For many religious people, raising their children in their faith is an important part of their religious practice. They might see getting their kids into heaven as one of the most important things they can do as parent. And certainly, adults should have the right to practice their religion freely, but children are impressionable and unlikely to realize that they are being indoctrinated into one religion out of the thousands that humans practice.

And many faith traditions have beliefs that are at odds with science or support bigoted worldviews. For example, a queer person being raised in the Catholic Church would be taught that they are inherently disordered and would likely be discouraged from being involved in LGBTQ support groups.

Where do you think the line is between practicing your own religion faithfully and unethically forcing your beliefs on someone else?

    • andyburke@fedia.io
      7·
      2 months ago

      The history books are full of religions’ heinous crimes against humanity. Maybe there is some religion out there that is purely benevolent but I have never heard of it in the sea of counterexamples.

      If you are currently trapped in a religion, I am here to tell you that you can escape. Once you do, a lot becomes much more clear.

      • andyburke@fedia.io
        5·
        2 months ago

        It is also important to remember that religions are human organizational structures, but their basis of authority is “because I said so.” We see this structure arise over and over until it is eventually removed for something more based in reality.

          • andyburke@fedia.io
            31·
            2 months ago

            You are like a younger me who refused to see the 10,000 year history of abuse and realize that any system based on “because I told you so” us unethical and harmful to human life.

              • andyburke@fedia.io
                2·
                2 months ago

                Teaching anyone that they must be judged by arbitrary, unprovable rules or face dire consequences is unethical.

                  • andyburke@fedia.io
                    3·
                    2 months ago

                    All major world religions with many followers have arbitrary rules and dire spirital, and often physical, consequences for breaking them.

                    I am not here to argue specifics on religions.

                    I don’t think I could be more clear about why I believe teaching anyone religion as fact is unethical.