Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Nobody 'tells' me - I do what I believe is best for them

Not always. Of course I'm going discuss and teach them about Christianity but do I 'demand' they comply? Do I threatend them with 'fire and brimstone'? Of course not. If they want to know about other faiths (and they will) then by all means, I won't stop them.

His blinding hypocrisy and double standards will be lost on many.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

This talk was given in the Republic of Ireland. Less than 1% of the schools there are secular. Northern Ireland isn't much better.

I can't comment for everyone on that one but I have at no point made any attempt to influence my daughter's faith, or lack of, and leave it up to her. I'm not a fan of indoctrination or influencing children on such matters when they are unable to properly consider these things and have very much adhered to this tenet in my own home. It's not a coincidence that the fastest growing religion in the world with the most 'retention' across generations is the one where most of the children are forced to study said religion from perhaps the age of 4 or 5, even in the UK, despite that religion making Christianity appear downright plausible in comparison.

Incidentally it's perfectly possible to be secular and religious. Secularism is the basis of complete religious freedom with no bias, or prejudice, shown to anyone depending on their faith. Many religious people are secular in that they seek no bias from the state and don't seek to prejudice others.

The UK is, obviously, not secular, and the Conservative party, especially around election time, aren't either.

---------- Post added at 13:07 ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 ----------

I'm not always a fan of his delivery but his key point always remains that we should be rational and follow the evidence.

I have to admit to being one of those his blinding hypocrisy and double standards are lost on.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Which is obviously, therefore, based on your opinion. That is what Dawkins is doing, exercising and articulating an opinion. By what barometer do you gauge what is best for them? Where do you seek guidance from?

I think you'll find teaching and discussing are essentially two different things.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

I have always been of the belief that religion has no place in education, politics or everyday life. It should be a choice by consenting adults practiced behind closed doors. Indoctrination of the young outside of their own homes should not happen.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Every time I hear him speak I'm tempted to go to church just to cheese him of and I'm sure there's many lapsed Christians that feel the same, up till now though I've got by just ignoring the boring little man.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

No it doesn't, if any of my children came to me andsaid that they had thought long and hard about it and they had decided that they had put their faith in a god and wanted follow that religion, they would have my blessing.

If they go on to have children and then indoctrinate their own children into that religion from birth, I would remind them that I didn't do that to them and let them find their own faith, and I would advise they did the same for their children.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

My niece was always sceptical about there being a God.
I felt that she was forced to believe it was true. and I suppose she thought the same too because she doubted it.
but she doubted it thinking that it was wrong to doubt it. as if she thought she wasn't allowed to doubt it.

now she knows there isn't one and she's ok.
you could say she has been 'saved'

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Think there are enough labels there, Chris?

I would hope no-one defines themselves by their sexuality in the modern UK, and that simply informing the kids that people are different and to accept it would work. Running out of letters of the alphabet breaking down every possible permutation seems excessive.

---------- Post added at 14:22 ---------- Previous post was at 14:21 ----------

Looking at the attendance figures, stripping out newly arrived immigrants, he doesn't seem to be having that effect on the whole.

Not entirely convinced Dawkins is stalking you and monitoring your church attendance, mind. ;)

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

That's a bit of a mouthful.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Been down this before but if you do have a belief that there is an eternal consequence to actions and such then you will want your children to be "protected" by that belief.

Since Dawkins doesn't believe in eternal consequences he is fine to insist that the young are simply left to make their own minds up, after being taught through school that anything that can't be proven to his standards isn't worth it of course.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

imo that excuse is getting a bit old and tired

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Glad I don't believe in your God if they're so embittered, resentful and petulant as to hold the actions of children against them for all eternity.

EDIT: Sorry, apologies for holding God up to the same moral standards we expect other from human beings. Keep forgetting that as far as morality goes we, imperfect and mortal as we are, are held to far higher standards than the gods we worship.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

Err he hasn't had the effect on me either as I already said, he just tempts me to and speaking of figures I'm pretty sure the biggest demographic re religion will be lapsed Christian, what do you think these constant attacks on the religion do for them, makes them remain lapsed or encourages them to refind their faith? Still what does it really matter to Dick, the mans a business and he has books to flog

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

When all's going well. it's God's doing.
When you're being tortured, abused, raped, bullied, dying as soon as you're born, suffering immensely.

that's God too.

Re: Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.
 

So you're God's fault?