Atheism and Anti-Theism same thing?

[Ivan Denisovich]

I'm not going to lie, I laughed reading this. Overdramatic much? Honestly, indoctrinating children into believing a religion is no different than indoctrinating them to be Republican or Democrat (assuming we're talking about your average Christian family who goes to church once a week but otherwise doesn't do much religious activity.)

Do parents really indoctrinate children into being Republican or Democrat? If so neither of these things should be done, though sadly we can't do much about this. Also I would say there is a difference as being Democrat or Republican is about real world issues even if distorted by bias, religion is just selling cure to imaginary illness.

Also, I was one of those children - I'm not upset about it at all. My mother is Catholic, I was raised Catholic. We went to church every Sunday, I attended religion school to prepare me for communion and confirmation. I hated going to it, but I didn't hate it because "AGH I'M IN AN ANTI-INTELLECTUAL PRISON FUCK THIS RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION!!" I hated it in the same way I hated going to school. Otherwise it didn't bother me much. And then when I reached a certain age I decided I didn't believe any of it and that was that. Not a big deal in my opinion.

I too was one of those children and I'm upset about this as I value my freedom highly and I do not appreciate it being taken away from me. I managed to throw of shackles of indoctrination but it would be better if I weren't forced to do this in the first place.

You not being upset does not mean much. Others could be. Regardless they are still robbed of freedom to choice, or if not robbed then manipulated to choose one true way.

I cannot understand how an institution like religion can cause so much harm to society when its core belief is to help.

I doubt that it's core belief is to help. Maybe help clergy in grabbing more money and power. And I would say that this wanting to help is main issue as not everyone need such help, which religion with it's pretensions is incapable of understanding. Also greatest crimes were made in name of aiding, i.e. helping Volk in taking lebensraum or world proletariat in throwing shackles of bourgeois. Religion with it's soul saving service also have much to answer for.