Is Indoctrinating Children Wrong?
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
November 2, 2008 11:41pm CST
Children can be easily indoctrinated. In some countries, children are taught how to use weapons and attack other religious groups. Here in the United States, Evangelical Christian children are being taught a political agenda and are being trained to convert other kids at school and adults to their side.
Personally, I believe that this is wrong. A large part of why I don't approve of things like homeschooling is because this is often used to keep children as close minded individuals. These children are never going to have a chance to learn science and they are never going to be able to respect others who are not Christian after all of this brainwashing. I wouldn't be sad if my children grew up to be Christians, but I would want them to have the option to pick any religion that they wanted to, rather than just shoving one down their throat. And if they didn't want to pick one, well that is definitely fine with me. I want my children to respect other people, not look at them as if they're all going to hell.
If you want to see an interesting documentary on how this indoctrination works and what it is, I'd recommend watching Jesus Camp. You can even see it for free here:
http://www.freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=226
How do you feel about indoctrinating children? Would you send your kid to a camp to learn how to spread religion and have politics shoved down their throats?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
3 Nov 08
Well, some teachers are. But I don't think that's right either.
The good thing is with public schools, you have different teachers. I had a few teachers that obviously had socialist ideas. But you can just ignore them until you get to your next class. And they didn't have nearly this insane indoctrination that the Evangelical kids have. Watch the video, it is insane... they have these kids crying constantly about abortion and sin and a bunch of other stuff children shouldn't have to worry about.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
3 Nov 08
They aren't always like that - they are against it so they are going to show the extreame. Heck - shall we talk about how kids come home and tell their parents that there is not God, because their teacher says so. Or that they have to go green because the schools demand it.
No, the number of teachers "indoctrinating" kids as a policy of the school district is huge.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
4 Nov 08
I'm still very very thankful that my parents were not religious and also that I wasn't homeschooled (whether or not they were religious, I wouldn't have wanted that). I think it's better to be exposed to a bunch of different teaching methods at public schools. And at least where I went, the teachings were actually based on facts rather than just whatever ma and pa thought went along with what the minister said.
Evolution is just a theory, kind of like gravity. ;)
1 person likes this
@katran (585)
• United States
5 Nov 08
What is the point of parenting if you don't teach your children what you think is right? I don't think that raising your child on Christian principles or any religious principles is "indoctrinating" them (simply because that word has a negative connotation that I don't like). If I raise my child as a Christian I will be teaching them to love their neighbor, turn the other cheek, be patient and kind, and stand up for what they believe in no matter what. I will be teaching them that they will always be loved, and that they are never alone. I will be teaching them to have high self-esteem and at the same time to have humility. As a parent, you are going to teach your child the things that you believe. That's what parents DO. Even if you are teaching your child that they don't need to have a religion, you are teaching them something that someone else is going to agree with or look down on them for. Everyone in the world is different, and it is foolish to think that someone teaching their kids the things that they believe are right is "indoctrinating" them.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
5 Nov 08
When I think of indoctrinating, I don't think of teaching your children self esteem and your core values. I think of Muslim extremist (notice the word "extremist") people who are teaching their kids to die for their god. And these fundamentalist Christians who want their kids to march in anti-abortion rallies.
As long as people are teaching a peaceful religion, I don't have much of a problem with that as long as they're only teaching it to their kids and not mine, and that they'd let kids know there are other things out there.
@katran (585)
• United States
5 Nov 08
The fact is....all religions are originally peaceful religions. Yes, some people twist it around, that is true. But in your example you simply use the example that Christians teach their kids that their religion is right and they should tell their friends about it. Yeah, if you think something is right, you are probably going to tell others about it, right? That doesn't mean that, simply because my kid thinks your kid is wrong that my kid is brain washed and yours is open-minded. Maybe YOUR kid is brain washed and mine is the one with the open mind. It is all a matter of opinion. It is a parent's job to teach their children right from wrong, and yeah...people are disagree. That is the nature of people. I think it is close minded to even suggest that someone does not have the right to teach their child what they believe is right.
1 person likes this
@PrincessKitten (790)
• United States
29 Nov 08
Interesting post Pigglies,
Parents need to indoctinate their children into whatever world or beliefs they see fit, and it's their right too. If you don't want your children to learn those things, don't teach it to them.
Sort-of like an abortion...if you don't want one, don't have one!...but you can't force it upon someone else.
Yes, I would send my child to such a camp, if held with my values and beliefs.
Happy MyLotting! 
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
29 Nov 08
So terrorists can indoctrinate their children too, that's okay with you?
Have you seen the camp in the documentary? I could never subject my children to such a place. I want them to appreciate whatever belief they choose, not to be forced into it by scare tactics.
And no one is forcing people to have abortions. The opposite is what happens. Fundamentalist Christians want to take away the right of other women to have abortions. If they don't want an abortion, no one is forcing it on them. Just like no one is forcing gay marriage on them either, yet they are violently opposed to something that doesn't even affect them.
