Firstly, "raising a child religiously does not inevitably brainwash them, destroy their ability to think rationally or fit in with society."
What I mean is a child raised religiously won't inevitably share the beliefs of their parents, nor will they inevitably be rendered incapable of rational thought, nor will they necessarily be at odds with the rest of society.
Comparing slavery with religion is bizarre. Religion is an aspect of every society, a HUMAN aspect. As you say, many people have an idiopathic sense of and perhaps need of something beyond, and that is what makes them attach to various religions. Therefore religion fits into society, it's often an unavoidable aspect of it because even if you took away all the religious doctrine in the world, that void would be filled again by new doctrine. Science cannot disprove religion once and for all because most religions have at the fundamental level a belief in something that is beyond our capabilities to prove or disprove. Justification for slavery, on the other hand, based on genetic arguments of intellectual inferiority, is quite easily disproven. The greater justification for the abolishment of slavery in America was, at its heart, a moral and ethical issue - something ultimately agreed on by Christians and non-Christians.
I wouldn't raise my child religiously. I'm not keen on other children being raised religiously either; in fact I entirely see where the OP and you are coming from. I believe a child should have the freedom to develop intellectually and socially, but also spiritually, without having a religion imposed upon them. HOWEVER my main contention is with a law forcing parents to adopt this stance. I don't believe the consequences of a religious upbringing nor our disagreements with it are severe enough to warrant laws against it.
IIN to think that parents raising their children religiously should...
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Note: I'm not religious.
Firstly, "raising a child religiously does not inevitably brainwash them, destroy their ability to think rationally or fit in with society."
What I mean is a child raised religiously won't inevitably share the beliefs of their parents, nor will they inevitably be rendered incapable of rational thought, nor will they necessarily be at odds with the rest of society.
Comparing slavery with religion is bizarre. Religion is an aspect of every society, a HUMAN aspect. As you say, many people have an idiopathic sense of and perhaps need of something beyond, and that is what makes them attach to various religions. Therefore religion fits into society, it's often an unavoidable aspect of it because even if you took away all the religious doctrine in the world, that void would be filled again by new doctrine. Science cannot disprove religion once and for all because most religions have at the fundamental level a belief in something that is beyond our capabilities to prove or disprove. Justification for slavery, on the other hand, based on genetic arguments of intellectual inferiority, is quite easily disproven. The greater justification for the abolishment of slavery in America was, at its heart, a moral and ethical issue - something ultimately agreed on by Christians and non-Christians.
I wouldn't raise my child religiously. I'm not keen on other children being raised religiously either; in fact I entirely see where the OP and you are coming from. I believe a child should have the freedom to develop intellectually and socially, but also spiritually, without having a religion imposed upon them. HOWEVER my main contention is with a law forcing parents to adopt this stance. I don't believe the consequences of a religious upbringing nor our disagreements with it are severe enough to warrant laws against it.