Diogenes wrote: ↑Tue Jun 07, 2022 1:04 pm
In the post "Christians: aren't you embarrassed and angry?"
posting.php?mode=quote&f=8&p=1073778
I wrote:
When they finally "get it" and realize most of them are Christians mainly because of childhood indoctrination and step out of the bondage of fantasy they were taught at an early age, then they are embarrassed or angry or both. ... and it has little to do with the reasons stated in post #1.
This suggests the current topic,
'Most Christians are "Christian" Because they were Indoctrinated as Children.'
In support of this proposition I quote from the Southern Nazarene University website,
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ages.htm where they claim
85% of Christians have their conversion experience ("are saved") at ages
4 to 14 and only
4% after the age of
30.
Parenthetically I note the human brain does not fully develop until about age 25.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/
The statement "Most Christians are 'Christian' because they were indoctrinated as children" is an assertion that suggests many people who identify as Christians do so primarily because they were exposed to Christian teachings, beliefs, and practices during their formative years. This is a topic that can be discussed from multiple perspectives:
1. Sociological Perspective
Cultural Transmission: It is common for children to adopt the religion of their parents or the dominant culture in which they are raised. This is not unique to Christianity and occurs across various religious and cultural traditions.
Socialization: Religion is often a part of the socialization process, where children learn values, norms, and beliefs through their families, communities, and institutions like churches or schools.
2. Theological Perspective
Faith and Choice: From a theological standpoint, some Christians argue that faith is a personal choice, even if initial exposure occurred in childhood. They may see early religious education as a foundation rather than indoctrination.
Evangelism: Many Christian denominations emphasize teaching children about the faith, seeing it as part of their religious duty to nurture belief.
3. Psychological Perspective
Indoctrination vs. Education: Some might view teaching children religious beliefs as indoctrination, especially if it involves compelling acceptance of specific doctrines without room for critical thinking. Others view it as education, akin to teaching any set of moral or cultural values.
Childhood Influence: Research shows that early life experiences often have a lasting impact on beliefs and behaviors. However, many people reassess and sometimes change their beliefs later in life.
4. Critiques of the Statement
Generalization: Not all Christians were raised in Christian households. Many convert to Christianity as adults, suggesting that personal experience and conviction play a role for some.
Neglecting Agency: The statement may downplay the agency of individuals who consciously choose to remain Christians after examining their beliefs critically.
5. Broader Implications
Universality Across Beliefs: The phenomenon described isn’t unique to Christianity. People of all faiths and ideologies, including secular or atheistic worldviews, are often influenced by their upbringing.
Debate on Indoctrination: The term "indoctrination" can carry a negative connotation, implying coercion or lack of choice, whereas religious communities might see it as guidance or teaching.
Whether the statement holds true depends on one's perspective, experiences, and how terms like "indoctrination" and "Christian" are defined. It’s an interesting point that invites reflection on how beliefs are formed and transmitted.
____________________________
Generally speaking we all enter the world as blank slates and so childhood influence has its natural role to play and growing up (intellectually) means determining what is useful and what is not regarding those influences.
1. The Role of Childhood Influence
The Blank Slate Metaphor: While we may not be literal "blank slates" due to genetic predispositions and innate traits, we are profoundly shaped by the environments in which we are raised. Families, cultures, and communities instill initial frameworks for understanding the world.
Learning Through Experience: During childhood, we lack the tools for extensive critical analysis and largely accept what we are taught. This is a natural and necessary process for acquiring basic knowledge and navigating life safely and effectively.
Cultural and Moral Foundations: Early influences often include values, ethics, language, and traditions, which serve as a foundation for future intellectual exploration.
2. Intellectual Growth and Critical Evaluation
Gaining Tools for Critical Thinking: As we grow intellectually, we develop the capacity to question and evaluate the beliefs and values we inherited. Education, exposure to diverse perspectives, and life experiences play crucial roles in this process.
Distinguishing the Useful from the Not:
Retaining What Works: Some childhood teachings, such as principles of kindness, honesty, or critical thinking skills, may prove universally beneficial and worth keeping.
Letting Go of What Doesn’t: Other influences, such as harmful biases, unfounded fears, or rigid dogmas, may be reconsidered or discarded when they no longer align with our personal understanding or goals.
3. The Balance Between Influence and Autonomy
Acknowledging the Role of Influence: Recognizing that our upbringing shapes us doesn't diminish our agency but provides a context for understanding how we got to where we are.
Embracing Personal Responsibility: Growing up intellectually means taking ownership of our beliefs and choices, striving to align them with evidence, reason, and our evolving values.
4. Lifelong Growth
Continuous Re-evaluation: The process of determining what is useful and what is not doesn’t stop in early adulthood. As we encounter new experiences and ideas, we have the opportunity to refine our understanding further.
Openness to Change: Intellectual maturity involves staying open to revisiting past conclusions and adapting to new insights.
This emphasizes the importance of childhood influences while also highlighting the transformative power of intellectual growth. It strikes a harmonious chord between acknowledging the past and embracing the responsibility for shaping one's future beliefs and values.
