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  LiveWire / Teen Forums / Religion & Philosophy / Viewing Topic

An age restriction on religion?
Replies: 29Last Post Nov. 17, 2008 8:18pm by exceedinglyrare
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( sadnessness )


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Prof. Richard Dawkins has stated that labelling a child as being of a certain religion (or of no religion) from an early age could be seen as very detrimental to them.

What do you guys think about this?
I agree with it: i was confirmed as a Catholic when i was 12, before realising last year that i am actually an atheist. I lost touch with a close friend a few years ago because i was defending a religion that i now think is based on bullshit. That upsets me.

Maybe every child (i'll propose this just in Britain and USA + Western Europe atm, cos there'd be uproar in middle east) should be labelled as "deciding" or "undecided" until they reach an age where they can understand, and they should all be taught about the main religions before being forced to join a group and go to church.

Parents who want to bring their children up in the religion would just have to work hard to sell it to their kids.
Could it work? Would the religious people ever let it work?

Post edited at 1:52 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 by sadnessness

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Light Assassin



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religion is just an excuse for lack of reason

Post edited at 1:51 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 by Light Assassin


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The Nowhere Man


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It's something of a decent idea, but I don't entirely agree. It'd also be impossible to implement.

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Satine


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I'd be up for it absolutely. I'm not sure how easy it would be to enforce such an idea, though. Parents are often certain that what they're doing is right, so I suspect many would indoctinate their kids anyway.

But religion should be utterly for the individual to choose and nobody else, in an ideal world.

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justin1990rm


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people have the right to be stupid

Post edited at 1:55 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 by justin1990rm


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senorita smirnoff


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i dont think religion is a problem for most people, it just needs to be had within reason. Rather than bothering with making laws on who can decide what religion they are at what age, put the effort into educating people on tolerance and acceptance of other peoples beliefs

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Darraaagh

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I completely agree with what Dawkins said. It's an incredibly annoying prejudice.

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Prince o palities


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Sure.  That's the way Communist China does it.  I've always said we should be more like them.

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MixedDelight


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A child is generally born into the religion of their parents. The same way they are born into their parents' last name. If you think this is correct, then the childs' last name should also be "yet-to-be-determined"

No.

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driscoll1997


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WOw way to give islam special favor like every other god danm country in the world...

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See, even when I was in church and getting confirmed, I never ARGUED with my good friends about it.

I would never, ever let something that stupid get in the way of a friendship. I'm pantheistic/atheistic now, and I have friends who believe.

I think kids will want to be like their parents regardless of if they are labeled "undecided" or whatever. It'll still be the same. And that would be impossible to enact anyway.

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( sadnessness )


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Quote: from MixedDelight at 9:55 pm on Nov. 17, 2008

A child is generally born into the religion of their parents. The same way they are born into their parents' last name. If you think this is correct, then the childs' last name should also be "yet-to-be-determined"

No.


A child isnt defined my its surname (unless the name is Hitler)

Religion defines how a child thinks!

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exceedinglyrare


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What about children who label themselves? Are they to be told, "No you're not actually that, honey; you're not old enough yet"?

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Deviant

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That's not a bad idea, but it wouldn't stop parents from teaching their kids religion anyway.

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justin1990rm


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Quote: from exceedinglyrare at 1:56 pm on Nov. 17, 2008

What about children who label themselves? Are they to be told, "No you're not actually that, honey; you're not old enough yet"?

what about the children who think theyre mature enough for sex? Are they to be told, "No you're not actually that, honey; you're not old enough yet"?


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