Is teaching religion to children wrong?

[OccamsRazor]

This question is one that I am re-asking from a thread entitled "Is Baptism Wrong?" McCulloch correctly pointed out that although my point of this question refers to broader terms than baptism specifically, we could get bogged down in the specific practises of different faiths.

I therefore am asking whether teaching a small child to follow a specific religion is wrong? Rather should you teach them many options to allow them to decide for themselves?

[OccamsRazor]

I meant teaching religion in schools would be crossing some sort of line.

I'm not so sure about this. I don't see the problem with teaching religion in schools as long as it is taught in a defined context.
I've already mentioned this on another thread but:
In the UK we have had compulsory religious education between the ages of 11 and 16 for many years. In my education I was taught about Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism as well as the alternative views on specific ethical issues such as euthanasia, abortion etc.
Does something similar to this happen in the US?

[harvey1]

Does something similar to this happen in the US?

I don't know how it is now, but it was always an optional course to be taken as an elective.

[McCulloch]

In our societies, the raising of children is generally the responsibility of the parents of these children. However, we place limits on this. Parents are not allowed to use children as unpaid slaves and neglect their education. We have child labour laws. Children are not to be abused. We have child protection laws. Children must be educated. Our societies provide free education services for our children. If the parents are allowed to opt out and use an alternate educational service provider, there is usually a provision to ensure that a minimum standard is adhered to.
Why don't we just allow parents to raise their children any way that they want to? Perhaps it is because we expect children to become adults and we, as a society, do not want to face the consequences of really bad parenting on the next generation. Teaching religion to children can be a two edged sword. Most religions embody certain desirable moral values and encourage the young person to look beyond self.
But, sadly, many religions are exclusive and exclusionary. I do not think that it is beneficial to raise children with the dogma that their parents' theology is GOD'S ONE TRUE WAY. With more and more people crowded in what seems to be a smaller world, we simply cannot afford intolerance. Many religions also teach their adherents to believe things based on faith rather than evidence. This tendency does not prepare them well for the real world.
The solution? Should parents be banned from teaching their children intolerant religions? No. That in itself would be a form of intolerance. The education of children include exposure to a wide range of religious viewpoints with emphasis on tolerance and acceptance. Public education should not include indoctrination into any specific religious viewpoint.

[Episkopos]

I had a dysfunctional moment. I meant teaching religion in schools would be crossing some sort of line.

Now your comment makes sense to me. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Episkopos]

I had a dysfunctional moment. I meant teaching religion in schools would be crossing some sort of line.

Now your comment makes sense to me. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Lotan]

I therefore am asking whether teaching a small child to follow a specific religion is wrong? Rather should you teach them many options to allow them to decide for themselves?

The first question refers to indoctrination which robs the child of the ability to think critically. Here's a lovely example of creationist Ken Ham doing just that (I've posted this link earlier elsewhere)...

“Who’s the only one who’s always been there?” Ham asked.

“God!” the boys and girls shouted.

“Who’s the only one who knows everything?”

“God!”

“So who should you always trust, God or the scientists?”

The children answered with a thundering: “God!”

Those who are convinced that their narrow interpretation of religion is the only way will see nothing wrong with this sort of thing.

The second question describes more or less the method that I have chosen for my own family. My daughter attends Sunday school, but she also participates in Anishnabe native ceremonies, and is exposed to Buddhism, and Islam by friends from China, Thailand, and the Middle East, especially Lebanon. And of course she has me telling her that nobody really knows anything anyway!

[OccamsRazor]

Here's a lovely example of creationist Ken Ham doing just that

That is the most terrifying thing I've ever read. I do wonder that if Christianity is absolute truth then why would you need to indoctirnate people, especially small children, to believe it?

[1John2_26]

Lotan wrote:
Here's a lovely example of creationist Ken Ham doing just that

That is the most terrifying thing I've ever read. I do wonder that if Christianity is absolute truth then why would you need to indoctirnate people, especially small children, to believe it?

Atheism is what needs the most indoctrination into. History proves that. The pyramids were not built by Neitzscheites.

One must look at the evidence of a designed world and force chaos into it.

It takes many years of "educating a person" to get them to "believe" that things happen by accident. The evidence for a craeted universe is so obvious it takes a long time to wash away facts and replace them with incessant questions that defy the logic of believing that 0 x 1 cannot equal anything, is really "believed."

Atheism is more faith-based then any other form of religion.

[OccamsRazor]

The pyramids were not built by Neitzscheites.

The pyramids were not built by Christians either.

The evidence for a craeted universe is so obvious

Where? Please show me the irrefutible evidence of a creator and spare me "because it told me in a book" and I will try not to wield the anthropic principle.

It takes many years of "educating a person" to get them to "believe" that things happen by accident.

1John it takes many years to study the creation of the universe. Apparently to this day it is still hotly debated.

(edit: added not above)

[theleftone]

It's a new religion called Educationalism. They're into strange things like pedagogy.

I must say, that is very cute.

After the church/state thing, I realized what you were talking about, but thought a joke would be more appropriate.

Those people and their evil pedagogy, you know.