Quote:
Originally Posted by Cain
And I strongly disagree with this. You take children at a young and impressionable age, and you lie to them, telling them that there is a God, you should believe in him and you need to live your life in accordance with our set of beliefs (i say lie, which is not even my bias coming out - it is a lie to tell them that this specific god does indeed exist, without a doubt. I don't think many parents or churches broach the other possibilities all too often, and instead construe what they personally believe as a fact, which is dishonesty at its finest to those who cannot fully comprehend the issue at hand themselves).
Children are susceptible to this especially because they might not recognize other sources of information contradicting what their parents telling them as valid, as quite frankly we are predisposed to believe people in a position of authority (like your parents). What your parents tell you becomes the truth regardless of what other people say.
This obviously doesn't hold true for your entire life, you will mature intellectually and be able to evaluate what you are told and what you are taught, but quite honestly I think that the "indoctrination" of children is still effective in this day and age, which is one of the reasons that it persists.
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It's not a lie when you are asked to believe in a faith. My parents couldn't prove that God exists and my minister couldn't either. During my 10 years in the church I was often asked if I could prove God exists and my response was always that you can't prove a faith. At the same time you can't prove that God doesn't exist.
As for indoctrination I think we have a difference of opinion on the meaning. If no child raised in Christian home never left the church I might be inclinded to believe in your definition. Once a child becomes a teen and an adult you can't force them to attend or believe.
I left the church because of my view that organised religion is hypocritical. Too quick to pass judgement and not enough forgiveness. Most of it was from my own personal experience and that of a good friend.