[Thor]

Originally Posted by Dion

I grew up in a home where my mother took us 3 kids to Sunday school. My mothers mother was very religious and we kids all got Bibles at an early age. Us kids rebeled because we didn't want to go and she stopped taking us. Yet you make these blanket statements that children have no choice. Sorry to burst your bubble but i did have a choice and my parents respected that.

Most of the Atheists I know or have met have religious backgrounds as well. Of course some don't get indoctrinated even if brought up religious, obviously then there would be very few atheists if any.

My statement is that children are in no stage of development to tackle and take on a worldview that will forever affect their adult life. A child can much less differ ghosts, gods, fairies, and their various imaginings.

While you complained and didn't have to go to church anymore, most of my religious friends growing up had to go every sunday no matter what they thought of it.

I went back in my late teens and not because my mind was vulnerable and nor was i indoctrinated like some would want others here to believe. I chose to go back of my own free will and stayed until my mid 30's where i chose again to leave. When i left no one tried to coherce me stay or make threats that i'd burn in Hell. I still believe in a religious God but don't feel one has to attend a church to practice thier faith.

But you went back to your specific religion, Christianity I would assume. You didn't become a muslim, or a hindu. Simply because I would assume you weren't exposed to that or had very much influence other than the specific belief you were taught to believe as a child.

Just because you weren't threatened or pushed to stay in the church, doesn't mean a lot don't feel that pressure. Its not that bad here in Canada, but it happens and it certainly happens in the US, and most of the religious nations of the world. People are ex-communicated from their families (jehova's/mormons/christian sects), even mainstream moderates suffer a lot of family strife when proclaiming Atheism or even converting to another religion (which happens a lot.)

Then there's the statment you make where you say if they don't get them young they'll lose them to the darkside. Again i hate to burst your bubble but i saw people become members in a church as an adult. Many like me because they had an open mind and wanted to learn something new. Some stayed and yes some left.

So you disagree that children are incapable of understanding the complexity and consequence of religion being taught to them by parents who are repeating the cycle they went through as children?

I mean I admire children's imagination, but their reasoning, logic and perspective really doesn't develop until their early to late teens. Especially when it comes to religion.

By the way, the darkside comment was a joke.