Is exposing young children to religion a form of child abuse?

by Giordano 18 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  cult classic

  It is unhealthy to impose religion on children. However, I do think it's important to expose children to religion and its effects on the individual and society. This along with their continuing education in social studies and critical thinking skills will prepare them to make a healthy personal decision once they reach adulthood. Then let them decide which religious path (if any) they will choose.

  The problem IMO with children being "taught" religion when young is that usually its purpose is to indoctrinate the child with the religious beliefs of the parent/family/culture of origin. This makes it easy to manipulate the child into being the man/woman others have decided they should be.
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  journey-on

  JW parents ease their conscience about forcing this cultish religion down the throats of their children by quoting the scripture in Deut. 6: 7: "....and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up." There is also another one that says something like, 'train up a boy in the way he should go, and when he grows old will not turn aside from it.' So they feel a biblical obligation to train (as in like a dog ;-) their children which is a rigorous and continuous process.
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  Markfromcali

  What's that Marvin Gaye song, Piece of Clay? Imposing is a good way to put it, but that's really what a lot of parenting end up being anyway. Isn't it true that there's a lot of "because I said so" type of authoritarian justification? Of course it has to be age appropriate since they just don't know any better earlier on, but it's good to get that there's this first layer independent of religious affiliation. Obviously if you also have this kind of direct vertical integration by anything outside of the family then it's even worse.
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  miseryloveselders

  JW parents ease their conscience about forcing this cultish religion down the throats of their children by quoting the scripture in Deut. 6: 7: "....and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up." There is also another one that says something like, 'train up a boy in the way he should go, and when he grows old will not turn aside from it.' So they feel a biblical obligation to train (as in like a dog ;-) their children which is a rigorous and continuous process.

  Good point. You know I would agree with the WT's use of this verse in the context of basic morals. In the context of all that unscriptural nonsense that the WT states is necessary for salvation though, this verse is used to support mental abuse and slavery. Inculcate the boy to recognize the GB as his master and only hope for salvation. Inculcate the boy to view facial hair as the determining factor regarding a person's spiritual maturity. Inculcate the boy to regard goals not including the GB, as unworthy. Inculcate the boy to view all nonJWs as future bird food. Inculcate the boy to fear God and worship God out of fear, but label it love. On and on and on.
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  sabastious

  We're SUPPOSED to indoctrinate our children, but with decent fundamental values. Grey areas are not supposed to be slipped into the "fundamental" pile. That's when it becomes abuse.

  -Sab
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  leavingwt

  First Amendment anyone?

  The First Amendment allows individuals the freedom to do very destructive (legal) things. As such, it is quite appropriate that people speak out against what they consider to be hurtful. Example: Joining the JWs. Perfectly legal, and yet, positively an awful idea.
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  Markfromcali

  Well it's interesting to point out the word fundamental there, that is, fundamentalism in context of religion. I think a lot of it stems from a lack of psychological awareness in human development, I mean it's not as if we're used to seeing people that are very knowledgeable about that even in the mainstream and there are many stages in a childs development that gradually moves toward individuation and independence, including what values they may want to have for themselves when they become responsible enough. Furthermore if you insist that there is only one possible set of good values (not to mention anything beyond value driven consciousness) then even if you are not interested in religion at all you will be indoctrinating your child in a black and white, fundamentalist way - so I think it's important to recognize that psychological dynamic apart from religion.
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  caliber

  It's all in the use of words and their application to the child...." exposing to" sounds very different than "indoctrination" as others

  have pointed out. Those who have not "influenced" their child's understanding of the world and life have done nothing

  with their child (in my opinion ).

  Remember.. "actions speak louder than words" and " Ironically, making a statement with words is the least effective method." ~Grey Livingston
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  Markfromcali

  Well put it this way, is the parental figure a role model in terms of qualities like critical thinking and responsibility, and someone that encourages such? Or is it about telling kids what to think rather than how to think and live?