I find it interesting that most atheists I've encountered allow their children to decide for themselves whether or not to believe in a god, join a religion or attend church. Quite simply, they want their children to think and make their own rational decisions.
On the other hand, it's nearly unanimous that believers pound their religion into the heads of their children as soon as the kids can talk. They wouldn't even think of allowing their kids to make a decision like this for themselves. Can you imagine a Catholic parent telling their kids to check out Islam, Judaism or Hinduism and letting them decide which religion to follow? Or to even discard religion if they so desire? Absolutely not! What the parents believe, the kids have to believe!
And they think atheists are "closed minded"!
At least the Amish allow their kids to decide if they want to join the church once they become of age. However, the kids are almost exclusively exposed to the beliefs of their parents, which doesn't give them much in the way of being exposed to other viewpoints. And there is the societal pressure to join the church. So, although the kids do get to choose, I don't know that they really have much of a choice.
On the other hand, it's nearly unanimous that believers pound their religion into the heads of their children as soon as the kids can talk. They wouldn't even think of allowing their kids to make a decision like this for themselves. Can you imagine a Catholic parent telling their kids to check out Islam, Judaism or Hinduism and letting them decide which religion to follow? Or to even discard religion if they so desire? Absolutely not! What the parents believe, the kids have to believe!
And they think atheists are "closed minded"!
At least the Amish allow their kids to decide if they want to join the church once they become of age. However, the kids are almost exclusively exposed to the beliefs of their parents, which doesn't give them much in the way of being exposed to other viewpoints. And there is the societal pressure to join the church. So, although the kids do get to choose, I don't know that they really have much of a choice.
Science flies us to the moon and stars. Religion flies us into buildings.
God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
