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At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
#51
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
That's around the time we begin to develop a sense of independent agency (among other things..lol). I think it even gets placed one year earlier, doesn't it? 11-14.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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#52
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
(May 24, 2022 at 12:10 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote:
(May 8, 2022 at 2:34 pm)h311inac311 Wrote: After they turn 12, but do so in an open and inquisitive way. They have to realize that they are free to be intellectually independent and that moral responsibility is more important than belief.

I find 12-14 an interesting age. Anecdotally I've noticed that most people who either leave religion or join religion do so at that period.

As a mom I can say that 12-14 year old boys are interesting and fun to be around while girls that age are a trial.  I have one son and two daughters...it's a miracle I made it through the girls teen years to actually get my son to that age.   Hehe
  
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” — Confucius
                                      
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#53
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
Okay, I will give a serious answer. Children should learn age-appropriate content about religion the same way they should learn about sex. Learning that STDs will ruin your life comes before discovering Tantric bliss techiques. Being taught scary bible stories came long before exposure to nuanced theological speculations.

(At least that's how it happened for me...which of course means that it seems normal and natural to me projecting that on to the world.) :-)
<insert profound quote here>
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#54
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
Honestly, it depends on what "to introduce" means.

If you mean "to introduce" as in "to be indoctrinated", at no age is that appropriate imo.

If it means to is to talk about it for knowledge and educational purposes, then it depends on the maturity of the child. It would be appropriate when the child turns 11 or 12 (on average) to introduce this knowledge to them with an open mind and to have them ask questions about it.
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#55
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
(May 24, 2022 at 11:59 pm)Bruce Wayne Wrote: Honestly, it depends on what "to introduce" means.

"Daddy, what's that building you go to every Sunday morning?"
"Sorry, Timmy, I can't answer that question until you're 12 years old."

"Mommy, what's that pendant you wear around your neck?" 
"This is not for you to know until you reach the age of reason. Ask again then."
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#56
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
At what age should children be introduced to other mythology?
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#57
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
Kids are introduced to mythology even earlier. Religion is a bit more complicated than what we’d expect a younger child to comprehend. That’s the utility of myths and fables and ghost stories in the first place.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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#58
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
(May 25, 2022 at 3:31 am)Belacqua Wrote:
(May 24, 2022 at 11:59 pm)Bruce Wayne Wrote: Honestly, it depends on what "to introduce" means.

"Daddy, what's that building you go to every Sunday morning?"
"Sorry, Timmy, I can't answer that question until you're 12 years old."

"Mommy, what's that pendant you wear around your neck?" 
"This is not for you to know until you reach the age of reason. Ask again then."

Could you elaborate on how this relates to Bruce's post, particularly given that Bruce was kind enough to elaborate on what was meant by 'introduce', which you omitted?
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
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#59
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
(May 25, 2022 at 3:31 am)Belacqua Wrote:
(May 24, 2022 at 11:59 pm)Bruce Wayne Wrote: Honestly, it depends on what "to introduce" means.

"Daddy, what's that building you go to every Sunday morning?"
"Sorry, Timmy, I can't answer that question until you're 12 years old."

"Mommy, what's that pendant you wear around your neck?" 
"This is not for you to know until you reach the age of reason. Ask again then."

When kids start asking questions, it's the time to answer them in a way appropriate to their age and level of understanding.

I remember having my first communion and really not having a damn clue what was going on...I was six, and was parroting what I had been taught.

For confirmation, I didn't know much more other than...this is what we do.

I think for the RCC those ages are a little higher now but I don't know how much the kids really understand what they are doing other than going through the paces.
  
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” — Confucius
                                      
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#60
RE: At what age should a child be introduced to religion?
-even the hypothetical answers to the above are entirely unlikely to yield a description of religion. More a flat statement of faith.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Reply



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