Comments on: When They Indoctrinate Their Children

By: Hamish

Hamish — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:56:42 +0000

Not a lot you can do really. You won’t convince fundies to stop indoctrinating their kids by asking nicely, and going around the parents and trying to reach the kids directly is likely to do more harm than good, and a 3 year old won’t understand anyway.

You’ll have to bite your tongue for now, but if you’re close to your niece the time will come when you can offer her an alternative point of view. Just the knowledge that there are people in her life that don’t believe will go a long way, so many kids don’t have that luxury.

By: Rooker

Rooker — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:13:47 +0000

"It makes me sad, but I know I have to mind my manners and not say anything."

That sentiment would never stop an evangelical from butting in and lecturing someone raising their children in a secular way.

As for gifts, I'd say things like brain teasers and puzzles that make you use logic and deduction to solve them – anything that forces you to think.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:43:58 +0000

I would recommend http://www.scientificsonline.com. As someone that grew up without getting to learn about astronomy and science as much as doctrines and bible stories, this website has caught my attention so much. This coming from a girl who came to the conclusion that dinosaurs actually were real when she was oh, 22 or so. I feel like I've learned so much in such a short amount of time since opening my eyes to the possibility that I should be questioning instead of accepting. This site has a ton of great things to open up a child's mind to look deeper for answers.

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:03:05 +0000

I am teaching my children to be skeptical about everything. Christianity just happens to be what this post is about. "Indoctrination" is teaching someone to accept doctrines uncritically. How is teaching your child to Think indoctrinating them? Christians are not teaching their children to be critical thinkers (think court cases against evolution). But my children know what christianity is about, that seems a little one sided. That is what I am talking about in regards to sheltering their children – indoctrinating them.

By: RoofWoofer

RoofWoofer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:35:34 +0000

You are teaching your children to be skeptical about matters of faith (since you feel that exposure to church or VBS would be harmful). Conservative Christians teach their children to not be skeptical about matters of faith. Neither really seems to be the same as encouraging free inquiry. "Indoctrination" is a heavy-duty word — but isn't the same thing going on in both cases, whatever you want to call it?

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:05:56 +0000

After growing up in a very conservative christian home I was determined to raise my kids to think. Staples in my house include the books Maybe Yes, Maybe No by Dan Barker, and Bill Nye's Big Blast of Science. We also own quite a few seasons of Myth Busters. Funny enough my boys 4 and 11 love watching them like most kids watch Sponge Bob. I don't think many parents give their kids enough credit to love being engaged in such things.
My sons are taught to be courteous during prayers when over at the grandparents, but they think it is weird. They are not allowed to go to church, I don't want them to think it is ok or fun (like VBS). I think that is what keeps the cycle going is the indoctrination of children. Believers grow up sheltered in it. Education is Christianity's worst enemy. If people go to college at my parents church it is usually to their christian universities. Once I stepped out of the "box" I couldn't believe how foolish what I was taught (about everything) really was.
I feel sorry for your niece being programed to believe she is nothing without Jesus, that in no way promotes a healthy self esteem. And the guilt she will feel toward sex (her body in general). Dreams and desires are "selfish" if they come before church, husband and children. It is sick. But she has you. A woman that is happy and healthy (and cool) without Jesus and that will make a big impression on her.

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:58:21 +0000

I appreciate you sharing what it's like in your family. I hope my nieces will see just how freeing and okay it is to think for yourself–even if it's different than mom and dad.

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:47:43 +0000

That's a point of view I hadn't really considered. You may be right!

By: Corey

Corey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:37:00 +0000

I wonder if door to door evangelizing could potentially be a good thing for kids who are in very religious households since it exposes them to people who disagree with their parents' beliefs. If parents are sheltering their kids from such opinions then door to door evangelizing might be their only access to them.

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:52:11 +0000

You have to stay out of it – everyone has the privilege of raising their children the way they want to. Just answer honestly if she asks you questions as she grows up.