Indoctrinating the Youth

[Umaro]

Indoctrination for those who don't know is "teaching someone to accept doctrines uncritically."(WordNet 2.0, Princeton) and is usually applied to religion.

How do you feel about indoctrination toward children? Is it the correct course of action to take? Since the majority of the world is not Christian, and teach they're children that Christ was wrong (essentially rejection) and given that it's nearly impossible to change someone's mind after that, wouldn't that mean billions of children are being effectively condemned to hell by their parents? It works the same way in reverse too, in that if Christianity is wrong, you would be condemning your children to damnation. From what I've seen, most people with a religion get up in arms if someone suggests anything other than teaching children that particular "truth" and all others as false. How do you all feel about it? Should children be taught the religion of their parents? What about waiting until the child is old enough to make a cognitive decision before teaching them "truth" and then exposing them to all religions?


NOTE: To avoid misunderstanding, please be aware that I'm not asking about if people should have the right or not to teach their children a certain thing.

 

[Confess]

I agree to indoctrinating the youth. At my children's baptism I agreed that I would raise my children in the faith.

In confirmation class, our children are joined with one child that has just been baptized and knows abosutely nothing about Jesus Christ. She wants to learn, know and understand. Who are we to deny her of something she earnestly wishes to learn?

What are children who grow into adults to do if they have grown up with no knowledge of God? Should age be the requirement for learning about Him? Why?

 

[rocklife]

Indoctrination for those who don't know is "teaching someone to accept doctrines uncritically."(WordNet 2.0, Princeton) and is usually applied to religion.

How do you feel about indoctrination toward children? Is it the correct course of action to take? Since the majority of the world is not Christian, and teach they're children that Christ was wrong (essentially rejection) and given that it's nearly impossible to change someone's mind after that, wouldn't that mean billions of children are being effectively condemned to hell by their parents? It works the same way in reverse too, in that if Christianity is wrong, you would be condemning your children to damnation. From what I've seen, most people with a religion get up in arms if someone suggests anything other than teaching children that particular "truth" and all others as false. How do you all feel about it? Should children be taught the religion of their parents? What about waiting until the child is old enough to make a cognitive decision before teaching them "truth" and then exposing them to all religions?


NOTE: To avoid misunderstanding, please be aware that I'm not asking about if people should have the right or not to teach their children a certain thing.

I have read testimonies from some christians who minister to North Koreans (they are Korean also). One lady says she does not at all minister to children, she would like to, but because christians can be sent to prison and even given the death penalty, she does not reach out to children, only adults (she has an exact cut-off age from her experience, I forget off hand what that age is).

If there are even North Koreans who are open to christianity, albeit few, in these very hard circumstances, then God is surely able to reach out to anyone, no matter what they are taught as children.

that is just one example, I have read many testimonies of Muslims who have converted, also in countries where converting is even illegal. www.persecution.com shares some of these testimonies.

I have no problem with your comment about waiting for children to be old enough to make a decision about God. with my available freedom, I do share my beliefs with my children, but I don't force them to believe, I pray for their salvation. I do believe it is best if they make such a decision whenever they are ready. Jesus was baptized at about 30 years old, which is even older than I am, I don't feel a need to rush children into things they may not really understand.

 

[Key]

Indoctrination for those who don't know is "teaching someone to accept doctrines uncritically."(WordNet 2.0, Princeton) and is usually applied to religion.

How do you feel about indoctrination toward children? Is it the correct course of action to take? Since the majority of the world is not Christian, and teach they're children that Christ was wrong (essentially rejection) and given that it's nearly impossible to change someone's mind after that, wouldn't that mean billions of children are being effectively condemned to hell by their parents? It works the same way in reverse too, in that if Christianity is wrong, you would be condemning your children to damnation. From what I've seen, most people with a religion get up in arms if someone suggests anything other than teaching children that particular "truth" and all others as false. How do you all feel about it? Should children be taught the religion of their parents? What about waiting until the child is old enough to make a cognitive decision before teaching them "truth" and then exposing them to all religions?


NOTE: To avoid misunderstanding, please be aware that I'm not asking about if people should have the right or not to teach their children a certain thing.

Children should be taught, however, many schools, and education institutions want the students to just accept what is being taught, (Imagen if you challenged your 8th grade history teacher), you would fail unless you gave the answers they wanted to hear. However, we see no evil in this, as that is just the nature of education.

God Bless

Key

 

[calidog]

Definately indocterinate our youth.

They will form their own conclusion as they mature anyway.

 

[Stinker]

"What about waiting until the child is old enough to make a cognitive decision before teaching them 'truth' and then exposing them to all religions?"

Christians are supposed to develope their child's cognitive ability by teaching them objective right & wrong that is backed by the New Testament. The religious formalities should be taught to the children by the parent's example.

 

[Umaro]

So, let's say someone was indoctrinating their child to Scientology, which would mean a rejection of Jesus and them ultimately being sent to hell (assuming Christians are right). You'd all just be fine with this?

 

[£amb]

So, let's say someone was indoctrinating their child to Scientology, which would mean a rejection of Jesus and them ultimately being sent to hell (assuming Christians are right). You'd all just be fine with this?

Of course, as a christian, I'm not fine with someone missing out on what God has to offer in the sense of eternal life.

My kids invite their friends to church. Some go to other churches and some have never been. I don't start preaching at these kids and threaten them with hell. They come to see and experience what church is about. After that, it's their choice if they wish to come back. It's also the parents choice if they want them to return or not. I do not go against what the parents say because I'm not their parent. All the friends we have taken truly enjoyed themselves, and being with their peers and friends that they know from school.

 

[Confess]

So, let's say someone was indoctrinating their child to Scientology, which would mean a rejection of Jesus and them ultimately being sent to hell (assuming Christians are right). You'd all just be fine with this?

The sins of the parents will fall on the children. It happens. There is nothing we can do about it accept witness our faith to them.

 

[desert_island_1]

I thought I would give a youth's perspective here.
I personally, am glad that I was raised in the church. I am now able to be a piece of Jesus for my friends, possibly the only piece they will ever see.
I have a few friends aswell, who have parents who do not believe in Jesus at all but my friends are Christians. They chose this belief despite the fact that their parents told them for years that there was no God.
Also, by sending your children to school are you not indoctrinating them? You as taxpayers tell the government what you want your children to learn and that it is then taught to them. Are we not in school being taught that terrorism is wrong? To stand up for your rights? I do not know how one cannot call that indoctrination.

Kristy

 

[Umaro]

I thought I would give a youth's perspective here.
I personally, am glad that I was raised in the church. I am now able to be a piece of Jesus for my friends, possibly the only piece they will ever see.
I have a few friends aswell, who have parents who do not believe in Jesus at all but my friends are Christians. They chose this belief despite the fact that their parents told them for years that there was no God.
Also, by sending your children to school are you not indoctrinating them? You as taxpayers tell the government what you want your children to learn and that it is then taught to them. Are we not in school being taught that terrorism is wrong? To stand up for your rights? I do not know how one cannot call that indoctrination.

Kristy

I'm rather irked my parents tried to teach me a faith and to not question it before I could think reasonably for myself.

I wouldn't call school indoctrination because you are encouraged to question what you are told, not just "God is right, you are sinful, don't question us." I don't remember hearing anything about terrorism in school, and most of the terrorism fear mongering is from the government, and I disagree with it.

 

[BelindaP]

It sounds to me like your parents went about it wrong. It may explain a lot about your leaving the faith. My children have all kinds of questions about God and I have never once told them to shut up and just believe. As a matter of fact, it would be sinful to do so.

We are commanded to accept the kingdom of God like a child--which includes lots of hard questions. We can learn a lot from our children. Just check out my blog.

 

[desert_island_1]

I'm rather irked my parents tried to teach me a faith and to not question it before I could think reasonably for myself.

I wouldn't call school indoctrination because you are encouraged to question what you are told, not just "God is right, you are sinful, don't question us." I don't remember hearing anything about terrorism in school, and most of the terrorism fear mongering is from the government, and I disagree with it.

Well, in my school, I am. Personally, most of my friends and I have been raised with the idea that questioning is good. That we need to question our faith in order to grow. I too have asked many of the same questions that many people on the questions by non christians board have asked. The difference is that I have a biblical basis for many of them.

Kristy

 

[Zeena]

The children are free, let them remain so!
The parents of each particular child have been given authority over the [said] child for thier protection, and I see nothing wrong with this!

As for schools, some do not allow children to question certain 'theories' and should NOT be allowed to continue in such a manner =P

 

[desert_island_1]

The children are free, let them remain so!
The parents of each particular child have been given authority over the [said] child for thier protection, and I see nothing wrong with this!

As for schools, some do not allow children to question certain 'theories' and should NOT be allowed to continue in such a manner =P

I agree. In my school district the curriculum teaches evolution as fact, which I do not agree with. You also bring up a good point, does it not say in the bible that God give the parents the responsibility to raise us kids? (Or am I imagining things?)

Kristy

 

[Zeena]

He does!

 

[Key]

I wouldn't call school indoctrination because you are encouraged to question what you are told,

No your not.

Your told to study what you are told, they hand you a book, and you are to read the book, and book is good and the book is fact, and what the teacher says is fact, and if you do not listen and study, then you fail the tests, if you fail the tests, you fail the class, and you are kept behind until you abide by the rules and take the book and the teacher as fact. That is School.

not just "God is right, you are sinful, don't question us." I don't remember hearing anything about terrorism in school, and most of the terrorism fear mongering is from the government, and I disagree with it.

If they do not teach it, then they do not teach it, but if they teach it, and it's in the course books, then the books are true, if the teacher says it, and it's on the test, then the teacher is true. Any other answer is false save the answer the teacher or the course requires from you.

Welcome to School. Now sit down, shut up, take notes and study the book. There will be tests, and any that do not take what is taught as truth, be will failed.

And we do not see a problem with that?

But.. Ooooooo If Religion is mentioned.... Ooooo now there is a problem......

Odd animal this..... Human....

God Bless

Key

 

[Skaloop]

Your told to study what you are told, they hand you a book, and you are to read the book, and book is good and the book is fact, and what the teacher says is fact, and if you do not listen and study, then you fail the tests, if you fail the tests, you fail the class, and you are kept behind until you abide by the rules and take the book and the teacher as fact. That is School.

What exactly are they teaching in school that is not factual? In English classes, they teach what a noun is, what a verb is, etc. Are those not facts? In history, they teach about WWII and the when the Egyptian kings lived and such; are those not facts? In science, they teach that mixing an acid and a base produces water and a salt. They teach that the force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between objects. And we teach that the theory for why that is is that the objects attract one another. Any non-facts there?

Or were you thinking of evolution? One single subject that you find personally objectionable and is therefore the one that isn't factual. Well, surprise, evolution is a fact. It occurs. They also teach that the current scientific explanation is the theory of natural selection . Also a fact; that is the current scientific explanation.

Also keep in mind that one does not need to accept something as absolute truth in order to show that they understand it. Give me some time to study, and I could pass a test on the Bible without believing a word of it.

 

[BelindaP]

You've never had a teacher that had a pet theory or an ax to grind? I once took a Greek and Roman mythology class and spent the entire semester listening to the professor explain every single myth in Freudian terms. We in the class had an opinion about what that professor (notably single without prospects) needed, but this is a family forum, so I won't get into it.

 

[Skaloop]

You've never had a teacher that had a pet theory or an ax to grind? I once took a Greek and Roman mythology class and spent the entire semester listening to the professor explain every single myth in Freudian terms. We in the class had an opinion about what that professor (notably single without prospects) needed, but this is a family forum, so I won't get into it.

Sure, but that's a problem with the teacher, not the curriculum overall.