The general rule of thumb, that seems to hold true, is that if a given trait appears in all cultures, in all places, and in all periods of history, then it is most likely either directly or indirectly driven by an evolutionary adaptation. Few behaviors meet this criterion more completely than that thing we now call religion.

Religion is not just a bad idea that some ignorant but very persuasive person invented and talked 80% of the world’s population into believing so firmly they would kill and die to defend. It’s as indelible a part of human nature as the instinct to seek mates or to protect our offspring.

Religion will not evaporate in the presence of silence. Like all of Homo sapiens’ animal instincts, it will require constant, ongoing, active training to redirect. Religion will never go away. The options available to us are to let it run wild or to domesticate it; take your pick.

You seem to be talking about mindless, dogmatic religion, and I agree that children should not be indoctrinated into that sort of program. They should not be indoctrinated into anything. Each person gradually awakens to truth in her own time. The ultimate achievement IMO is to awaken to spirituality and appreciation for Ultimate Reality. The most likely program of indoctrination in these times is that of rote scientism and the philosophy of materialism, pounded into people’s heads through constant media exposure and in schools.

The free market economy is not a religion any more than opposition to the free market is a religion. To question the climate change establishment is certainly not a religion—many professional climatologists are not fully on board. Any opinion can be rote and dogmatic but to label every opinion with which you disagree a “religion” detracts from your message.

My thought has always been that if you teach them to think, the rest works itself out.

I agree but I also took my child to various places of worship so that they wouldn’t be ignorant to what the beliefs are and how they are different.
I also encouraged reading each of the religions books so as to be able to understand what they’re talking about or if need to be to hold your own in a debate.
I also made it clear that if my child wanted to follow and practice a faith or religion that I wouldn’t oppose or shun them for doing so as long as they were versed and devout.

At this time my child is 25 and exploring Wicca and has friends who are of many faiths who love and appreciate that my child is knowledgeable and respectful of their beliefs and none have tried to convert.

So there’s many ways to go about raising a child in an agnostic or atheist home but I chose to not behave like most religious parents and tell my child you have to adopt and conform to my beliefs.

I have to agree on the matter of Indoctrination of Children should be Banned as they are not Mentally Prepared to deal with the information they are receiving until maybe 21 years of age and then only if they are educated with the ability to discern the difference between truth verses belief. How that could happen eludes me as America is Nuts about its Beliefs....

Well said.

Religion would become obsolete much more quickly if the brainwashing of children into the belief system would stop.