How seculars are exploiting the youth

[Zen Badger]

Again, I agree. Again though that is most, not all.

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If atheism were the dominant belief though, the case would be the same I think. Most of the atheists I know, and the majority on this forum I have conversed with, believe that their lack of faith stems from logic and is true. As such, I expect most atheists raise their children teaching them not to "believe in fairy tales" like "God". It's still indoctrination.

I come from a mixed faith background. My mother is catholic and my father is Jewish(he's really an atheist, Jewish is just a title). I went to church when I was a kid every Sunday. I also attended all my cousins bat/barmitzvahs and went to temple. Stopped going in highschool. Still go on Christmas and Easter with my family nowadays. I was agnostic for a few years or so in highschool do to the fact that organized religion made absolutely no sense to me. Eventually, however, through continued introspection and education I came back to the conclusion that I believe in God. The beliefs I have are much deeper than either of my parents (which isn't saying much considering my father is an atheist at heart).

Indoctrination is used on all children by their parents to teach them behavior. "don't chew w/ your mouth open", "be nice to others", "don't hit people". It is through this means that children learn. As they age, however, most of us (not all, and education is undoubtedly the biggest factor) develop a sense of self and decide what is good or bad, right or wrong, on our own. With education the effects of early indoctrination begin to lose hold.

At its heart religion offers a set of moral values to live by. As we mature we either accept or disregard those values; on our own (at least some of us, and at least in America where religious tolerance is paramount.)

Which is why I don't blame religion for anything. I don't blame ideologies. I blame people. I blame parents. I blame failure of America to educate the masses.

(kinda went off on a rant there, I forgot what my point was. I think it's that religion isn't bad, and that religion really has little to do with belief in God as it does with behavior)

I must ask, what sort of god do you believe in?
My opinion after much thought is that even if there is a god(which can't be proven either way) it won't be the god of the Abrahamic religions.
We live in a stunningly vast and largely incomprehensible universe, it follows that an entity responsible for creating such would therefore be similarly vast and incomprehensible.
For humanity to claim understanding of such an entity is hubris in the extreme. Yet religion claims to KNOW THE TRUTH!!!!
Bollocks, none of the religions have any more grasp of truth than anyone else. Less in fact, since science keeps showing most of their "holy" books to be wrong( great flood anyone?).
So, even if there is a god... So what?!
It will neither know or care about you, it can't.
But the people around you do, so you try to live a good life for their sakes. It's all you can do.