RE: Religion as an adult choice
June 13, 2014 at 9:12 am
(This post was last modified: June 13, 2014 at 10:03 am by JesusHChrist.)
(June 13, 2014 at 9:00 am)Holden Caulfield Wrote: I come from a very strict long lineage of french roman catholics (up here in Manitoba being french matters, it's basically a recipe for being staunch religious). However despite my extended family being extremely religious my immediate family (mom and dad with us kids) never attended church or anything religious beyond family events. Both my brother and I became hard atheists. Yet most of my family is strict catholic.
As someone who came up in that atmosphere my philosophy has always been that people deserve their own right to choose what they believe in. However I have NEVER known a SINGLE person that has chosen religion from being agnostic or atheist as an adult that can actually make their own decisions. The only religious people I know were indoctrinated since they were under 2 years old to believe in god. And I've known countless people that have turned away from religion in their teens and as a adult.
So the question I pose is whether is if everyone was raised in a secular environment would religion even exist? I fully believe in people's right to choose, if they want to believe in a god they have that right. IF they choose that as a full developed person. NOT having it shoved down their throats as children.
As with smoking cigarettes, the addiction is almost always formed earlier in life; probably before 15. You don't find many adults taking up smoking nor do you find many adults turning to religion unless there are extenuating circumstances.
My ex and her extended family are all semi-fundy religious types. Without exception, they all got the addiction young and would state it proudly. Most adults who get the addiction had "broken lives" - drug addicts, criminals, alcoholics and whatnot. I've met very, very few adults who didn't get indoctrinated young or weren't of the "broken" sort.
A while back, I was listening to a religious program on the radio (for the comedy value), and they were talking about how important it was to get the youngin' to Come to Christ before 14 or they would be lost forever.
So, as for your question, if religious indoctrination could be delayed (or eliminated) until over 18 (or better yet 21), I would expect far less people to become addicted.
Like Dawkins said, religious indoctrination of the young is a form of child abuse.
