Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheese
Is morality and goodness a religious ideal? If so how does Hell fit in?
When a baby is born into the world they arent religious...they are atheist. The baby's parents teach that child to believe in their choice of dogma or not. Looking at the middle east most of the children are taught to <hate, dislike, kill> those who are not Muslim. In the west the children are taught to <hate, dislike> those who are not Christian. So is that baby who is born into the world a hateful being...or is it taught to hate?
Some children may not have any religion in their upbringing, but have angry parents, poor parents who arent around to provide guidance, or have chemical instabilities that cause negative behaviour. Could be many other issues they are raised with, but overall, baby's are born good, devoid of evil or hate.
Religions force parents into believing that their child cannot be saved unless their choice of theism is foisted upon that child. I think this is child abuse plain and simple. Let the child grow unfettered and clear of mind...let them choose their path without fairytale ideals being presented as real and the devil lurking under their bed.
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I believe the old days of preaching "Hell, fire and damnation" are gone.
I agree, religion is misused in the Middle East.
I do not agree with the concept of "Original Sin.
I did not foist my beliefs on my children, but let them make their own choices in that regard. The concept of a devil was never employed to control behavior. I think the only way you influence children is by example.
I'm quite proud of my children. By the way, how may children have you raised, and how did they turn out?