Religious families-Do your children easily love God?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the sake of this argument, lets call it indoctrination. What exactly are they being indoctrinated in? Treat others as you wish to be treated, and be open to the presence of God. If the last part creeps you out, deal with it. Yes, many of you raised in a religious house, and stopped believing. You still function in society just fine. There's nothing wrong with indoctrinating children on God, as long as it's done gently. Which many parents do, and it enriches and enchants a childs life.

I am a PP raised in a religious household. My parents were "gentle," but nonetheless I spent a long time thinking something was wrong with me, and that sense of being wrong did have an impact. The thing is that even a parent who is being gentle does it within the framework of a belief system and unless you're in a religion that actively repudiates the sometimes cruel actions of god as taught in the major religious stories, a smart kid will know that no matter how gentle a parent is, the god of your belief system can act capriciously and with cruelty. It is very hard to resolve the idea of a god that loves you with a lot of the traditional religious stories.

My parents were gentle too and when I asked questions aboutthe bad things God would do to me if I didn't follow the rules (or if I died before confessing my sins) my parents told me not to worry about it, and I didn't -- guess I had a different personality than pp above. Still, God's punishments were on my mind, and I didn't have much respect for him because of it. I had much more respect for my parents. They were real, they were reasonable and they actively cared for and loved me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

Yes, I do, and I do not care what you call it. I am responsible for raising my child and will be called to task later for doing a good job, so I don't follow Your, Random Internet Poster's, Prescriptions for What Is And What Is Not A Good Way to Teach Your Child Religion. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

LOLOL....you could say this for anything anyone believes....whateva!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

Yes, I do, and I do not care what you call it. I am responsible for raising my child and will be called to task later for doing a good job, so I don't follow Your, Random Internet Poster's, Prescriptions for What Is And What Is Not A Good Way to Teach Your Child Religion. Good luck to you!

It not a matter of what I call it; it's just what it is -- indoctrination -- a feature of religions that have a supernatural story that people are expected to believe on faith and a set of rules that people are expected to follow or be punished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

LOLOL....you could say this for anything anyone believes....whateva!!!

Not at all. Much of waht people believe in based on evidence, or things they choose to believe on their own without being taught and without being threatened with punishment if they choose not to believe. People use to believe the earth was flat, based on what they could see. Now we know that the earth is round. It's accepted based on evidence. Indoctrination requires no evidence -- just faith and blind obedience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

Yes, I do, and I do not care what you call it. I am responsible for raising my child and will be called to task later for doing a good job, so I don't follow Your, Random Internet Poster's, Prescriptions for What Is And What Is Not A Good Way to Teach Your Child Religion. Good luck to you! [/quot]

you'll be "called to task?" by God? do you mean you're indoctrinating your kids with beleifs you have no evidence for because you're afraid that if you don't, then you'll be punished in the after life by God? If what God wants people to believe is so good for them, why does god have to threaten loving parents to get them to teach their kids about it?

[Anonymous]

you'll be "called to task?" by God? do you mean you're indoctrinating your kids with beleifs you have no evidence for because you're afraid that if you don't, then you'll be punished in the after life by God? If what God wants people to believe is so good for them, why does god have to threaten loving parents to get them to teach their kids about it?

You're not going to convince each other. So you're just talking at each other. Give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

Yes, I do, and I do not care what you call it. I am responsible for raising my child and will be called to task later for doing a good job, so I don't follow Your, Random Internet Poster's, Prescriptions for What Is And What Is Not A Good Way to Teach Your Child Religion. Good luck to you! [/quot]

you'll be "called to task?" by God? do you mean you're indoctrinating your kids with beleifs you have no evidence for because you're afraid that if you don't, then you'll be punished in the after life by God? If what God wants people to believe is so good for them, why does god have to threaten loving parents to get them to teach their kids about it?

I am not the pp to whom you are responding, but I am a person of faith who teaches my kids about God and we most certainly do not teach OR BELIEVE that God is going to punish us. You do realize that not everyone of faith believes the same thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach my children what I think is good for him/her. I teach her to brush her teeth, for example. I teach her to eat healthfully, etc. And I teach her religious. I impart all my knowledge as to how to be a good human being and to have a worthwhile life, and that includes all of the above.

YOu mention religion, but no mention of particular tenets of religion, For instance -- do you teach her that she will be eternally punished if she doesn't follow God's law? That God prefers people who follow a certain religion in certain ways? That she should believe that God sent his son to sacrifice himself for us to allow us to achieve eternal life with God? that God, his son and Moses performed miracles that she should believe happened as a matter of faith?

Those are examples of indoctrination.

LOLOL....you could say this for anything anyone believes....whateva!!!

Not at all. Much of waht people believe in based on evidence, or things they choose to believe on their own without being taught and without being threatened with punishment if they choose not to believe. People use to believe the earth was flat, based on what they could see. Now we know that the earth is round. It's accepted based on evidence. Indoctrination requires no evidence -- just faith and blind obedience.

And some people of faith have had experiences that don't meet your standard of evidence -- but it is real and it is proof to them.
Just let them be -- you don't believe it -- then keep it moving. This whole indoctrination debate is just dumb now. Some people believe in God, some people don't. I don't think you were indoctrinated into atheism, so you do not say I indoctrinate my kids -- deal?

[Anonymous]

People are making this about themselves, when it's really about the children. When I do have kids, God will be the driving force of the house, and there's nothing anyone can say that'll stop me. Those of you who are genuinely afraid of religion just need to chill out. No one in these 11 pages has given me a good reason not to immerse my future children in God. If that scares some of you, good. Go ahead and call it indoctrination-call it a cult. I don't care. I'll indoctrinate them on tenderness, compassion and love with the presence of a forgiving and gentle God.

Haters can suck it.

Anonymous wrote:My soon-to-be 7 yr. old asked me last night if he could become a priest. He's my only child. He goes to a parochial school and loves learning about religion, God, the Saints, but he also enjoys his daily curriculum. He goes to a very conservative Catholic school, while we're more cafeteria Catholics - we accept people for who they are, am pro-choice, yada yada yada. And he still asks to be a priest!!!

This is my favorite post of the entire thread. How sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are making this about themselves, when it's really about the children. When I do have kids, God will be the driving force of the house, and there's nothing anyone can say that'll stop me. Those of you who are genuinely afraid of religion just need to chill out. No one in these 11 pages has given me a good reason not to immerse my future children in God. If that scares some of you, good. Go ahead and call it indoctrination-call it a cult. I don't care. I'll indoctrinate them on tenderness, compassion and love with the presence of a forgiving and gentle God.

Haters can suck it.

Hear hear! Keep on believing. There are a lot of us who do. In fact Christianity may be taking a beating in several first world nations but it is growing, sometimes tremendously, in developing countries.

I know some will point to lack of education, mythology, blah blah blah, but I say where are there are those gathering in His name it's all good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are making this about themselves, when it's really about the children. When I do have kids, God will be the driving force of the house, and there's nothing anyone can say that'll stop me. Those of you who are genuinely afraid of religion just need to chill out. No one in these 11 pages has given me a good reason not to immerse my future children in God. If that scares some of you, good. Go ahead and call it indoctrination-call it a cult. I don't care. I'll indoctrinate them on tenderness, compassion and love with the presence of a forgiving and gentle God.

Haters can suck it.

Hear hear! Keep on believing. There are a lot of us who do. In fact Christianity may be taking a beating in several first world nations but it is growing, sometimes tremendously, in developing countries.

I know some will point to lack of education, mythology, blah blah blah, but I say where are there are those gathering in His name it's all good!

I didn't mean to limit it to Christianity, that was just an example. Organized religion in general is enjoying a renewal around the world.

[Anonymous]

I didn't mean to limit it to Christianity, that was just an example. Organized religion in general is enjoying a renewal around the world.

Although it doesn't capture global trends, the results of the global Pew survey of religion (http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/) would indicate that might not be the case, and even if it is accurate, the survey is better news for Hinduism and Islam than it is for Christianity.

According to the study, the median age of Muslims (23) and Hindus (26) is significantly lower than the global median age of 28 years old.

Other than Muslims and Hindus, all other religious groups have a median age that is older than the global median.

"Christians have a median age of 30, followed by members of other religions (32), adherents of folk or traditional religions (33), the religiously unaffiliated (34) and Buddhists (34). Jews have the highest median age (36), more than a dozen years older than the youngest group, Muslims.”

Worldwide, the "unaffiliated" category was 16% - the same as the percentage who reported as being Catholic. In the Pew US survey released a few months earlier, the fastest growing "religious" group in America was made up of people with no religion at all. That survey said that 1/5 Americans is not affiliated with any religion, and the number of these Americans has grown by 25% in the past five years.

So, all over, Christians are aging, the Hindus and Muslims are on the younger end, and, in the US and elsewhere in the "developed world," the numbers of unaffiliated are growing rapidly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I didn't mean to limit it to Christianity, that was just an example. Organized religion in general is enjoying a renewal around the world.

Although it doesn't capture global trends, the results of the global Pew survey of religion (http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/) would indicate that might not be the case, and even if it is accurate, the survey is better news for Hinduism and Islam than it is for Christianity.

According to the study, the median age of Muslims (23) and Hindus (26) is significantly lower than the global median age of 28 years old.

Other than Muslims and Hindus, all other religious groups have a median age that is older than the global median.

"Christians have a median age of 30, followed by members of other religions (32), adherents of folk or traditional religions (33), the religiously unaffiliated (34) and Buddhists (34). Jews have the highest median age (36), more than a dozen years older than the youngest group, Muslims.”

Worldwide, the "unaffiliated" category was 16% - the same as the percentage who reported as being Catholic. In the Pew US survey released a few months earlier, the fastest growing "religious" group in America was made up of people with no religion at all. That survey said that 1/5 Americans is not affiliated with any religion, and the number of these Americans has grown by 25% in the past five years.

So, all over, Christians are aging, the Hindus and Muslims are on the younger end, and, in the US and elsewhere in the "developed world," the numbers of unaffiliated are growing rapidly.

I'm fine with all faiths growing. I know that seems odd to say but to me we're better off in a world where faith is alive and well even if not everyone is part of the same.