(January 5, 2015 at 4:18 am)robvalue Wrote: I've been obsessed lately with the idea that indoctrination is child abuse. I'm talking about "teaching" young children religious beliefs as fact. I feel strongly that it is. It represents just about every aspect of any other psychological abuse, and quite possibly spilling into physical abuse depending on the severity. What is your opinion please on the following:
1) Do you consider indoctrination to be child abuse? What about taking children to church?
2) If so, would you theoretically support this being made into law? (Disregarding the practicality of enforcing it.) My answer is yes.
On an unrelated topic, I found this video from 2007 of Sam Harris. I wondered what people's opinion is about it. He talks about the possible harm of using the "atheist" label. I can see where he is coming from, and agree with some of the barriers that have been inadvertently thrown up. But I personally think this is outweighed by the effect it has on making it easier for the next atheist to "come out". It may be a moot point now, but I thought it would be interesting to discuss.
http://youtu.be/YvweK4Guph4
1. No. If you start down that path then you will very quickly arrive at 'any ideological indoctrination is abuse so we best keep children clean slates' and the practical upshot of that is we will raise a generation of ineffectual morons... oh wait...
2. Don't be silly, that's the beginning of ideological totalitarianism, it's both vile and abhorrent.
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
