The Not-so-elephant In The Room

[robvalue]

I know that "teaching" children about things like hell can easily be psychologically damaging, even in the long term. I consider it as harmful as psychological child abuse.

If you're expecting young children to accept "facts" uncritically, they should be things that they really need to know for their own safety but which they can't fully comprehend yet. They should be things that they later will be able to comprehend, and to understand why you expected them to take your word.

If your religious beliefs are so messed up that you think a child is in danger of chalking up enough "sin" before the age of reason to be bound for hell with no hope of redemption, then I think you're a dangerous person and I wouldn't be comfortable with children being in your care.

If you must impress your religious beliefs as fact upon your children, at least do it at a suitable age for their benefit and not as a cheap parenting shortcut.

I challenge religious parents to own their beliefs when talking to children. "I believe that..." rather than "It is a fact that..." If you're not prepared for a child to ask you "Why do you believe that mummy/daddy?" then maybe that tells you something about your beliefs.