who are strong believers usually end up getting screwed into a religion they don't really believe in and blah blah blah, and if they question their religion their parents will disown them. Like some really strict korean parents I know. Bottom line. Religion is fucked, but I still have respect for those who follow a certain religion. If this doesn't make sense I'll just stick with the "Rough Night" excuse.

-XLVII-

quote:Originally posted by napoleon_complex:

You are just as bad as the people you criticize. You feel sorry and look down upon people that don't share the same beliefs as you.

Since you feel sorry for a children raised in a religious household. Do you feel sorry for children raised in an atheist household, or even an agnostic household? What about a Buddist, Hindu, or Islamic household?

Ok, I shouldn't have said I feel sorry for people brought up in religious households generally, i phrased that wrongly. But people brought up in households as strict as the kid I was talking about, I do feel sorry for, because he's controlled by his parents and they're hugely strict on him. He resents them for imposing their beliefs on him, they try to control his life and bring him up exactly as they want, they don't give a damn about what he wants out of life. And he's talked about this to me, I'm not just assuming he's resentful and angry at them.

Normal religious households are just like any other household to me, people can have whatever views they want, but it's not fair to treat someone like this kid's parents do.

[This message has been edited by Mr.Happy (edited 08-22-2004).]