(March 26, 2009 at 7:34 pm)padraic Wrote: Baptism is just a ritual ,with no meaning except that ascribed to it by believers.
Yep...that's what I think...
I think it should be allowed for the parents of a child to 'tip water over their head a say a few words' providing they are also told (and old enough to understand) that there is no reason to believe it actually does anything or have any meaning - really it's just a bunch of water and a few words.
How about that?
Children should see both sides if it is to happen I think....
A child shouldn't be brought up to believe that some water and a few words actually DOES something or means something in and of itself!
The only meaning is the meaning given to it by religion - children should also be taught that really its just literally a bunch of water...
It's only fair :p
Kind of loses its meaning then doesn't it? But its better than telling them about Santa Claus too early isn't it? Santa is magic and fun for children - a bunch of water and a few words that are meant to mean something Godly when really its just a load of nonsense - children don't need that crap. They should also be told (and old enough to understand what they are told) that there's no reason to believe it's anything more than water and meaningless religious words!
Children should not be taught false potentially harmful (or at least confusing) religious bullshit without seeing the other side...
Or at least taught the comparison! -Ttaught other religious rituals and realize that they have completely different rituals...so which religion is the right one....?
They all disagree with each other! :S
Heh.
EvF
