(March 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm)Lek Wrote: We all indoctrinate our children with our beliefs. Many atheists have stated in this forum that they wouldn't allow their children to be exposed to christianiy or other religions. Kids are being told by parents all the time that there is no God.
That is all nice and great, but telling children that there is no god isn't nearly as harmful as telling them that there is one who is sending them to hell for their nature.
(March 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm)Lek Wrote: We also send our kids to school whether they want to go or not. Most kids, if given the choice, would choose not to go.
Not indoctrination.
indoctrinate
verb in·doc·tri·nate \in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt\
: to teach (someone) to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group and to not consider other ideas, opinions, and beliefs
(March 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm)Lek Wrote: If I believe that we need God for our salvation and existence, why would I purposely withhold that from my children?
By ensuring their happiness in a very dubious afterlife, there's a chance you're ruining the life they actually have.
Also, why don't you teach them all religions? After all, yours might be wrong. What about their salvation then?
(March 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm)Lek Wrote: Do you think I'm not going to tell my children to look both ways before crossing the street, but rather let them learn that for themselves or wait until they are sixteen?
You can't possibly compare drilling ideas into children's heads to teaching them behaviors necessary for their well-being. That's ridiculous.
(March 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm)Lek Wrote: As for circumcision, I was circumcised and I had my son circumcised. We're both very happy about it. As far as I know, my brothers are all fine with it too. A friend of mine in the military had it done to him in his twenties, and he wished he had it done as a baby.
That's great -- for you and your kid. But what about those who regret it?
Don't you think it's a tad immoral to mutilate a baby's genitals?
Is it necessary to go to heaven?
(March 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm)Lek Wrote: I also made sure my children got their shots, which they didn't appreciate at the time.
Not indoctrination. Also, as above, you can't possibly compare bringing them up in a religion to a medical procedure.
