Indoctrinating Children in Religion

[Ravenshire]

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.

Personally, I allowed both my kids to learn and decide for themselves. They've attended various churches as well as hearing from me that "I do not believe in gawd(s)" (not a declaration that there are none). They have determined on there own that they see no reason to believe in gawd(s). One is a self proclaimed atheist, the other a self proclaimed agnostic.

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. If I believe that we need God for our salvation and existence, why would I purposely withhold that from my children?

There are demonstrable reasons for having our children taught a variety of tangible skills (reading, writing, arithmetic) but no tangible evidence that teaching them that a specific gawd (or any gawd at all) provides anything but the illusion of comfort in their lives.

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?

Again, tangible evidence that teaching you kid to look both ways has merit.

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.

Neither of you know anything else. Condoning an unnecessary medical practice performed on someone who cannot give consent is despicable. Doing it to a defenseless child should be considered child abuse.

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.

Good for him. He made a conscious decision to mutilate his own body. So do people who go in for tattoos, branding, scarification, piercing and any other type of body modification. The point is, they were able to and gave consent to the procedure. Hell, in order to get my ear pierced, I had to sign a consent form. I believe it's codified into law here for any type of body mod.

I also made sure my children got their shots, which they didn't appreciate at the time.

Again, something with a tangible evidence showing the advantages of immunization over getting diseases.

Your gawd and your religion have no tangible evidence of providing anything other than a sense of comfort.