[net.philosophy] Freedom

nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan) (07/11/83)

     From: Laura Creighton
     ...
     If you think that this is far fetched, consider whether
     people should be allowed to raise their children in the
     religion of their choice. What if the religion of their
     choice is not a Christian one? What if it is Satanism a la
     Anton LaVey? or Scientology?
     ...
     Me, I go for freedom every time ....

I'd go for freedom most of the time too, and that's why I'd say that
parents shouldn't be allowed to force any religion on their children.
It should be the children's choice, because the children have the right
to be free of brain washing.
-- 
                                Doug Alan
				decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!nessus
				Nessus@MIT-MC

laura@utcsstat.UUCP (07/12/83)

It is difficult to know where brainwashing begins, and teaching ends.
If I teach my (theoretical) kids what I feel is true and correct about
the world then I am doing the best I can. If this includes respect for
the scientific method, then this is a good thing; if this includes a
respect for other people such that my children would not approve of
slavery even if living in a country which practiced slavery then this
is a good thing. Why is it a bad thing when what I believe to be true
and correct happens to be a religion?

When your children get older they can all come to their own conclusions anyway.

Mine are very different from that of either of my parents, for instance.
Both of my parents have tired to bring me up according to what they felt
was right, which included two (different, but both Christian) religions.
I now feel that neither of them is "correct" in their beliefs but I would
feel that THEY thought that they were wrong in their beliefs if they had
not tried to teach them to me. Of course, religion at our house was not the
sort of thing that was only brought out on Sundays and Holy Days, and
discussions of the merits of various religions (or various dogma within
a religion) was always open ground for discussion. My mother is a staunch
supporter of the Catholic Church, which is reasonable, since she honestly
believes in this religion. I dont understand how a "believer" could *not*
raise their children in their faith, since if is important to him (and
for some religious, the religion is the most important aspect of his life)
it ought to follow (given his reasoning which included the belief) that it is
important for the children as well.

Laura Creighton
utzoo!utcsstat!laura

I believe that this discussion about the possible justification for limiting
freedoms belongs where it is, in net.philosophy. However, I have also
posted this to net.religion. If enough people get upset about the mention
of religion we can all move back to net.religion.

laura