Reply to Is it fair to brainwash our children?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m finding this question hard to process. Parenting isn’t about being fair. Presumably parents know more than their kids, so while they may listen to a reasonable argument, the parent’s vote has to outweigh the child’s. Parenting obligates us to  pass along our values and experience to our kids, teaching them to make good choices and avoid bad ones. Sometimes, inevitably, we’ll be wrong.  We “brainwash” our children to:

eat vegetables even if it doesn’t taste as good as chocolate ice cream 
not to hit people when they get mad
to do their work before play
to treat others with courtesy, respect, and hopefully some kindness
to tell the truth, even when it gets them in trouble
not to steal 
etc.

Whatever your religious views (or lack thereof) are, presumably you feel that those are the views that promise the best outcome while avoiding the bad ones. That may mean going to heaven instead of going to hell, not falling for a lot of “superstitious nonsense”, etc.  Whatever your beliefs about religion may be, they strike at fundamental questions and potentially have profound implications. If you truly believe in heaven and hell, would you not do everything you can to see your child end up spending eternity in paradise rather than never-ending torment, not to mention finding spiritual comfort during their life?  If you believe something else, wouldn’t you do whatever you could to ensure the best outcome for your child?

So is it fair to brainwash our children about religion?  of course not
Is it right to brainwash our children about religion?  If a parent truly believes their religion will help their child and not passing along those beliefs will hurt the child, then they have a duty to share that viewpoint with their child.

Ultimately, whatever you teach the child, they’ll eventually make their own decisions, on everything. [b]All a parent can do is pass on the best information they have to a child and hope it’s helpful[/b]. [/quote]

Can't see that it's helpful to a child to insist that they believe in a supernatural being who lives in the sky and judges them.

Do you insist that they believe in Santa Claus?  When they stop believing in Santa, do you get upset?[/quote]

But teaching them that there isn’t something greater than themselves and that God doesn’t exist isn’t brainwashing? You’re also teaching your child your beliefs as fact. Ie, brainwashing by your definition.  [/quote]

Very hypocritical, aren’t they? It’s honestly a joke.[/quote]

I can’t speak for all atheists, but I taught my kids skepticism and critical thinking, and we never talked about god.  as adults, they can make up their own minds.[/quote]

I thought the proper way to raise children was to teach them all religions, and teach them about atheism and agnosticism. Then let them choose?

Why did you choose to not teach them all religions so they could have a foundation to choose from?[/quote]

Because I don’t homeschool my children. I didn’t teach them calculus either, but they still learned it.  And they were taught it by informed and skilled people when they were ready to grasp it.[/quote]

So why do atheists and anti-theists here demand religious parents teach their kids about all religions and about atheism and agnosticism and then allow the child to choose? Children don’t have to be homeschooled to be taught things by their parents.

So the US should teach all religions in public schools, as well as atheism and agnosticism, by skilled and informed teachers, and then they will be sufficiently educated to choose a religion or no religion?[/quote]

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t want any religion taught in public schools. Unless it is in an academic way. Schools are for academics in my opinion.[/quote]

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