NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you believe that people have the right to indoctrinate young children into their religious/political beliefs?

Is it wrong and perverse and unforgiveable that a man teaches his son God knows best, or to be a Thatcherite?

Or is he simply setting his son up with a set of moral codes that he believes to be the correct one, not brainwashing his son, but capitalising on his rights as a parent.
To me, stuff like this http://www.truthforyouth.com/standard/main.htm is morally bankrupt and unforgiveable. It contradicts the idea of freedom of thought and expression and belief.

Yes, but only into my personal beleif system.

Since the postmodern world argues that everything is reletive (and given half a chance, a rampent postmodernist would argue that 1+1=2 to be reletive too and the idea of it being absolute is a evil western cultural imperialistic notion) then by postmodern logic teaching children anything at a young age is indoctrination and should not be allowed.

Parents should be allowed to indoctrinate their kids in any way they want. They did make 'em, after all, so they should be given the chance to program 'em. Hardware and software my friend.

Do you believe that people have the right to indoctrinate young children into their religious/political beliefs?

Is it wrong and perverse and unforgiveable that a man teaches his son God knows best, or to be a Thatcherite?

Or is he simply setting his son up with a set of moral codes that he believes to be the correct one, not brainwashing his son, but capitalising on his rights as a parent.
To me, stuff like this http://www.truthforyouth.com/standard/main.htm is morally bankrupt and unforgiveable. It contradicts the idea of freedom of thought and expression and belief.
So what do you suggest? That people not be allowed to teach their children what they believe to be true? That we ban books you don't like? That we limit feedom of speech because what some people write about things you don't agree with?

You sound like a lot of fundamentalists I know. :(

I actually had a really neutral childhood. My father (atheist, has political
opinions etc) Never forced his beleifs on me. Finland isn't really a 'that' kind of
country anyway... when I was 7 and we were learning about Jesus and stuff
in school (<--- that is just sick 7 is no age to 'disguss' religion) I asked my dad:
Is there a god. He just answered that everybody has to decide that by
themselves. Then he told that there are religious people who don't beleive in
every word of the bible and that there are scieticts who beleive in god
without any scietific proof.

It was really good I had to form my own opinions... Nowadays we have
good conversations from time to time... :)


EDIT: Sorry, I forgotted your guestion. It's not so bad to indotronate, but
we'll survive without it too. I don't know?

The best thing to do would be to teach them your beliefs, but allow them to explore all sides, and don't force them if they don't want them. Probably the worst response you could give your child if they were to ask is "because I/God/the president/whatever said so".

In most religions, it's the parents' obligation...

It's not like we care.

Which is exactly what I have a problem with. That's how these cults are perpetuated

Indoctrination is the reason that America is anti-communist. Thus I vehemently oppose it. Why shouldn't we be indoctrinated? Because we get lied to. Take for example Christopher Columbus. All I learned about him in school was how he was a brilliant and destitute scientist, whose men were devoured by cannibals. Truth of the matter is he was directly responsible for the deaths of 2-3 million natives when he ordered them enslaved. We have to be objective here! We can't tell our children lies so that they become more patriotic!

Truth of the matter is he was directly responsible for the deaths of 2-3 million natives when he ordered them enslaved

Come on, you know the Spanish came as saviors. These people died and their land was taken and they were enslaved because they were heathens , not because of Christopher Columbus. :rolleyes:

Well, that's the way I've heard it spun.

A parent has an obligation to raise their child and to teach them how to function in society. This means they teach them how to act, how to tell right from wrong, and all the other wonderful things parents ought to do. Just because a person doesn't believe as you do, you can't fault them for teaching their child what they believe to be right, unless they are teaching their children something that is obviously wrong/illegal.

Indoctrination should be allowed. It's not what I call great parenting, but who are we to stop it?

Do you believe that people have the right to indoctrinate young children into their religious/political beliefs?

Is it wrong and perverse and unforgiveable that a man teaches his son God knows best, or to be a Thatcherite?

Or is he simply setting his son up with a set of moral codes that he believes to be the correct one, not brainwashing his son, but capitalising on his rights as a parent.
To me, stuff like this http://www.truthforyouth.com/standard/main.htm is morally bankrupt and unforgiveable. It contradicts the idea of freedom of thought and expression and belief.

Basically...your kid's are going to be indoctrinated...whether it's by the parents, school, or friends. Personally, I would like to be the one who steers my child to a life that will be much more satisfying, and enjoyable, not to mention safer, than letting a liberal school teacher try to do it. :-)

Basically...your kid's are going to be indoctrinated...whether it's by the parents, school, or friends. Personally, I would like to be the one who steers my child to a life that will be much more satisfying, and enjoyable, not to mention safer, than letting a liberal school teacher try to do it. :-)

Exactly. Somebody is going to be teaching the kids to read, write, etc. Along with that, even if it is inadvertantly, they are going to be teaching them a certain culture, worldview, etc. If it is going to happen anyway, I would rather see the parents do it than the government.

I think the whole question is a bit of a red herring. Parents will always indocrinate their children, if only by serving as examples. What I feel parents are obligated to do is to teach their children proper critical thinking skills and prepare them for a life of independance.

indoctrination is what parents DO
from "say please" to "jesus christ is your personal lord and savior"

indoctrination is what parents DO
from "say please" to "jesus christ is your personal lord and savior"

Exactly. It's no different from teaching.