see there's where i disagree with a common argument when i bring up this topic: the notion that laws against parents teaching religion to young children being against the freedom of religion.
when religion is imposed on you, it is never free, so it is not sustaining of the liberty of children to say "you are this way from birth because we (the parent(s) are". parents, and adults, i think, can chose a religion. we seem to be mixed up in thinking that we OWN our children, though, when in reality they just come from us. they are their own beings, owned by themselves, unto themselves.
as for not being able to legislate morals: false. We CAN. But, hardly anyone has. Look up the country Bhutan and their new economic policy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) to get a glimpse of one little country that is attempting to do just that--make morals a national rhetoric.
Part of religion is the social aspect and community involvement. Children are a part of the community and to seperate them out makes it difficult to practice. Does the good take away the bad? What are the unintended consequences of removing children from what is supposed to be a loving environment? It's true, people get it wrong all the time. But how do you tell someone they are wrong for wanting to expose their children to something they find fulfilling and rewarding?
It's a shame that there is an ugly side to it. Yes, we can make moral laws. But it isn't likely to create better morals. It's a law, someone will find a loophole. They may even use it to justify immorality.
I'm not saying I disagree with you. Parents project all sorts of bullshit onto their children. It's what we do, it's how children learn. Part of life is sorting out who we are versus who people think we are. Religion is one place people look for the tools to unmask ourselves. Sadly the toolshed is sometimes empty or full of rusty tools. But we make do with what we are given until we figure out that religion is just a tool, not the toolshed.
IIN to think that parents raising their children religiously should...
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see there's where i disagree with a common argument when i bring up this topic: the notion that laws against parents teaching religion to young children being against the freedom of religion.
when religion is imposed on you, it is never free, so it is not sustaining of the liberty of children to say "you are this way from birth because we (the parent(s) are". parents, and adults, i think, can chose a religion. we seem to be mixed up in thinking that we OWN our children, though, when in reality they just come from us. they are their own beings, owned by themselves, unto themselves.
as for not being able to legislate morals: false. We CAN. But, hardly anyone has. Look up the country Bhutan and their new economic policy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) to get a glimpse of one little country that is attempting to do just that--make morals a national rhetoric.
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howaminotmyself
11 years ago
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Part of religion is the social aspect and community involvement. Children are a part of the community and to seperate them out makes it difficult to practice. Does the good take away the bad? What are the unintended consequences of removing children from what is supposed to be a loving environment? It's true, people get it wrong all the time. But how do you tell someone they are wrong for wanting to expose their children to something they find fulfilling and rewarding?
It's a shame that there is an ugly side to it. Yes, we can make moral laws. But it isn't likely to create better morals. It's a law, someone will find a loophole. They may even use it to justify immorality.
I'm not saying I disagree with you. Parents project all sorts of bullshit onto their children. It's what we do, it's how children learn. Part of life is sorting out who we are versus who people think we are. Religion is one place people look for the tools to unmask ourselves. Sadly the toolshed is sometimes empty or full of rusty tools. But we make do with what we are given until we figure out that religion is just a tool, not the toolshed.