Is it immoral to teach children Christianity?

[VermilionUK]

It's been debated all over the place: Should we teach our Children Christianity?

By this, I mean: should children be taught to become Christian?
Or are people violating children's right to choose?

I personally think that they should be taught about Christianity (and the flaws of it), and left to make up their own choice.

If we look at the famous "Jesus Camp" we can see how it can be - in many ways - brainwashing. But of course this is an extreme example.

So, question for discussion: Should Children be taught to follow Christianity? Or is it immoral in todays society?

There's also a poll - if there isn't an option applicable to you, then please explain your thoughts.

[JoeyKnothead]

From the OP:

:
It's been debated all over the place: Should we teach our Children Christianity?

No, based on the lack of reliable evidence.

I personally think that they should be taught about Christianity (and the flaws of it), and left to make up their own choice.

I figure eventually most will hear about these Christian tales, and conclude they are too fantastical to hold creedence.

If we look at the famous "Jesus Camp" we can see how it can be - in many ways - brainwashing. But of course this is an extreme example.

If I had to vote, I'd vote to outlaw it somehow.

Should Children be taught to follow Christianity?

No, it doesn't comport to reality.

Or is it immoral in todays society?

Not so much immoral, but relying too heavily on faith, incredulity, and the most far reaching of claims.

Realizing the Christian religion for what it is, it would be immoral of me to impose it on another generation.

[Megaboomer]

From the OP:

No, based on the lack of reliable evidence.

--- Actually Christianity has more evidence for it than any other religion and the reliability of that evidence is unmatched by any belief in history.

I figure eventually most will hear about these Christian tales, and conclude they are too fantastical to hold creedence.

--- Actually because of archeology most places and event in the bible have been proven as fact. So it just increasingly gains credibility.
----Myths get more mythical, history can be proven wrong. But myths don’t become truer in fact as time goes on.

If I had to vote, I'd vote to outlaw it somehow.

--- Why would you outlaw something that has held a moral standard in the world for over to millennia? The fact of the matter is that Christianity gives hope and a sense of goodness to children. You can’t deny that when the bible was implemented in school there was way less problems with kids than there was when they took it out.

No, it doesn't comport to reality.

--- Please, prey tell, how Christianity does not comport to reality. because i think that it's more reality based than any other belief

Not so much immoral, but relying too heavily on faith, incredulity, and the most far reaching of claims.

Realizing the Christian religion for what it is, it would be immoral of me to impose it on another generation.

--- well if you feel a sense of moral obligation to teach kids absolute truth then you should go with a belief that best defines moral values and truth in the world…. O wait that’s Christianity

[Megaboomer]

It's been debated all over the place: Should we teach our Children Christianity?

By this, I mean: should children be taught to become Christian?
Or are people violating children's right to choose?

I personally think that they should be taught about Christianity (and the flaws of it), and left to make up their own choice.

If we look at the famous "Jesus Camp" we can see how it can be - in many ways - brainwashing. But of course this is an extreme example.

So, question for discussion: Should Children be taught to follow Christianity? Or is it immoral in todays society?

There's also a poll - if there isn't an option applicable to you, then please explain your thoughts.

the only flaws in christianity is the people and the interpretations of Gods word by people who don't look into the context of it. Gods word and Jesus christ are flawless and thier values should be taught not only for it's significants but if for anything else..... it's results.

[McCulloch]

the only flaws in christianity is the people and the interpretations of Gods word by people who don't look into the context of it.

I disagree.

Gods word

God's word, if there is a god, would be flawless. However, many do not accept the Bible as God's word. You got some evidence?

and Jesus christ are flawless and thier values should be taught not only for it's significants but if for anything else..... it's results.

What? The ends justify the means? If we find a teaching method that produces better results then we should use it, right?

[Megaboomer]

the only flaws in christianity is the people and the interpretations of Gods word by people who don't look into the context of it.

I disagree.

--- Well if you have any creditable evidence to disprove the bible then go ahead.

Gods word

God's word, if there is a god, would be flawless. However, many do not accept the Bible as God's word. You got some evidence?

--- well of the top of my head the evidence of fulfilled prophesy.
------1#- Genesis 12:2. God said He would make Abraham’s name great and make him into a great nation. Although God spoke to Abraham about 2,000 B.C., and Moses, by revelation, wrote this prophecy down about 1,450 B.C., today the people of three great religions of the world, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all know about and honor Abraham.
--#2-1 Kings 14:15. The prophet Ahijah foretold around 940 B.C. that the country of Israel (the ten Northern Tribes; the southern kingdom was called “Judah�) would be deported and scattered beyond the Euphrates River. The Assyrians did exactly that about 720 B.C.
--#3-When Isaiah foretold the rebuilding of the Temple, it had not even been destroyed yet! It was still standing, and it continued to stand for more than 100 years after his prophecy. In 586 B.C. it was burned to the ground by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. God told Isaiah what the future had in store for the kingdom and people of Israel, and even told Isaiah that a man named “Cyrus� would command that the Temple be rebuilt.-Isaiah 44:26-45:6. Isaiah prophesied between 776-696 B.C. because Isaiah 1:1 says Isaiah lived in the time of Uzziah (who started reigning in 776 B.C.), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (who ended his reign in 696 B.C.). Cyrus was a king of the Persian Empire, and he came to the throne in 559 B.C., almost 150 years after Isaiah died. In 538 B.C., he entered Babylon and shortly thereafter commanded that Jerusalem and the Temple be rebuilt (Ezra 1:1-4).
--#4-760 BC: Amos predicts Israel would be restored as a nation and would never be uprooted again (Amos 9:15)
Fulfilled in 1948.
---#5-732 BC: Isaiah predicts the Medo-Persian empire will conquer Babylon [Isaiah 13:17-18] and Babylon would become a wasteland. Fulfilled in 538 BC when the Medes took over Babylon and 275 BC when the Seleucids forced all of the inhabitants to leave.
--#6-Predicted ca. 543 BC: Daniel tells of a great Grecian king who would conquer the Persian empire but would have his kingdom divided four ways after his death (Daniel 8).
Fulfilled in 330 BC when Alexander the Great defeats Persia and 281 BC after the Greek generals who succeed Alexander reach an agreement after years of war to split the kingdom four ways.
---I have many more….. and these are just ones on nations and what they went on with them.

and Jesus christ are flawless and thier values should be taught not only for it's significants but if for anything else..... it's results.

What? The ends justify the means? If we find a teaching method that produces better results then we should use it, right?

--- well I’m not talking about pragmatism because it has to be ethical as well, but if you are asking for my insight I don’t think your going to find anything in the form of teaching methods that produces morality and good life philosophy better than the bible. there's no better way than the right way... so to speak

[realthinker]

It's been debated all over the place: Should we teach our Children Christianity?

By this, I mean: should children be taught to become Christian?
Or are people violating children's right to choose?

I personally think that they should be taught about Christianity (and the flaws of it), and left to make up their own choice.

If we look at the famous "Jesus Camp" we can see how it can be - in many ways - brainwashing. But of course this is an extreme example.

So, question for discussion: Should Children be taught to follow Christianity? Or is it immoral in todays society?

There's also a poll - if there isn't an option applicable to you, then please explain your thoughts.

I think your questions point to two different issues. Whether children should be taught to follow Christianity would seem to me to be concerned with the child's well-being. Morality though is a standard of personal behavior that is beneficial to society. So your second question is about whether it's good for society to teach children to be Christian.

Historically, I think the record shows that it's been beneficial for societies to be Christian. The religion would have died out long ago if it weren't true.

However, there are certainly other societies that are not Christian that have also been successful. That suggests that it may not be most beneficial to a child to be taught to follow Christianity. There are other alternatives that may be better.

Looking back in another 50-200 years, I'd bet that religion in general will be shown to be counter-productive in modern society. It will become radicalized and destructive as it falls from popularity. At that time the two questions may converge to become one topic.

[Vikingr]

All religions should be part of the education of our young, without religion for me there is no moral compass.

But no child should be indoctrinated into any religion except as an adult through choice, based on education.

But mainstream religions will not want that as without any doubt there flocks would be smaller, although a more commited audience.

Nietzschie wrote "god is dead, long live superman" this was written around 1885, He was stating for me that modern man had suppased a need for god, due to scientific advances and the industrial revolution, for me he was wrong in this aspect.

[McCulloch]

Well if you have any creditable evidence to disprove the bible then go ahead.

That is a topic for other debates.

God's word, if there is a god, would be flawless. However, many do not accept the Bible as God's word. You got some evidence?

--- well of the top of my head the evidence of fulfilled prophesy.

You did this off the top of your head? Wow.

------1#- Genesis 12:2. God said He would make Abraham’s name great and make him into a great nation. Although God spoke to Abraham about 2,000 B.C., and Moses, by revelation, wrote this prophecy down about 1,450 B.C., today the people of three great religions of the world, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all know about and honor Abraham.

Doesn't just about every god promise to make his people great? So if the God of the Mayans had happened to come out on top, the winners would have been able to point at some prediction of them becoming great.

[Megaboomer]

------1#- Genesis 12:2. God said He would make Abraham’s name great and make him into a great nation. Although God spoke to Abraham about 2,000 B.C., and Moses, by revelation, wrote this prophecy down about 1,450 B.C., today the people of three great religions of the world, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all know about and honor Abraham.

Doesn't just about every god promise to make his people great? So if the God of the Mayans had happened to come out on top, the winners would have been able to point at some prediction of them becoming great.

---besides all the fulfilled prophesy the nation of Israel has the signature of Gods blessing throughout history.
#1. despite being dispersed among the world more than once in history, they have come back together in Jerusalem to unify themselves again.
#2. they have retained their language for the most part which is one of the most ancient languages known to man and they speak it.
#3. they have held true to their religions and traditions through history even with other cultures being mixed with theirs at different points which meant that they separated themselves.

--- these things and others this nation has done in the name of God. no other nation has done these things or has even come close to accomplishing what this nation has done.
--- it's a fulfilment of scripture, that's why,
(Joel 3:16) The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.
(Joel 3:20) But Judah shall abide forever, And Jerusalem from generation to generation.