Indoctrination

At the opposite end, when I was in Germany I sometimes felt store clerks thought I was an idiot just because I asked for help.

Even that carries a message. Why don't you know? Because you're no longer searching or because it's impossible to know? Whatever the reason, one of those messages will come through.

And apparently that is bad ... from your perspective. So you will try to indoctrinate your kids to think like you do. What if, in spite of your efforts, they adopt some religion?

But I do understand how, why, to whom and for which purposes such an equivocation can be convenient. As I like to say: If you ignore the differences, any two things are the same.

But since - as you yourself have submitted - challenging your children sends a message and not challenging your children sends a message, as well, I think it´s obvious that sending messages to your children is inevitable: It´s the very nature of human communication and interaction.
Personally, I am working from definitions that differenciate between having an inevitable influence on someone (no matter what you do or don´t do) and "indoctrinating" them.

That´s your definition (or - in your idea - an epitome) of "being challenging"?

Well at some point it may happen that kids don't believe all the same thing their parents believe and nothing can be done about it.

Hmm. To whom is equivocation convenient?

I didn't come to this with a prepared definition, so I was just pushing to find the boundaries. You make a good point. The word "indoctrination" implies a deliberate effort to instruct someone, so some of my examples would fall outside that bailiwick.

Don't get worked up. I'm rambling - just having a conversation.

What makes you think I am getting worked up?

Does "I´m rambling" mean: "I didn´t expect a serious response"?
If so, my apologies for considering what I understood to be your thoughts and for taking your ramblings seriously.

The pile problem?

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
dir="ltr">

I "procede to confuse my own personal opinion with Christian doctrine"?? Hmmm... no actually my own personal opinions just ARE the Christian doctrine.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
dir="ltr">

"That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens

I think that about sums up your argument.

Basically as I understood it when you see a heap of leafs you recognize it as a heap.
Now lay leafs on the floor one by one and try to identify at what point it becomes a heap.

Cool. Do I get to explain all the documentary clues in Internet forums that people interpret as emotional signals?

Hmm. Probably too much of a digression. But it might be a fun thread.

I meant what I said earlier. I wasn't stating a definition. I was playing with the word - testing it's boundaries. I think we agree we found a boundary.