brainwashing children

I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.flavort

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Most Christians I know were forced to believe in God, instead of the parents letting them make their own decisionConManWithGun

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.dante_123456

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

[QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.flavort

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

Anything a parent does/believes in will "brainwash" their children. It's just a fact: children mimic the actions and beliefs of their parents. If a child's parents are Christian, the child will most likely pick up the beliefs, just as Hindu parents would influence a child to have Hindu beliefs.

The ultimate evidence of the lack of "brainwashing" by Christian parents is the large number of athiests on this board who were raised Christian.

[QUOTE="flavort"][QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.Denjin_hadouken

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

How do you force somebody to believe something? It is impossible.

[QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.flavort

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

no, teaching is better than not saying anything, teaching means the kid is informed, and the child should know about religion, and also know about evolution, and science so they can make an unbiased decision on of they a ctually believe in God. but as Denji_hadouken said, forcing someone to believe in something is.

Anything a parent does/believes in will "brainwash" their children. It's just a fact: children mimic the actions and beliefs of their parents. If a child's parents are Christian, the child will most likely pick up the beliefs, just as Hindu parents would influence a child to have Hindu beliefs.

The ultimate evidence of the lack of "brainwashing" by Christian parents is the large number of athiests on this board who were raised Christian.

ElZilcho90

Well, let me see if I consider these two things analagous:

- Through repetition, teaching your kids to believe in something solely because some book full of unsubstantiated claims says it is so.

- Through repetition, teaching your kids to believe only in things which have been verified by many sources - sources who can provide reasonable evidence for their findings.

Now, I am far from a historical scholar, but I think you should do some serious reading into the history of the Bible (and from historians, not Christian "believers" looking only to validate their beliefs), particularly the 4 main "Gospels" of the New Testament, and then decide what you think about the validity of the Bible.

I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.flavort

So, if I take that argument at face value without interpretation, then I should be able to prevent my kids from receiving any education at all, if I so choose? Should I then also be able to lock them up in the house and never let them outside until they are 18? Where do you draw that line exactly?

[QUOTE="flavort"][QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.dante_123456

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

no, teaching is better than not saying anything, teaching means the kid is informed, and the child should know about religion, and also know about evolution, and science so they can make an unbiased decision on of they a ctually believe in God. but as Denji_hadouken said, forcing someone to believe in something is.

But if you teach your children things, you have been selective in what you chose to teach, therefore whatever the child learns and forms an opinion with is in fact biased. There are many people that would say you are brainswashing a child if you teach them about evolution. Creepy.

Well, let me see if I consider these two things analagous:

- Through repetition, teaching your kids to believe in something solely because some book full of unsubstantiated claims says it is so.

- Through repetition, teaching your kids to believe only in things which have been verified by many sources - sources who can provide reasonable evidence for their findings.

Now, I am far from a historical scholar, but I think you should do some serious reading into the history of the Bible (and from historians, not Christian "believers" looking only to validate their beliefs), particularly the 4 main "Gospels" of the New Testament, and then decide what you think about the validity of the Bible.

[QUOTE="flavort"]I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.SpaceMoose

So, if I take that argument at face value without interpretation, then I should be able to prevent my kids from receiving any education at all, if I so choose? Should I then also be able to lock them up in the house and never let them outside until they are 18? Where do you draw that line exactly?

I was taught a lotevidence against God and finally came to the conclusion that it was wrong. People are going to get all types of information from many sources but teaching your kid what you believe in is not wrong. Nobody has been able to prove on side or the other so why is their a problem either way.

I was taught a lotevidence against God and finally came to the conclusion that it was wrong. People are going to get all types of information from many sources but teaching your kid what you believe in is not wrong. Nobody has been able to prove on side or the other so why is their a problem either way.

flavort

You cannot prove that something does not exist, so if I am going to believe in one thing without evidence, I might as well believe in everything that anyone's imagination could conjure up.

Anyway, you say that you "came to the conclusion that it was wrong," but you don't say how. Also, that does not answer my question about where to draw the line about how much control parents should have over their kids, which is a tough question to be sure. Your parents may have been somewhat open minded and raised you to "make your own decisions about God," but as we all know, there are lots of crazies in the world.

I'm sure that most people don't do it on purpose but most kids are usually forced to be the same religion. One of my friends has really strict Christian parents and he has 2 twin sisters in college who became atheists and their parents pretty much disowned them, isn't Christianity supposed to be the religion of love? Anyways, my dad and sister don't care about religion but I think they believe in god. My mom is kind of religious but she's never pushed it on me at all. I believed in god up until I was about 12 when I started realizing how crazy christianity was (no offense, I just cannot understand how anyone could believe it) and became an atheist.

Edit: I think there's a possibility of a god (even though I don't believe in it), just not the who bible-walking on water-getting told to eat from a tree from a snake-deal.

I am having trouble reconciling these two statements:

My parents took me to sunday school while they went to church.

...

I was taught a lotevidence against God and finally came to the conclusion that it was wrong.

flavort

By the second one, should I assume you mean in school? I don't know what to make of that.

If that is the case, do you not think that the reason that you "came to the conclusion that it was wrong," is indeed the fact that your parents took you to Sunday school while they went to church?

[QUOTE="flavort"]

I was taught a lotevidence against God and finally came to the conclusion that it was wrong. People are going to get all types of information from many sources but teaching your kid what you believe in is not wrong. Nobody has been able to prove on side or the other so why is their a problem either way.

SpaceMoose

You cannot prove that something does not exist, so if I am going to believe in one thing without evidence, I might as well believe in everything that anyone's imagination could conjure up.

Anyway, you say that you "came to the conclusion that it was wrong," but you don't say how. Also, that does not answer my question about where to draw the line about how much control parents should have over their kids, which is a tough question to be sure. Your parents may have been somewhat open minded and raised you to "make your own decisions about God," but as we all know, there are lots of crazies in the world.

That is the thing about God. You cannot physically prove it. Having faith is where thestrength of it comes from. You cannot prove how everything was created so how do you believe everything was created? I came to the conclusion that the evidence against God was wrong by unanswered questions and lack of evidence. That was just part of it. I had some issues in life and was told to pray about it. Not to God but just to pray. I did and things started to change for me. You can say it was psychological but I dont believe so. I began to changeand startedpraying to God and having faith in Him. I had more faith in His decisions for me rather than mine and my life just changed soooo much. I dont expect you to accept this, but that the real short version.

How do you force somebody to believe something? It is impossible.

flavort

Well, I kind of hate to diverge this far off topic, but ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome?

I am having trouble reconciling these two statements:

[quote="flavort"]

My parents took me to sunday school while they went to church.

...

I was taught a lotevidence against God and finally came to the conclusion that it was wrong.

SpaceMoose

By the second one, should I assume you mean in school? I don't know what to make of that.

If that is the case, do you not think that the reason that you "came to the conclusion that it was wrong," is indeed the fact that your parents took you to Sunday school while they went to church?

I did not learn about religion in sunday school actually. It was more of a daycare thing where we did arts and crafts. I was a athiest most of my life.

[QUOTE="Denjin_hadouken"][QUOTE="flavort"][QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.flavort

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

How do you force somebody to believe something? It is impossible.

You can force them to practice an ideology or religion, which is really what we should all be against.

[QUOTE="flavort"]

How do you force somebody to believe something? It is impossible.

SpaceMoose

Well, I kind of hate to diverge this far off topic, but ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome?

sure but what does that have to do with anything? That is not a forceful change.

[QUOTE="flavort"][QUOTE="Denjin_hadouken"][QUOTE="flavort"][QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.The_Ish

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

How do you force somebody to believe something? It is impossible.

You can force them to practice an ideology or religion, which is really what we should all be against.

I did and things started to change for me. You can say it was psychological but I dont believe so. I began to changeand startedpraying to God and having faith in Him. I had more faith in His decisions for me rather than mine and my life just changed soooo much. I dont expect you to accept this, but that the real short version.

flavort

Acecdotal. For every story like yours, there is one about some little child from a devoutly religious family whose mutilated body is found in some hastily dug grave somewhere, or "the nicest fellow you ever met" getting struck down with some terrible and drawn-out illness.

Then I get to listen to people try to rationalize this with trite little sayings like "Everything happens for a reason," or "The Lord works in mysterious ways," by trying to find the one good consquence of generally crappy events, which makes little sense to me.

sure but what does that have to do with anything? That is not a forceful change.

flavort

Being held captive isn't forceful?

I did not learn about religion in sunday school actually. It was more of a daycare thing where we did arts and crafts. I was a athiest most of my life.

flavort

Okay, but how is that your parents went to church and yet you were "taught a lot (of) evidence against God?" Certainly arts and crafts are not evidence against God. :lol:

You cannot prove how everything was created so how do you believe everything was created?

flavort

When you tell me how you believe God was created, you will probably have your answer. Just replace "God" with "everything."

[QUOTE="flavort"]

sure but what does that have to do with anything? That is not a forceful change.

SpaceMoose

Being held captive isn't forceful?

it is, but the syndrome is about an emotional change in favor of the bank robbers they were not forced to become attached to those people. They defended these people and were honest about it because of their attachmentto them not because they were forced to..

[QUOTE="flavort"]

You cannot prove how everything was created so how do you believe everything was created?

SpaceMoose

When you tell me how you believe God was created, you will probably have your answer. Just replace "God" with "everything."

it is, but the syndrome is about an emotional change in favor of the bank robbers they were not forced to become attached to those people. They defended these people and were honest about it because of their attachmentto them not because they were forced to..

flavort

Well, the case after which the syndrome was originally named is far from the only instance of it. Regardless of whether it was the intention of the captors in these various cases for their captives to start to relate to them, they did indeed force them to merely by holding them captive. Point being that you can force people to think in different ways; in some cases those ways don't even have to be what you intend.

I would go so far as to say that the entire advertising industry is meant to compel people to do things that they otherwise would not, but the concept of "forcing" people to believe something is clearly a subjective term.

[QUOTE="SpaceMoose"][QUOTE="flavort"]

You cannot prove how everything was created so how do you believe everything was created?

flavort

When you tell me how you believe God was created, you will probably have your answer. Just replace "God" with "everything."

Nor can religion. It is, after all, faith.

[QUOTE="flavort"]

it is, but the syndrome is about an emotional change in favor of the bank robbers they were not forced to become attached to those people. They defended these people and were honest about it because of their attachmentto them not because they were forced to..

SpaceMoose

Well, the case after which the syndrome was originally named is far from the only instance of it. Regardless of whether it was the intention of the captors in these various cases for their captives to start to relate to them, they did indeed force them to merely by holding them captive. Point being that you can force people to think in different ways; in some cases those ways don't even have to be what you intend.

I would go so far as to say that the entire advertising industry is meant to compel people to do things that they otherwise would not, but the concept of "forcing" people to believe something is clearly a subjective term.

I disagree, They forced them to be hostages only.

flavort

Then we have a fundamental disagreement about the rules of psychology.

[QUOTE="flavort"]

I did and things started to change for me. You can say it was psychological but I dont believe so. I began to changeand startedpraying to God and having faith in Him. I had more faith in His decisions for me rather than mine and my life just changed soooo much. I dont expect you to accept this, but that the real short version.

SpaceMoose

Acecdotal. For every story like yours, there is one about some little child from a devoutly religious family whose mutilated body is found in some hastily dug grave somewhere, or "the nicest fellow you ever met" getting struck down with some terrible and drawn-out illness.

Then I get to listen to people try to rationalize this with trite little sayings like "Everything happens for a reason," or "The Lord works in mysterious ways," by trying to find the one good consquence of generally crappy events, which makes little sense to me.

That is very far fetched statement about the serial killer.What makes little sense to you may make absolute sense to others though. I believe things happen for a reason and I want to learn from them for the better and not just accept the worst.

[QUOTE="flavort"]

I disagree, They forced them to be hostages only.

SpaceMoose

Then we have a fundamental disagreement about the rules of psychology.

Ill grow my kids up letting them think what they want.

i went to a christian first/middle school but im not a christian, id send my kids too it was a great school.

I'm not going to tell my children whether or not God exists, but that doesn't mean I'll give them two cents. I just hope that if they become Christian, they don't do it because I'm Christian, but they do it because they sincerely believe there's God and that salvation comes through Christ. If they don't believe that, then they can be agnostic for that matter, or some other religion if they sincerely feel they can find salvation or some peace through a different way. I may disagree with them, but it's their life really.

I just don't want them to accept something as fact when deep in their minds they realize it's not.

[QUOTE="Denjin_hadouken"][QUOTE="flavort"][QUOTE="dante_123456"]

[QUOTE="flavort"]I have heard a lot people say that Christians brainwash their kids. If that is so then I would imagine telling your kids God does not exist is brainwashing. What do you think? If you think it is brainwashing to raise a kid that way, then what is the solution? Should you not say anything? What if they ask questions? I believe you should raise them how you want them to be raised, they are your kids.flavort

theres one flaw with that statement; some people are absolute idiots. I think people should raise their kids so the kids can make some of their own decisions about religion, and that sort of thing, and if the child asks a question, explain to them that some people believe in religion, and god, and some people believe in science, and give them the information to believe what they want to believe, not what you want them to believe. they may be your kids, but they're still human beings.

Does teachinga religion to a kid mean that it is brainwashing?

How do you force somebody to believe something? It is impossible.

[QUOTE="SpaceMoose"][QUOTE="flavort"]

You cannot prove how everything was created so how do you believe everything was created?

flavort

When you tell me how you believe God was created, you will probably have your answer. Just replace "God" with "everything."

I consider any parent who consideres their children are christian are brainwashing them. They are children of christian parents, no christian children. This is the same for any religious affiliation.

Children should have the right to decide for themselves who or what to believe in, not their parents. Of course, many are never given that choice... I grew up with Catholic parents. Well, they weren't all that religious. Thus they never imposed religion on me. And I am quite thankful of that. Recently I have made my own objective decision on religion. I don't like it.