[net.religion] teaching religion to children

mark@hp-kirk.UUCP (06/15/83)

#N:hp-kirk:14100005:000:2572
hp-kirk!mark    Jun 13 10:01:00 1983

     Is it appropriate to teach religious beliefs to children.  I
     am particularly interested in what is appropriate for one's
     own children.  I think that we all agree that solid state
     physics, calculus, internal medicine, ... are not
     appropriate topics to teach a child whose is not yet able to
     comprehend the issues being presented.  Is this not also
     true of religion.  The very nature of the discussion here
     (on this news group) shows that religion is not a topic that
     is well understood (not to mention agreed upon); however, I
     am not sure that I can simply treat religion as any other
     complex topic to be held in reserve for when my children are
     ready.  So ...

     Do I simply not teach religion?  This means letting my
     children pick up religious beliefs as they come across them.

     Do I teach them my own religious beliefs even though I feel
     that they are incapable of understanding them?  I would find
     this totally unacceptable with any other subject.

     Do I attempt to shield them from religious teachings that I
     feel they are not ready for?

     Do I give them the community standard religion line on the
     assumption that this will allow them to best mix in society
     until they are capable of choosing for themselves?  This is
     probably closest to what I am actually practicing but I am
     far from satisfied with it.

     Do I let them chose for themselves to the extent they are
     capable, but attempt to introduce a "healthy" degree of
     skepticism?  If the skepticism is too successfully
     accomplished then I risk creating cynics and may be robbing
     them of worthy religious attitudes; on the other hand, if
     the skepticism does not take then I am leaving them open to
     every fanatical religious group that comes around.

     So what's a father to do.  In responding to this note,
     consider that: (1) I live in a world full of xxxxxx.  (2) I
     myself may be a xxxxxx.  (for xxxxxx you can substitue the
     name of your least favorite religous organization, Moonies
     seem to be a popular choice though consider atheists and
     agnostics as well).

                                        Concerned,
                                        "Death" Rowe
                                        hp-pcd!hp-cvd!mark
                                        Corvallis, Oregon

P.S. I hope this question can get this group off the "I believe
     this and your beliefs are stupid" line that has been running
     for far too long.

bch@unc.UUCP (06/16/83)

By all means send your kids to xxxxxxx school!  Kids are relatively impervious
to the "higher" philosophical concepts involved in religious teachings, but
learn well from the stories and the parables.  Look at it this way...our
early religious training, of whatever variety, is one of the relatively constant
areas of cultural experience.  We all know the stories whether we believe them
or not and they have even formed a common base of understanding (such as it
may be) in this forum.  The values of truthfulness, loyalty, honesty, respect,
...the essentials of right and wrong seem universal to all faiths.   One can
hardly go wrong in giving a child this kind of fundamental training.

Don't be too upset, however, if your child does not always follow the teachings
of the church.  This seems to be the way of the world.

					Byron Howes
					UNC - Chapel Hill

lew@ihuxr.UUCP (06/16/83)

Here are my comments on religious education for children. I have two
children (Lisa age 7, and Max age 6) so I am speaking from experience,
but I don't claim any special status for my opinions.

"Do I simply not teach religion?" - this comes closest to what we practice.
The children are exposed to various beliefs and doctrines (largely from
Roman Catholic playmates) and we answer their questions about these
when they ask. They also have children's Bibles that their "Mimi" gave
them, and they occasionally look at these. I have also related various
Greek myths to them.

"Do I teach them my own religious beliefs?" - This is inevitable if
you're honest with them. Our children mull things over for themselves
but always seek our opinions too.( "Is heaven true?", "Is God true?",
"Is the Bible true?"; Max once asked, "Are firemen true?") They are
powerfully motivated to be in conformity with their parents.

"Do I shield them from certain teachings?" - No! I have found that my
children exercise plenty of control over their own input. Things which
are beyond them simply don't concern them. The only thing I don't explain
frankly to them when they ask about it is nuclear war; it's the one thing
I don't feel they can handle. (Actually, my wife promulgated this policy
but I came to agree with its wisdom.)

"Do I give them the community standard religion line?" - Which community?
Which standard? They find out about this from their friends. Anyway,
this seems hypocritical to me.

"Do I let them chose for themselves?" - Let them ??? This is also inevitable.
I don't think its necessary to instill skepticism. Our children seem
to be very active and independent thinkers, and showed very different
attitudes toward religion (for one thing) at an early age.
Lisa is a real scoffer, given to such pronouncements as "God is stupid!"
Max is something of a visionary by comparison. He once came running
out of the bathroom proclaiming, "The water said 'Darth Vader'!". We
went and listened to the spigot, and my wife thought she could sort of
hear it too, but I was doubtful.

	Lew Mammel, Jr. ihuxr!lew

hutch@dadla-b.UUCP (06/16/83)

An interesting side note with regards to what to teach your children:

	I am informed by a friend of mine who spent several years
	as a student of Kung Fu that the philosophy and teachings
	that were given at the Shaolin temple (His teacher's teacher
	studied there, I am told) were basically in the philosophy
	necessary to be a good person.  There was no religious
	indoctrination, but the known religions were compared and
	the students were taught to examine them and their precepts
	so that they could discern what truths were there.

	This looks like an excellent way to teach a kid, but it does
	require a wise and well-educated teacher.

Hutch.

liz@umcp-cs.UUCP (06/20/83)

I think that a person's religious beliefs are too tied to how they
live for a person not to teach something of what they believe to
their children.  When you tell your child that it is wrong to do
a particular thing, how do you explain to him why?  If you believe
in God, you will find yourself needing to explain why you believe
God sees a particular thing as being right or wrong.  If you're
not careful, they will grow up believing God is a spoil-sport or
worse.  You need to teach them the positive things you believe
about God as well -- his love for us and his provision for our
needs.

I don't think it's wrong for you to teach your children what you
believe, but it is wrong not to allow him to think it through for
himself and come to his own decision when he is old enough to do
so.

				-Liz Allen