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Sunday schools. Is it a form of child abuse?

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zesty 7 June 24
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44 comments (26 - 44)

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1

Nah

1

I was raised anti Christian in a Christian town. I would argue that it bordered on child abuse. I do the same because I'm not a liar and value good morals. I don't pretend it is making them happier or making their life easier.

MsAl Level 8 June 24, 2019

WHAT?

@lookinhard I was raised full on antitheist in a rural area. Public school was no joke. To the extent that my lack of religion actually affected my life it had mostly negative social consequences. Same in my adult life.

Success and happiness in life rarely come from being right. They come from having healthy social connections and community.

@MsAl I live in a similar community.
I fear that my son may (probably will) be ostracized if I announce my antitheist beliefs to the school community.
He learns about Christianity from his friends and learns science at home. History programs on tv have shown him how much of their book can not possibly be true (we had a good laugh the other day at how impossible it would have been for the tale of Noah’s ark to be true). I listen to him sincerely when he talks about a god. I don’t dispute his friends’ thoughts (well, except when some family friends came over after starting at a Christian school and told him that Pokéman was the devil’s work, oh my!). I also don’t preach to him that his beliefs are wrong and that he should follow my way only.
My child is intelligent and I believe that he will make his own, informed decisions when it comes to religion, just as I did despite being raised Catholic.
If he wants to go to church to see what it’s like, then I’ll grit my teeth and go. But, I’m not forcing him to go or not go, to believe or not believe

@PennyBerry There were some other things that affected my social status. I describe myself as on the autism spectrum. I just don't socialize well. I was also raised very anti society in general and my social skills were not a high priority. Also it was a different time.

I do like to offer this side of the story when this question comes up. Most people here seem to be ex religious people with a chip on their shoulder and they sont always seem to consider this side of it. I do think its better to teach science and that religion is false.
Everyone tries to teach their kids the best the best way they know how though and Calling all Christians abusive is shortsighted and kind of shallow to me.
Teach your kid strategies to deal with people who believe different things and let him know its OK to not talk about it or even lie little just to avoid conflict.

@traceyanarchist I agree to a point, just offering the other side of it which I lived. I didnt word it as well as I have elsewhere so It does come off weird. Basically teaching a child that they are against the entire religious majority has its downsides too. Regardless I teach my kids that the religious explanations are false because I am not a liar.

I have found that success comes from social connections rather than hard work or good intentions. Being an athiest is a small part of why this hasn't worked out for me but it is a part.

1

For me, it actually depends.

For a while my daughter wanted to go to church. I allowed the church to pick her up, and I went to all the plays she was in at the church. When she got religion out of her system she stopped going.

When I was young I went to catechism at the Catholic church my family was going to. When I got older my parents gave me a choice, and I stopped going. I was still going to a church (Baptist), but only on Sundays.

1

It becomes ingrained that early. When you get older it' becomes difficult to tell the truth from the lie.

unless you actually HAVE a brain.

@TimeOutForMe, I have to disagree. I was raised Catholic from birth. I went to church every Sunday and holiday and attended CCD each Sunday during the school year. All of that exposure actually ingrained a dislike for the god I was taught about. The mere beginning of their book contradicted every scientific thing I had learned. I left the church at age 12. And, every year of my life since then has brought me nothing but more confirmation that I made the right decision. Nobody interfered with that, no matter how hard people tried.

1

This is where abuse starts - mental and physical with lies every day you are there

0

Not wanting to be accused of biasing my children for not introducing religion into their lives , my wife and I accompanied them in attending a liberal Christian church. They were old enough not to go to Sunday School, but to full services. They (3) have made up their own minds and have followed Science and Logic . Although I AM an Atheist, I am NOT Anti-theist.

ps. If they had chosen to follow ( any) religion, I would honour their decision...as long as it was not a cult

0

I think generally no, so if there was a third option of depends or can be I would pick that. I can be abusive when all questions and dissent is shut down as foreceably as possible.

0

No. I was even taught many things in public school that turned out to be untrue. You aren't lying if you are teaching something you truly believe, it's ignorant, but easy to forgive.

0

Sunday School was never taught by anyone who demanded we believe on pain of disciplinary action. We were invited to make a faith response based on what they taught us. That's hardly child abuse.
If atheists and agnostics think children cannot assess religious teaching for themselves as they grow and mature, that's a view I'd contest.

It is a rape of kids' mind. Getting them ready for pedophiles.

0

As part of indoctrination kids who ask questions are demeaned and often ostracized by the "teachers". I know I was. I am sure I am not he only one who experienced this.

0

Unless you are actually present how do you know what they are actually teaching the children.

It's not math, science, history, or unraveling the mystery that all started with the Big Bang.

0

I think a knowledge of that book is a good thing just because.

It's not like believing it.

The talking ass story is pretty good.

Is that the same as talking out my ass? Cause I can tell a tale! 😄

0

Yes, insofar as all religious indoctrination is a form of child abuse.

I went to Sunday School twice, I think (it might even have only been once.) I didn't see why religion should eat into one of the two days a week I had off from proper school, and I didn't appreciate the childishness if being expected to do songs with actions.

0

It depends. If children are indoctrinated to believe in Hell, it is child abuse.

0

Forced into it, hated it. However, it was an education into how adults lie, exaggerate, etc. The same with Summer Bible Camp. If you would ask them about camp activities, they would gush on about swimming, handicrafts, baseball. However, it turned out to be religious indoctrination (classes) in the morning, a little "free time" each day, church in the evening. On sunday, it was church in the morning and church in the evening. However, they would always emphasize the "fun", but it was really heavy-duty indoctrination. Even as a kid, I was very aware of the disingenuousness of the adults in charge.

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0

I grew up going to Sunday School (CCD, I was raised Catholic). It was torture for me! As if getting up to go to church wasn’t bad enough, lol. I found it to be a complete waste of time. I never paid attention and didn’t care since it wasn’t “real” school. If anything, it helped me to solidify my lack of belief.
As far as abuse? Not any worse than taking your child to church every week. I definitely don’t have nightmares or PTSD from going to church or Sunday school.
I’m actually a little bit thankful that I was able to learn about the bibble stories. I knew from an early age that some god that demanded sacrifices of animals (oh, and children too) was not anyone I wanted to look up to.
And thanks to wonderful parents who encouraged education and free-thinking, both my sister and I were allowed to come to our own conclusions and were never ostracized by them for leaving religion.

0

No, because maybe this student can get dayoff during a day during the week.
Vacation has a great importance

0

Following teachings of Jesus for them

bobwjr Level 10 June 24, 2019
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