Religous isolation from youth?

[Frosty Nerds]

Greetings, forum goers of DC. I'm currently a senior in high school, ripe for the world to pick at during global economical distress. Although I'm planning to major in Illustration and Graphic Arts when I attend college, I do enjoy religious studies and debates as a small hobby. One of the very last analytical essays that I have to discuss is whether or not children should be isolated in the practices of religion until a certain age. I've picked this topic not only because it's thought provoking and was at the bottom of the list of topics to choose from, but because it's also a bit of a debate between my boyfriend and I. While we're both agnostic, he believes that children should have the right to know about the different religions and philosophies early on, while I tend to believe that waiting until they're older will give a child better comprehension of the different beliefs and values of the religions they're exploring.

I chose to bring this topic to the attention of this forum for the fact that looking through the majority of religious debate forums, this one has offered the most mature responses to the topics present. Please note that I would very much like to hear both sides of the argument as much as possible, so please don't hesitate to respond. Also, please note that I will be using this topics link as a type of resource for my paper, and that I plan on giving all credit to anybody who I quote.

[FinalEnigma]

Also, please note that I will be using this topics link as a type of resource for my paper, and that I plan on giving all credit to anybody who I quote.

Oh, we'd better be on our best behavior then.

Personally, I'd consider it irresponsible to expose a child in an authoritative manner to religion at a young age - certainly until they can understand the concepts, you have no business teaching such to them. A child at the age of, say five, hardly understands death, let alone complex issues such as the christian notion of repentance or the afterlife, or something like the trinity. Other religions, such as Judaism, would be even more difficult to teach to a very young child.

The other issue is that you cannot teach a very young child something like religion without giving endorsement to something - if you try to approach a variety of religions in an informational way(I.E. this is what they believe and why etc.), first of all, you are wasting your time. The concepts of many religions are too complex for a child to understand until perhaps high school age.
Secondly, if you try teaching religion to a five year old in an informational manner, they will immediately ask you(or their parents if that isn't you) what you believe, at which point they will be satisfied that that is the correct answer.

There's plenty to be considered for teaching religion at a relatively young age, but I'll let other go into that.

[Frosty Nerds]

Thank you for your reply, Enigma. I didn't mean for my last sentence to sound condescending, but as reassurance that I'm not just taking peoples thoughts and claiming them as my own. Besides, plagiarism gets points deducted.


I understand and appreciate your views and your ideas on the actual method of teaching the children. One of the things that I also believe would make this imaginary system null is the fact that children learn from watching their parents, respectively. I don't expect the parents in this alternate reality to stop practicing their own beliefs in front of their kids, especially within their own homes. It would make the first amendment almost completely pointless. Although they (the imaginary child) would have their own opportunity to broaden their spiritual and philosophical horizons, they would more than likely go with their parents religion by default, since it would all that they would be exposed to.

[FinalEnigma]

Thank you for your reply, Enigma. I didn't mean for my last sentence to sound condescending

No worries, I had no such thought, I was just feebly trying to be funny.

I understand and appreciate your views and your ideas on the actual method of teaching the children. One of the things that I also believe would make this imaginary system null is the fact that children learn from watching their parents, respectively. I don't expect the parents in this alternate reality to stop practicing their own beliefs in front of their kids, especially within their own homes. It would make the first amendment almost completely pointless. Although they (the imaginary child) would have their own opportunity to broaden their spiritual and philosophical horizons, they would more than likely go with their parents religion by default, since it would all that they would be exposed to.

Indeed, I have to agree with you. On consideration, my parents didn't practice religion really overtly when I was young, and never took me to church - though they practice moreso now. I recall a time I was in 3th grade( I have an oddly precise memory at times) when I was asked if I was Christian at school(by another student. That would have been improper from a teacher. to be sure, I was asked whether I was christian or catholic, and had some notion that they were the same thing, but didn't really know much about it), and I had to ask my parents when I got home.
I do however, also recall a time when I was grounded for using God as an analogy.