A Modest Request (Religion as child abuse?)

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And in what ways are Religious Extremists different from other extremists [outside the obvious]?

The question is, when does a belief count as 'inherently problematic'; or when does it cross the line into extremism? Who decides, and on what basis?

(@alone - There's much more to faith/religion than just a means of instilling and maintaining discipline.)

I don't know how a religious person could not influence their children. When the adult goes to their house of worship, the child would probably be going with them. To leave the child home alone would be neglectful to legal standards. Getting a babysitter is often impractical. If there are rituals and prayers in the home, the child is going to pick up on it. Children have a knack for picking up everything.... including the things you try to be discreet about.

I live in the USA, as opposed to the Middle East like some of my family, because there is a separation of church and state here. I have the freedom to raise my child as I please (which includes not forcing religion into every aspect of their life).

With that said, I attend a liberal peace church. We don't condemn everyone to hell. We also don't allow children to join the church. They become members as adults, when they can decide for themselves.

ETA: I was raised in a very conservative faith. Although I disagree with my childhood faith, I don't believe it was abusive. I grew up, changed religions, and moved on without harm.

The topic does seem to come up when one discusses these issues with some of the more aggressive atheists and it is rather totalitarian.


@Natty_Boh... nice Chesterton quote btw.

I don't subscribe to a religion, but I don't see how it could be considered abusive.

See also David Horowitz discussing his childhood and upbringing as a junior socialist [communist? not sure - it has been a while]. I say again, do NOT limit the debate to the theists.

Children should be raised as humans, taking cues for what is inherent in each child.

No, you cannot avoid being environment, but you can give the child the chance to see more than one piece of the elephant.

"the man who has never travelled believes his mother to be a good cook" proverb applies. If the rearing involves training and modelling thinking and broad scans for data, the cuisine may improve.

Raising a child to be a party member or a pew warmer is plain wronk.

A Modest Request (Religion as child abuse?) - Some European countries view religious education as child abuse (year 2011). Today, it's easy to understand why some countries would view forced religious brainwashing as child abuse (my view).

Quite right. Brainwashing is abusive. That is one reason most religions active in North America eschew it.

In a way, it is child abuse (as indoctrination of any form is abuse), but unfortunately nothing much can be done about it at the moment.

You can't expect a Catholic parent not to raise his children in a Catholic manner.