Teaching our Children.

[LittleNipper]

I know of no child who died because of the Bible reading. I am sure there were children killed by those who wished to prevent that act.

 

[Talmidah]

It is the parent's choice to expose their children to religion, I could careless. I think the real issue is that children shouldn't be exposed to any religion by the school. Not at school. If another child exposes my atheist child to religion, I don't care. But if a teacher does, then I have a problem with it.

I agree with this. We have chosen to send our children to a private school within our religion. So everything they learn there is what we believe also. But, if we had to send our children to public school, there should be no endoresement of religion, ours or anyone elses. Like thirstforknowledge says, if my kids were talking with other kids and each one talking about their religion (or lack thereof), that's fine. But not initiated by school personnel.

 

[one love]

If christian parents don't teach their kids christianity with the aid of christmas and easter, there would not be as many christians. Christians bribe the young. This only corrupts the next generation which will eventually run the government and business, and thanks to their parents, they are predisposed to taking bribes. How unfortunate the Christian ways truly are when scene by my view, your god.

 

[LittleNipper]

If christian parents don't teach their kids christianity with the aid of christmas and easter, there would not be as many christians. Christians bribe the young. This only corrupts the next generation which will eventually run the government and business, and thanks to their parents, they are predisposed to taking bribes. How unfortunate the Christian ways truly are when scene by my view, your god.

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....

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

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....

How are any of those days Christian in nature? Thanksgiving? Huh? Christmas and Easter are pagan hollidays. Mother's and Father's day? Why do I have to be religious to have a day dedicated to my parents?

 

[Garnet2727]

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?

Parents should be able to teach their children about their beliefs as long as they are not destructive or abusive. I don't see how a parent can separate themselves from their beliefs and I don't think it would be a good idea to try.

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

Good question. However, I think that there are many things that most of us can agree should not be taught to children. For example, rearing a child to go out and rob banks.

Should they be state mandated?

Teaching beliefs by parents to be mandated or controlled? No. Only in the exception that as a society we should not allow children to be abused. But as others in this thread have discussed, that can be a danged fine line while other instances, such as sexual abuse, are rather obvious.

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?

Well, this atheist thinks that children should be exposed to religions in school. I see it as a lack in American education that children are not routinely taught a comparative religions course where at least the big three are taught in an objective manner. I would also like to see courses available about Buddhism, Hinduism and native American religions.

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.)

No. To me that would be the equivalent of being raised in a sterile bubble. What I don't approve of is forcing children to adhere to a particular religion on public school time.

 

[LittleNipper]

How are any of those days Christian in nature? Thanksgiving? Huh? Christmas and Easter are pagan hollidays. Mother's and Father's day? Why do I have to be religious to have a day dedicated to my parents?

Well, the only reason I celebrate them is due entirely to their Christian connection and has absolutely nothing to due with what some dig up as pagan origins. The fact that you even heard of Chriatmas and Easter has more to do with Christianity and not witchcraft. Mother's Day was started by a Christian woman as a way her church could honor the faith of mothers both still living and those who had passed on. That is the whole symbolism behind pink and white carnations. I would not celebrate Darwin day in any way. Easter is my earth day. The point is that you presently enjoy these Holidays because of what CHRISTIANS made of them or they would likely not exist, at least not short of a day to eat and get drunk.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

at least not short of a day to eat and get drunk.

Which is all those days really are to me. ;-)

 

[Crazy Liz]

I agree with this. We have chosen to send our children to a private school within our religion. So everything they learn there is what we believe also. But, if we had to send our children to public school, there should be no endoresement of religion, ours or anyone elses. Like thirstforknowledge says, if my kids were talking with other kids and each one talking about their religion (or lack thereof), that's fine. But not initiated by school personnel.

I've heard Christian parents say the same thing, but I always felt I had to be more watchful when my kids attended Christian school than when they attended public school. I feel that no matter where I send my kids to school, everything they learn there will not be what I believe also. But at public school, my kids will more easily recognize that there are different views and we don't agree with everything. The danger of religious schools (at least IMHO for my family) is that there is a greater danger there that the kids will THINK we also believe everything they are taught there.

In our house, Sunday dinner is often an exercise in critical thinking. My kids know from an early age that not even at church do their parents endorse and believe everything they may be taught.

My family taught me critical thinking, and even discussed theology at home, sometimes disagreeing with people at church or school (during the years some of us went to private school) but still there were some things they never commented on, and I never realized until I was much older that I could have applied critical thinking to these things, too.

The most extreme parents I know homeschool their kids so they won't be exposed to things they don't believe. I think it's MUCH wiser to expose them to a variety of things and teach them critical thinking.

 

[charityagape]

The most extreme parents I know homeschool their kids so they won't be exposed to things they don't believe. I think it's MUCH wiser to expose them to a variety of things and teach them critical thinking.

Homeschooling can also be a great way to expose children to a wider variety of things than they would get at public school, while being present to explain them. It all depends on what your purpose is in homeschooling.

 

[Crazy Liz]

Homeschooling can also be a great way to expose children to a wider variety of things than they would get at public school, while being present to explain them. It all depends on what your purpose is in homeschooling.

I'm sure that's also true.

 

[Phred]

Before I put a lot of thought into this... who exactly says we shouldn't be allowed to expose our children to religion and what was the context?

 

[Talmidah]

I've heard Christian parents say the same thing, but I always felt I had to be more watchful when my kids attended Christian school than when they attended public school. I feel that no matter where I send my kids to school, everything they learn there will not be what I believe also. But at public school, my kids will more easily recognize that there are different views and we don't agree with everything. The danger of religious schools (at least IMHO for my family) is that there is a greater danger there that the kids will THINK we also believe everything they are taught there.

In our house, Sunday dinner is often an exercise in critical thinking. My kids know from an early age that not even at church do their parents endorse and believe everything they may be taught.

My family taught me critical thinking, and even discussed theology at home, sometimes disagreeing with people at church or school (during the years some of us went to private school) but still there were some things they never commented on, and I never realized until I was much older that I could have applied critical thinking to these things, too.

The most extreme parents I know homeschool their kids so they won't be exposed to things they don't believe. I think it's MUCH wiser to expose them to a variety of things and teach them critical thinking.

I see what you are saying. I do feel comfortable with this particular school because I am very involved with the school, volunteer in the classes 3 days a week, am friends with the teachers, etc. And yes, there are some differences between what we practice and what is taught and we definitely discuss these with the children. But, for us, between our home observances, synagogue, and Jewish day school, the children are immersed in the same basic beliefs. But one thing I have noticed that is different from many Christian families I know is that critical thinking is very much stressed in Jewish education, way more than in Christian. Again, I know this is not true across the board, but is something I have definitely noticed.



We used to homeschool our children and it was a great experience. However, I wanted them to have a wider variety of experiences, both social and academic, so I totally understand you there also. But if there came a time that we couldn’t have them private school, I’d rather homeschool again than send them to public school.

 

[feral]

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.)

Unless we want to break out the incubators and start hatching out bottled children like in Huxley's "Brave New World", we have to accept that children will be exposed to a variety of ideas, opportunities and experiences in their lifetime. For many, that means at least a cursory introduction to the family's faith. It doesn't seem possible for a child to grow up with no awareness of the religious beliefs and practises of their parents, even if they don't adopt the faith themselves. A lot of people find it really important to teach their children about their beliefs and encourage them to develop religious beliefs of their own; introducing kids to the faith is usually considered important in most religions, and downright mandatory in others. Asking people to keep their religion quiet and not share what they consider an extremely important part of their lives with their kids is cruel, I think. Obviously, I don't think religion should be forced on kids -- they'll need to eventually decide for themselves what they believe and force will usually backfire -- but giving kids some knowledge about a religion seems the best way to help them start to understand the decision they will someday make. I don't see why parents shouldn't be able to read the Qur'an or the Bible to their children, take them to Temple or the Mosque, invite them on retreats and celebrations, etc. Such experiences can be valuable even if the children decide to practise a different religion or none at all.

Usually, when someone says children should be protected from religion, that person has had an extremely negative, traumatic experience themselves. I can understand the concern, and I think we all can, because we all confront people whose outlooks seem shocking or dangerous to us, and it's frightening to imagine children growing up hearing ideas we are so opposed to. I do think there is a big difference between teaching a child about a faith and forcing them into the religion. Brainwashing -- not allowing the child to question or make some decisions for themselves -- is dangerous, and of course if the practises of the religion are physically or mentally harmful for the child I think that needs to be stopped, but enrolling a kid in Sunday school, reading religious based stories to them or having regular times to let them ask questions about their faith isn't harmful, provided it isn't forced.

 

[LittleNipper]

Which is all those days really are to me. ;-)

Well, I do not get drunk (any more) and I would not intentionally use another's holiday celebration to do it...

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Well, I do not get drunk (any more) and I would not intentionally use another's holiday celebration do it...

I am a Pagan, somewhat, so Christmas and Easter are my holidays. There is nothing "Christian" about the other three. In fact, father's day and mother's day aren't religious at all.

 

[charityagape]

Before I put a lot of thought into this... who exactly says we shouldn't be allowed to expose our children to religion and what was the context?

Here you go Phred. Originally from the Age of Consent Thread. Originally posted by Spinrad.

I am fine with making it 18 across the board as far as sex with a legal adult goes. This is not to keep adults from having sex with "kids" but to keep "kids" from being manipulated by adults. I think every classroom should have two teachers as well, for the same reason. I don't believe children should be exposed to religeon until adulthood for the same reason. I don't care when they start having sex or whatever. I care more about their ability to stand up for themselves intellectually.

In fact, strike 18. Until we reform the education system I would raise all adult priveledges to 21. Voting, drinking, religeon, sex with adults - all of it.

People forget that being an "adult" in a modern society is a lot more complex than it was when most of our laws were written. What's worse, the tougher it becomes to stay intellectually relevant as a citizen, the harder we make it for our children to develope the mental skills necessary for a democracy to function correctly. Instead of teaching them how to think we teach them what to think. This is why I would like to see religeon become an adult based activity, like gambling, free sex or soldiery.

These are the original posts that prompted the OP. I highlighted in red the parts that struck me.

 

[LittleNipper]

I am a Pagan, somewhat, so Christmas and Easter are my holidays. There is nothing "Christian" about the other three. In fact, father's day and mother's day aren't religious at all.

What holidays were started by atheists? Are there any? Christmas is Christ's MASS and Easter I usually call Resurrection Sunday. The reason DECORATION Day and Mother's Day exist is because a Christian cared enough and other's thought it a good idea.

 

[charityagape]

What's decoration day?

 

[Scell]

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.