What is everyone’s take on this? And let’s try and leave out the Muslim shit for once… I’d rather just focus on America here as I have this little theory (call me crazy) that if we take care of the issues at home, then the people who are deciding to do things to/in other countries may… … decide not to. … or something like that.
The Christians (in the movie) are becoming what they hate the most. If they’re so anti-Islam then why the fuck are they mimicking them? Why the hell do they care that their sending there kids to camps at such young ages? People are so easily influenced it disgusts me. They are brainwashing their kids into believing that this religion is for them. Religion should not be introduced to a child until they are old enough to make an educated decision. If at that age they decide they want to be Christian or Jewish or what have you then good for them. But when they are brought up as a certain religion and never have the chance to ever question it, then that’s a huge problem.
I didn’t watch the link, and im sure its brutal, but i want to reply to spw317. First off, im sure there are christians who blindlessly follow there faith and never make a real decision to do so. But in regards to your Dawkins theory that kids should not be taught anything until a certian age when they can make decisions on there own about religion is absurd and utopian. First off, any ahtiest, christian, muslim, jew, satanist etc will raise there kids as what they are. Even if they don’t tell them its the right way directly, every answer they give there child, every way in which they raise there child, will be focused around that belief that they hold. It is impossible not to raise a child without teaching him what you believe to be true.
Besides this point, you are so concerned with making sure kids are raised to believe a religion so they can make there own decision when they get older, do you not understand what that means?KIDS WILL BE RAISED TO BELIEVE IN NO RELIGION, its not a very hard connection to make, and im not saying that that is wrong that kids are raised like that, however, its just as bad and persuasive as the parent who teaches there child that Christ is the Savior.
Thirdly, our childhood plays a large role in what we believe as adults, there is no doubt. But i can say with relative certianity that most people, at least those who are educated a little (doesn’t have to be a lot) face there beliefs as THEIR beliefs at some point in there life. What i mean is, most people, as adults, regardless of what there parents taught them, are faced with the questions of “do i really beleive what i believe” “if not, what do i believe” “and if so, why?” It’s important to remember that as adults we become independant, well most of us, and that means all aspects of our lives become independant. Not every, i would argue hardly any, christian out there are strong christians because of what there parents told them, but because they have made a concsious decision to believe in what they do. That stands true for all belief systems from athiesm to satanism.
You make an interesting point: Essentially, that you cannot ‘not’ teach a child about religion until a certain age. That is, assuming that the parents follow a uniform, set belief system.
But as I think Dennet said, why not educatate our children on -all- the religions from an early age, and then let them decide on their own? Not only does this system provide more of a diversity and sum of information, but it allows the young to see the different connections that we see spanning across most of the religions.
I don’t know about you but when I was 7 years old I never asked, “Mommy, what is god? Where does he come from?”. I never even thought twice about my religion. I just did it because that’s what everybody else was doing.
I never said we should teach our kids that all religion is evil and that they shouldn’t believe in it. I agree with Gobbo’s point in that we should educate them on all the religions. And let them decide which one is best for them.
Childhood plays an enormous role on what we believe. If you are force fed a certain religion then it’ll have a strong effect on you. People are so vulnerable and easily influenced at such a young age. Yes I’m sure at some point most people do question there faith but I’m talking about those that never do. Those that have a religion forced on them from birth until they move out. It wasn’t their choice, it was their parents and that sickens me.