Across America there are countless christian fundamentalists who send their children to such school as the parents see fit to teach their religious viewpoints. Countless others teach their own children in a home school environment. These children are taught strict Biblical doctrine regarding many topics from young Earth creationism to the return of Christ in the Book of Revelation and everything in between. This is also done in other religions such as Islam, Mormanism, etc. Should these practices be allowed. I know of some who view this as a form of child abuse.

Comments anyone?

What do you think?

I don't think it is abuse.

It's very bad in lots of ways, I don't think it's child abuse.

There is a word to describe that : it's "endocrinationindocrination". EIndocrination is always abuse, especially when it's done on a person who is not capable of rational thinking.

Endocrine refers to glands that secrete hormones into the circulatory system.

Indoctrination is teaching someone to accept a system of beliefs uncritically.

Your English is great, aban57, and I'm totally not ripping on you. That was an absolutely delightful typo and I thank you for it.

Then perhaps it's a portmanteau relevant to this discussion that I'm just learning.

Don't I look like a fool. Serves me right for correcting aban57.

Rachel Bronwyn wrote:Endocrine refers to glands that secrete hormones into the circulatory system.

Indoctrination is teaching someone to accept a system of beliefs uncritically.

Your English is great, aban57, and I'm totally not ripping on you. That was an absolutely delightful typo and I thank you for it.

I'm glad I entertained you

Thanks for the correction though

ETA : the French word starts with an E, which is odd, considering that endocrine is spelled the same. Ethymology says the word comes from Provence and Catalogne

Any system of control needs an "other". NSDAP had Jews, Soviet communists had running dogs of the capitalistic exploiters of the working class, SJWs have the Patriarchy, evangelical Christians have D-Money.

More people need to say "Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man" and have a J.

Rachel Bronwyn wrote:Endocrine refers to glands that secrete hormones into the circulatory system.

Indoctrination is teaching someone to accept a system of beliefs uncritically.

Your English is great, aban57, and I'm totally not ripping on you. That was an absolutely delightful typo and I thank you for it.

I’ve worked with Cedric. English skills better than most Americans.

Likes cats, though.

I’m damned if I can think of a five syllable word in French just now...

aban57 wrote:There is a word to describe that : it's "endocrinationindocrination". EIndocrination is always abuse, especially when it's done on a person who is not capable of rational thinking.

In many countries abused children (be it physical or emotional abuse) are removed from their parents care and placed in foster care till such time as the parents have proven they are no longer a risk to abuse their children. Should that be done in this case as well? I personally feel it quite dangerous for a society to disqualify parents over teaching ideology to children.

I don't know how anyone can look at a documentary like Jesus Camp and say that's not mental torture what they put those children through. The Hell House and whipping kids into a frenzy of tears over the dangers of Harry Potter are particularly odious examples. And we didn't even get to see what goes on behind closed doors of people who follow Proverbs 13:24 to the letter. These people buy and sell spanking paddles!

It's abuse, in my view, and can cause the children to grow up to be disturbed and fearful adults. Find a story by someone who has escaped from the clutches of cultish religions and they'll tell you about the panic attacks and feeling of trepidation associated with breaking away.

Chris Putnam wrote:

In many countries abused children (be it physical or emotional abuse) are removed from their parents care and placed in foster care till such time as the parents have proven they are no longer a risk to abuse their children. Should that be done in this case as well?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. In our society, it's adult's role to protect chidren from harm. Whether it's physical or mental harm. Indocrination is dangerous, hence we need to protect kids from it. We already take kids from parents involved in a cult, there is no difference there.

Chris Putnam wrote: I personally feel it quite dangerous for a society to disqualify parents over teaching ideology to children.

That would be a great way to destroy said ideologies though.

The_Metatron wrote:

Rachel Bronwyn wrote:Endocrine refers to glands that secrete hormones into the circulatory system.

Indoctrination is teaching someone to accept a system of beliefs uncritically.

Your English is great, aban57, and I'm totally not ripping on you. That was an absolutely delightful typo and I thank you for it.

I’ve worked with Cedric. English skills better than most Americans.

Likes cats, though.

Makes me think even more highly of him.

The idea of a society claiming the right to remove kids from their parents over ideology is that it would give the state a great deal of power to set the favored ideology of those in power. This is undoubtedly practiced in totalitarian states. Fear of loosing custody of ones children is a strong motivator to "tow the line". Then when someone takes power in a society they can use the power of the state to force their ideas "down peoples throats". I find this concept troubling. Perhaps this thread should take another direction. What religious teachings are acceptable? The Bible, the Koran, sin, salvation, hell, heaven, the second coming of Christ, and any other multitude of controversial religious doctrines? Shall we live like those in Marxist states and ban any teaching outside the party, especially religion? Please comment.

Chris Putnam wrote:The idea of a society claiming the right to remove kids from their parents over ideology is that it would give the state a great deal of power to set the favored ideology of those in power. This is undoubtedly practiced in totalitarian states.

It has happened in non-totalitarian states in the past. No good has come from it.

Sendraks wrote:

Chris Putnam wrote:The idea of a society claiming the right to remove kids from their parents over ideology is that it would give the state a great deal of power to set the favored ideology of those in power. This is undoubtedly practiced in totalitarian states.

It has happened in non-totalitarian states in the past. No good has come from it.

550 years ago there was an solid orthodoxy based on the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It was quite totalitarian. Such states can be religious or secular. Someone wants to wield power over others and they will use whatever means they can to enforce their will. I believe giving such authority is dangerous.

I agree with you, it's a very dangerous power to give to a government. Instead, we could teach rational thinking and the real religious texts (not just the nice bits selected by religious) to show what they're really on about. We could also forbid the teaching, in all schools, not just public ones, of anything that is not supported by a solid amount of evidence. That would solve the problem within a handful of generations.