Teaching our Children.

[belladonic-haze]

I read a post in another thread that said we shouldn't be able to expose children to religion.

Should we be able to teach our children what we believe (no matter what it is we believe)? And since they live with us, is there anyway we can actually avoid teaching our children what we believe?

If we should only be able to teach our children some things and not others, who decides what those things are?

Should they be state mandated?

To those who think children shouldn't be exposed to religion, how could this be avoided? And what things should the athiest not be able to teach their children?

Is it at all practical or right to say children should not be exposed to religion? (keeping in mind that children are exposed to things their parents choose to expose them to.)

I guess the hardest thing to do is to raise your children without prejudice. Cause parents are also just human.... The only thing we can do is try to help them to make a choce and to learn to respect other people choices...

Whatever your religion, raising a child without hate for people who are different is the best thing you can try to do.....But like I said, we are only human.

Love and sunshine,
Bella

 

[charityagape]

1 a : to cause to know something <taught them a trade> b : to cause to know how <is teaching me to drive> c : to accustom to some action or attitude <teach students to think for themselves> d : to cause to know the disagreeable consequences of some action <I'll teach you to come home late>
2 : to guide the studies of
3 : to impart the knowledge of <teach algebra>
4 a : to instruct by precept, example, or experience b : to make known and accepted <experience teaches us our limitations>
5 : to conduct instruction regularly in <teach school>

You're exposed to your parents for 18 years (not everyone, but probably a majority). Is it even possible for you not to teach your children your beliefs.

I don't believe homes are neutral enough to do that. Say you're an atheist and an evolutionist, everything you say and do teaches them, whether you actually ever sit them down and lecture them on it or not.

So you could sit them down and say they can believe anything they want, however, from the exposure they've had they know that mommy and daddy think Christians believe in fairytales.

So, aren't they being taught, that although they're free to believe what they want, but if you choose to believe Christianity you're believing a fairytale? (and really everyone is free to believe what they want, you can't force someone to believe something, you may be able to force them to act like they do, but you can't force them to actually believe anything.)


That's just a hypothetical example. You could switch everything around to you're own point of view. The point is you teach your children simply by being with them.

 

[charityagape]

Exsposing children to religion and "teaching" children religion are two very different things. Religion should never be taught...ever, imo.

Share your beliefs, fine....tell them its "what I believe". Religion should never be introduced to a child as "fact", even if you believe it to be so.

So is religion they only thing parents shouldn't be allowed to teach their children?

Some people will claim I am pushing my beliefs (or lack thereof) on to her by not exposing her more. But I disagree whole-heartedly, by letting her develop at her own rate and not filling her mind with anything, she will be able to understand more later and decide on her own what to believe.

But are you really not filling her mind with anything? Do you keep all discusions of your personal beliefs from her ears? You don't have to be sitting and lecturing to a child, you don't even have to be talking to that child, for you to be teaching them.

 

[Corran]

So is religion they only thing parents shouldn't be allowed to teach their children?

I think the issue here is teaching religion as FACT.
As to what else a parent should not teach theirs children? Simple do not tell teach your kids anything that you cannot prove so they dont form what they consider a FACT on false information.

 

[Crazy Liz]

I think the issue here is teaching religion as FACT.
As to what else a parent should not teach theirs children? Simple do not tell teach your kids anything that you cannot prove so they dont form what they consider a FACT on false information.

Only a very small percentage of what I teach my children is FACT. Teaching them to walk and talk, brush their teeth, sing songs, draw and paint, wear appropriate clothing... None of these are facts.

Beyond this, though, it is an unfortunate fact that most adults in the modern West are themselves unable to distinguish fact from truth. We have all swallowed, to one degree or another, the empirical principle that nothing is true except facts.

If we teach our children nothing but facts, we increase the likelihood that they also will not be able to understand other kinds of truth besides empirical fact. They also will not learn to appreciate beauty, nor will they learn to think abstractly.

I agree that people who teach their children that religion is fact are wrong. I also understand that at some points in a child's cognitive development, they are likely to confuse truth and fact. One of the great things parents get to do is help kids get through these stages and come out the other side with better understandings and improved thinking skills. Often, though, people become adults and are less influenced by their parents by the time they learn these things. This process is a common crisis of early adulthood. I'm glad to have opportunities to help young people other than my children to get through this stage.

I can see why, seeing many young adults go through this stage, one might think teaching children nothing but facts might prevent these crises, but it won't. It happens to people as they grow up. Some young people just get more support through the process from people who understand that it is a process, and for them it is less jarring, disruptive and traumatic.

 

[LittleNipper]

What's decoration day?

It is the original name for Memorial Day.

 

[LittleNipper]

Exsposing children to religion and "teaching" children religion are two very different things. Religion should never be taught...ever, imo.

Share your beliefs, fine....tell them its "what I believe". Religion should never be introduced to a child as "fact", even if you believe it to be so.

Children need to be taught how to think for themselves...not told what to think/believe.

My daugther will not be regularly exposed to organized religion until she is able to make the choice herself....probably at age 7 or 8. But even then she won't be able to understand everything being said, so it will be limited in its exposure.

Some people will claim I am pushing my beliefs (or lack thereof) on to her by not exposing her more. But I disagree whole-heartedly, by letting her develop at her own rate and not filling her mind with anything, she will be able to understand more later and decide on her own what to believe.

Funny, when they had bible reading in public schools, the teacher never said that this IS GOD's WORD and IS absolute truth. What the teacher always said was, "If you have any questions----ask your parents." At least that is exactly what my teachers told me. I guess that wasn't good enought for some atheists and a few sorry excuses for "Christians".

 

[Scell]

So is religion they only thing parents shouldn't be allowed to teach their children?


But are you really not filling her mind with anything? Do you keep all discusions of your personal beliefs from her ears? You don't have to be sitting and lecturing to a child, you don't even have to be talking to that child, for you to be teaching them.

There are many other things in general that shouldn't be taught to a child, by their parent. Racism, sexism, etc. Teaching religion as fact is not allowing them to form their own opinion or belief system.

My daughter is only 4 1/2, and every discussion I've had about my personal beliefs, either with her mother or my fiance, have not been done in her presence.

My fiance and her daughter (6yo) attend church fairly regularly...my ex-wife is a believer but does not attend services. My daughter will be exposed to many options when she is of age to ask questions and understand the answers, and have a say in it.

 

[Scell]

Funny, when they had bible reading in public schools, the teacher never said that this IS GOD's WORD and IS absolute truth. What the teacher always said was, "If you have any questions----ask your parents." At least that is exactly what my teachers told me. I guess that wasn't good enought for some atheists and a few sorry excuses for "Christians".

Where did I mention school??

But since you brought it up...

If teachers present the bible in the same light as Homer's Iliad, or any other book of fiction, than I have no problems with the bible being studied in a English/Literary classroom.

 

[LittleNipper]

Where did I mention school??

But since you brought it up...

If teachers present the bible in the same light as Homer's Iliad, or any other book of fiction, than I have no problems with the bible being studied in a English/Literary classroom.

Homer's Iliad was not the bases for our Republic (U.S.A.); therefore, it is not held in as high esteem. Reading the Bible does not make one religious; however, reading the Bible does encourage the advancement of learning and understanding because the Bible causes one to consider one's purpose, destiny, and accountability. Without these three---education is but a blind boxer (hit & miss).

 

[Garnet2727]

Homer's Iliad was not the bases for our Republic (U.S.A.); therefore, it is not held in as high esteem. Reading the Bible does not make one religious; however, reading the Bible does encourage the advancement of learning and understanding because the Bible causes one to consider one's purpose, destiny, and accountability. Without these three---education is but a blind boxer (hit & miss).

The Bible wasn't the basis of our Republic either. And reading the Bible doesn't necessarily cause any of the things you mentioned.

 

[Scell]

Homer's Iliad was not the bases for our Republic (U.S.A.); therefore, it is not held in as high esteem. Reading the Bible does not make one religious; however, reading the Bible does encourage the advancement of learning and understanding because the Bible causes one to consider one's purpose, destiny, and accountability. Without these three---education is but a blind boxer (hit & miss).

I'm guessing you're saying the bible was the bases for the government of United States??

I'd debate that statement too.
Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin were NOT bible believing xtians.

"The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy."
-George Washington

But I digress...that's not for this thread.

 

[ebia]

Homer's Iliad was not the bases for our Republic (U.S.A.); therefore, it is not held in as high esteem. Reading the Bible does not make one religious; however, reading the Bible does encourage the advancement of learning and understanding because the Bible causes one to consider one's purpose, destiny, and accountability. Without these three---education is but a blind boxer (hit & miss).

You can read the bible and complete miss all those things (beats me how, but some people manage it) and you can teach those things using, say, the Koran, the Illiad or one of any number of other texts.

 

[one love]

I take it that YOU do not celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother's or Father's Day. That is very noble of you or perhaps rather hypocritical....

Nice try, but such an ameteur response attacking me personally will not get you anywhere. Your religion still uses toys, candy, songs, and money to bribe children and corrupt their minds.