I think when you believe that you became a Christian because you are wiser or more holy than others (as some Evangelicals do) it’s easier to turn into a Pharisee/Religious Freak. I don’t believe that I’m in any way less of a sinner than anyone else. Also in most cases the drinking of alcoholic beverages isn’t problematic and that may serve to make us more laid back. ;-)

In my particular case it’s lead me to see God as less of some thundering law giver (though he is that) and more of a loving father. This particular view of God also means that even the hardcore cases like Gas and Michael aren’t too far gone, no matter what they might think. One of our Pastors was a hardcore atheist, raised by a very liberal atheistic family. He would have fit in nicely here.

Why am I not surprised that your Christianity is related to Presbyterianism? It seems that Presbyterians are the least likely of all denomination to be freaks. Based on my admittedly limited anecdotal evidence, Presbyterians are more thoughtful about how they practice their religion. Do you know why that might be?

Anyway, I’d have to agree, Scott. Based on your description, you and your wife are providing Christian education, not Christian indoctrination. I also agree that there is such a thing as ‘atheist indoctrination’, and I think that it can be no less damaging than religious indoctrination.

I don’t really educate them on the world’s many differing religions, though when they are older I can certainly talk to them about any number of religions and get them study material. I also like to think that I am teaching them critical thinking skills. I don’t take everything I read, regardless of the book, at face value and I will expect my children to follow in my footsteps in that regard.

Regarding questioning the “core tenets” of a religion, we’re studying the Westminster Confession of Faith in our church. It’s basically a book that boils down Reformed theology (beliefs about Christianity that came out of the Reformation, largely Presbyterian) to it nuts and bolts. We’re very much encouraged to wrestle with it, even disagree with it. Agreement with it is in no way a requirement to join our church.

I don’t (and won’t) punish my children for disagreeing with me when it comes to anything (so long as it stays respectful). So it sounds like given your definition that I’m not indoctrinating my children, which is certainly how I feel. I know that there are other religious people that do and I also know that there are atheists that do. I’ve known children in atheist families that have become religious and have been punished for it. Any thougts on that?

Oh and I will add this. Just because I am raising my kids as Agnostics initially… I do intend to educate them with respects to religion. If they choose to pursue one, that is their own choice. But I surely won’t make it for them. No way.

gasmonso

I cannot answer this question with any real authority since I’m sans kids. But I do have some thoughts (and a burning urge to share them with anyone I think might want to hear them). I don’t think anyone has the right to dictate how adults choose to raise their children, unless the children’s rights are being violated by their guardians. So, for me, what to call ‘indoctrination’ vs. ‘education’ is strictly in the realm of opinion, and everyone has a right to voice their opinions.

Anyway, when/if I have children, I will definitely teach them my non-religious beliefs, which includes my moral beliefs. As far as religious education goes, I’d like to educate them on all the major world religions, their common truths, and their differing absurdities. But most importantly, I want to teach them critical thinking. It really is less important to me that my children learn all of my ideas. It is much more important that they become capable of generating their own. It is this last, crucial element that makes education different from indoctrination.

As I wrote elsewhere recently, the problem I have with religion is that it strongly discourages questioning its core tenants. Indoctrination occurs when children are told to believe theological or philosophical things over and over again, but not told the reasons for believing them. And it occurs when children are punished (whether directly or passively) when they question what they are told to believe.

Indoctrination occurs when parents use language such as ‘This is what we believe/’, where that ‘we’ includes the child. A similar indoctrinating statement would be ‘You cannot behave like that because we believe…” True educators would use statements like ‘This is what I believe and here is why… Here is what person/people X believe and here is why…’ and ‘You should not behave like that because it will negatively effect these thing.’

In other words, indoctrination dictates what a child believes, education informs that child what people believe.

Oh, a quick note to all the “But think of the children” adults out there: Notice what I did when I decided that the cartoon was too violent for me (or my kids, had I any)? I turned it off and didn’t watch any more episodes. Really, it’s that easy! There’s no need for me to go on a public tirade to ‘protect our children’ from this ‘obscene’ (cartoon, of all things!) show. Nope. I just change the channel and trust other adults to make their own judgments as to the suitability of the show for them and their families.

gasmonso