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

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

If you're going to hate the contents of the Bible that much, you might try reading what it actually says first.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Hugh

So you're God's fault?

No, the man who met my mum when she was drunk.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Chris

If you're going to hate the contents of the Bible that much, you might try reading what it actually says first.

Sorry. Must've misread the accounts of genocide and mass-murder of innocents perpetrated by God.

My bad.

[Gary L]

When someone gives a homeless man 10p in the street.
somebody wil say that God sent that man to give him that 10p.
they will say to either the homeless man. or the donator that God is holding out his hand to them.
(ironically a few days earler God took that homeless mans family away from him in a tragic and painful way)

but when Hitler or any other murderer kills many many people. they say that this was not Gods doing. he didn't make them do it. he didn't stop them either.

they think he didn't. they hope he didn't. but I know he did.

I know that if God can do all the good. then he's obviously doing a lot of the bad.

[richard s]

Fair play to Richard Dawkins, but they should not be protected from knowing about all religious beliefs. When they are of a certain age they should be allowed to decide for themselves.

Originally Posted by richard s

Fair play to Richard Dawkins, but they should not be protected from knowing about all religious beliefs. When they are of a certain age they should be allowed to decide for themselves.

That's what happens right now, certainly within my own experience. I really have no idea where this idea comes from, that bringing up a child in a certain religion is akin to brainwashing them and rendering them incapable of functioning in society as adults. Having been brought up in a churchgoing household, I walked away from it as soon as I was old enough to refuse to get out of bed on a Sunday morning. I then thought things through and, a few years later, made my own commitment, freely, of my own choice. Since then I have seen countless young people do likewise. In one family I am acquainted with, one son is considering training for ministry while the other is a committed atheist. Both were brought up in a Christian home.

Dawkins seems to think that all families who bring their children up in their faith can be equated with Waco-style cult houses and his remedy is to use the power of the state to force families to bring up their children like Dawkins. Which is actually a horrible thought.

[Osem]

I don't tend to get involved in these threads but by and large I believe that there's nothing wrong with religion per se, the problem comes with those who seek to manipulate or 'interpret' it to their own negative ends.

[Ignitionnet]

He did specifically reference 'religious indoctrination'.

No-one would, I hope, advocate banning study of religion in schools, it's a vital part of a rounded education.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

He did specifically reference 'religious indoctrination'.

No-one would, I hope, advocate banning study of religion in schools, it's a vital part of a rounded education.

rounded ? warped more like

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

rounded ? warped more like

You may not like it but it's part of our history and society. For many people, for better or worse, it is part of their lives and for some shapes it, so should be studied.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

You may not like it but it's part of our history and society. For many people, for better or worse, it is part of their lives and for some shapes it, so should be studied.

I would contrast "Religious education" compared to "Education about religion"

The second is much preferable.

[Jimmy-J]

Originally Posted by Gary L

When someone gives a homeless man 10p in the street.
somebody wil say that God sent that man to give him that 10p.
they will say to either the homeless man. or the donator that God is holding out his hand to them.
(ironically a few days earler God took that homeless mans family away from him in a tragic and painful way)

There go I but for the grace of god.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

You may not like it but it's part of our history and society. For many people, for better or worse, it is part of their lives and for some shapes it, so should be studied.

the problem is people do study it then they go and commit murder in its name,and that's been going on since god was invented .

[Russ]

Yeah I've lost count of how many people I've off'd.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Russ

Yeah I've lost count of how many people I've off'd.

42 including the one you told me about last week.