Interesting read on the decline of religious faith in children.

[BLEE]

believe in me or suffer an eternity of unimaginable and never ending suffering.

yeah, just feeling that love...

what does an ordinary guy like me, who doesn't hurt people, steal or cheat, deserve that fate for just because I don't 'repent'.

It's coercion and fear mongering on a sociopathic and demagogue level. It's reminds me of that scene in the movie The Green Mile. Where the gentle giant killed that murderous pedo and saw what he did to those two little girls and he said "He used their love for eachother to keep them quiet while he killed them". The whole coercion of 'do this, now, in this otherwise seemingly insignificant life, or else you and your family will suffer horribly without end...".

What. The. Fuck.

If I ever see that Spririt, I hope a .45 would kill it.

Anyway, time enough spent on this rabbithole. Adios.

In God's love, He gives us a choice. In a nut shell, the choice is to spend eternity with God, or spend eternity without God. That eternity will not be the same as our lives on earth. If you don't believe, I do not criticize, or condemn you. It's your choice.

Most folks have never read the Bible, much less studied it. Some people say there is no God. These people see evil and say, "There is no God." People don't understand that God has given us free will and turned us loose. Nothing that is evil, on this earth is God's will. He ALLOWS the evil to exist and happen, as part of our free will. Maybe he will allow Biden to subject us to tyranny, to bring us back to Him. Faith in Him, guides us through, even unto death, to eternity with Him, in peace and perfection. Without faith, hope and love, we may as well live to please our carnal instincts, regardless of consequence.. "eat, drink and be merry!" Some of us would be extremely violent. We all have our human tendancies. Without God there is no morality, no ethics, no "golden rule". Rest assured He exists and his plan is being fullfilled, every second of the day. How arrogant we are to believe we can understand the mind of God. That being said, he gave us all we need to know, with perfect instructions, in the Holy Bible. It doesn't matter who doesn't believe it. The truth remains, as it always has been and always will be.

Edited. I did not intend to write that people who have not read the Bible, say there is no God. It was two separate thoughts, not well written.

 

[Moe Ron]

Free will? If God is all powerful and all knowing there can be no free will. He has always known I would be writing this post. He could have changed that. He didn’t. I had no choice.

 

[chrome]

Honest question to the group to re-center this conversation on the article:

If religion wasn't introduced into someone's life until after they were of the "age of reason" (roughly mid-teens), would you expect higher and more long-term relationships with faith, or lower? And why?

 

[jcam]

Children:

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Mark 9:37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me"
Mark 10:13-16 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Presence of God:
Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile: there is no one who does good.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Bible being God's word:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Law:
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Grace(undeserved gift):

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus(Eph. 2:8-9), tells us "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works, lest any should boast".

Salvation:
Acts 4:10-12 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Philosophy:
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

 

[BullGear]

I remember when we could prayer before our meal, now they won't let the kids conduct the Pledge of Allegiance.

I can't imagine what will be trending if Biden and Kameltoe are allowed into office.

 

[Lange Carabine]

Free will? If God is all powerful and all knowing there can be no free will. He has always known I would be writing this post. He could have changed that. He didn’t. I had no choice.

I'm confused here....I agree that God always knew you would be writing this post, but are you accusing Him of forcing you to write it on the grounds that He chose not to prevent you from doing it?

 

[chrome]

Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile: there is no one who does good.

Is there any evidence that people of faith are more "good" and/or "morale" (definitions vary, i understand) than non-believers?

Said another way, is there a morale act a person of faith can do, that a non-believer cannot do?

 

[HousePlant]

I don't believe religion is necessary for moral virtue. I am not religious. I find religion to be the source of so many of the world's problems.

Morality is definable by society and culture. Religion is a part of that, but not a necessity.

 

[Mudburner]

I am not responsible for you; what you think, what you believe, what you have experienced.

I am responsible/will be held accountable for myself/my actions/my response to... the Almighty God and The Lord Jesus Christ... and what they have shown me/done for me/done to me/said to me.

I have heard God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit speak to me/lead me/influence me/correct me/etc on numerous occasions, since at least 1975.

The last time I received direct instruction/leading/input from Him/them (that I recognized) was this morning in my prayer time.

My response was to repeat it/speak it/OUT LOUD/declare it verbally and to believe it. And to worship Jesus Christ.

I HEAR from God. (you can, too)

I also hear from the enemy. (you can, too) I am learning the difference. (you can, too).

I cannot prove that the spirit world exists (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit/angels/Satan/demons) and you cannot prove it doesn't.

As they say... "Your mileage may vary..."

 

[Moe Ron]

I'm confused here....I agree that God always knew you would be writing this post, but are you accusing Him of forcing you to write it on the grounds that He chose not to prevent you from doing it?
[/QUOTE

Call it force if you like. It was preordained.
God’s script, God’s movie. All part of his plan.

 

[chrome]

I cannot prove that the spirit world exists (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit/angels/Satan/demons) and you cannot prove it doesn't.

Thank you for being honest w/the above. We agree on all of the above.

 

[Mudburner]

Hey, just for fun...

Look up Kim Clement, Trump prophesy.

Not buying into EVERY youtube "prophet" but...

Amos 3:7 (New King James Version) Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

 

[BullGear]

Free will? If God is all powerful and all knowing there can be no free will. He has always known I would be writing this post. He could have changed that. He didn’t. I had no choice.

Ever read the story of Adam and Eve. Come on man.

 

[AngryKoala]

Bad parents, social media, commie principles taught in school which denounce organized religion.


Change my mind.

I have to disagree. I offer my son multiple perspectives and let him choose. He has chosen to believe in God. Religion was forced on me at an early age hence I am agnostic now. One does not necessarily need to believe in God to embrace the morals/values that religion professes.

Many atrocities were committed under the false pretense of religious support from a deity.

 

[chrome]

I have to disagree. I offer my son multiple perspectives and let him choose. He has chosen to believe in God. Religion was forced on me at an early age hence I am agnostic now. One does not necessarily need to believe in God to embrace the morals/values that religion professes.

Many atrocities were committed under the false pretense of religious support from a deity.

Warms my heart. Thanks for being the type of parent I wish I had on this subject.

 

[AngryKoala]

Warms my heart. Thanks for being the type of parent I wish I had on this subject.

Thank you. It is difficult not to introduce bias. Even this election I tried presenting both sides to him (very hard to remain unbiased) and he ended up "voting" i had him fill in a few circles to get him interested.

It is amazing watching your kids think and make their own choices.

 

[Scrubsr1]

Most folks have never read the Bible, much less studied it. Some people say there is no God. These people see evil and say, "There is no God." People don't understand that God has given us free will and turned us loose. Nothing that is evil, on this earth is God's will. He ALLOWS the evil to exist and happen, as part of our free will. Maybe he will allow Biden to subject us to tyranny, to bring us back to Him. Faith in Him, guides us through, even unto death, to eternity with Him, in peace and perfection. Without faith, hope and love, we may as well live to please our carnal instincts, regardless of consequence.. "eat, drink and be merry!" Some of us would be extremely violent. We all have our human tendancies. Without God there is no morality, no ethics, no "golden rule". Rest assured He exists and his plan is being fullfilled, every second of the day. How arrogant we are to believe we can understand the mind of God. That being said, he gave us all we need to know, with perfect instructions, in the Holy Bible. It doesn't matter who doesn't believe it. The truth remains, as it always has been and always will be.

Mormon? No judgement, just curious...

 

[BLEE]

Mormon? No judgement, just curious...

No, sir.

 

[Moe Ron]

Ever read the story of Adam and Eve. Come on man.

Is God all knowing? Like I said, God’s movie.

Let me be clear, I’m not trying to demean or change any minds. In fact I’m jealous of your faith. I was raised in a very religious, evangelical family. If I said gosh, heck or darn I got my butt whipped. For the first 20 years of my life I was in church every time the doors were open. I went to church camp. I sang in the choir. I memorized hundreds of bible verses. I was forced to do all of it and I hated it.

So here I am. I’m 66 years old and have never seen or experienced anything that convinces me of the existence of God. Maybe I will someday.

Truly, I mean no disrespect to anyone. I’m enjoying the conversation.

 

[Lange Carabine]

Roger that. I respect your beliefs but if free will means that God gives us the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect our destiny then I personally believe we humans do indeed have a free will, albeit a limited one.
The world's current sinful state is directly linked to the choices made by Adam and Eve.
The Bible teaches that God made man in His own image, and that includes the ability to choose.
But, having a free will does not mean man can do anything he pleases.
We are limited to the things that are within our nature.

 

[BLEE]

Is God all knowing? Like I said, God’s movie.

Let me be clear, I’m not trying to demean or change any minds. In fact I’m jealous of your faith. I was raised in a very religious, evangelical family. If I said gosh, heck or darn I got my butt whipped. For the first 20 years of my life I was in church every time the doors were open. I went to church camp. I sang in the choir. I memorized hundreds of bible verses. I was forced to do all of it and I hated it.

So here I am. I’m 66 years old and have never seen or experienced anything that convinces me of the existence of God. Maybe I will someday.

Truly, I mean no disrespect to anyone. I’m enjoying the conversation.

I think so many non-believers have been subjected to oppressive, sometimes abusive actions, in the name of God. Christianity is never oppressive, or abusive. Once again, free will and choice.

 

[AngryKoala]

Is God all knowing? Like I said, God’s movie.

Let me be clear, I’m not trying to demean or change any minds. In fact I’m jealous of your faith. I was raised in a very religious, evangelical family. If I said gosh, heck or darn I got my butt whipped. For the first 20 years of my life I was in church every time the doors were open. I went to church camp. I sang in the choir. I memorized hundreds of bible verses. I was forced to do all of it and I hated it.

So here I am. I’m 66 years old and have never seen or experienced anything that convinces me of the existence of God. Maybe I will someday.

Truly, I mean no disrespect to anyone. I’m enjoying the conversation.

You and I have a very similar upbringing.

 

[jcam]

Is there any evidence that people of faith are more "good" and/or "morale" (definitions vary, i understand) than non-believers?

Said another way, is there a morale act a person of faith can do, that a non-believer cannot do?

I don’t know the statistical data to your question. Maybe google can help?

My opinion would be that in the eyes of men, a non-believer can do every good and moral act.

In the eyes of God, I will defer to John 15:4-5

 

[obk]

Looking at one of the key points of the article:
"The most likely causes of declining religiosity are the increasingly intense role that more and more secularized educational institutions play in children’s lives and the continuing delay and decline of marriage. "

I would expect it has more to do with people generally looking elsewhere and finding 'fulfillment' in other things, namely conspicuous consumption and identity politics. Someone who thinks their adherance to whatever the social justice flavor of the week is makes them virtuous may be off base, but they're still ticking the box for themselves. You could take it to say "lack of religious instruction results in less religiosity", which, yes, but is that the states problem? As for marriage rates, I'm getting near doing my part at least. Makes all the dumb and dangerous shit I've ever done look milquetoast.

I was raised Irish Catholic, had priests in the family, did the whole thing to be an adult in the church, but don't actively practice. I'd hope there's some philosophy we can all find agreeable to teach kids to let them know it's not okay to be an asshole. I've never felt my faith had any influence there, though I know many others have had their own powerful experiences. I suppose the more the merrier when it comes to ways of getting people not to be jerks, but I don't really agree with any of the article or the source material beyond the bare facts.

For what I'd consider more satisfactory explanations, I'd look to how the Reformation combined ideas of productivity with religiosity. I see a lot of things as being analogous to indulgences where people are tricked into thinking they can buy redemption with money instead of effort.

 

[BullGear]

Is God all knowing? Like I said, God’s movie.

Let me be clear, I’m not trying to demean or change any minds. In fact I’m jealous of your faith. I was raised in a very religious, evangelical family. If I said gosh, heck or darn I got my butt whipped. For the first 20 years of my life I was in church every time the doors were open. I went to church camp. I sang in the choir. I memorized hundreds of bible verses. I was forced to do all of it and I hated it.

So here I am. I’m 66 years old and have never seen or experienced anything that convinces me of the existence of God. Maybe I will someday.

Truly, I mean no disrespect to anyone. I’m enjoying the conversation.

You've never seen God, because you've closed your mind's eye. If you've ever seen the beautiful birth of a child, you've seen God. If you've ever been in a close call, you've seen the grace of God. If you were to open your mind's eye, you would see God in everything.

But since I can't force you to see these things, you will be blinded by your own humanity.

If you're looking for that Bible Camp world, forget it, it's not there. Since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, mankind was cursed by Free Will. You made your bed, now sleep in it. Asking God to enter into your heart is the most unhuman like thing to do. Giving your soul to Him is the hard part. Living without Him is the easy way to go.

God does not promise you tomorrow. It's your decision to seek him out as well as your own salvation. God's grace is there for you to seek it. The Lord is not going to wait for you, it's up to you to seek Him out.

God Bless brother.

 

[BLEE]

Christians make good and bad choices. David, a man after God's own heart, was an adulterer and murderer. He paid a mighty price for his poor choices and he repented and did not repeat them. He was forgiven, by God.
Gods grace does not shield us from consequences, or prevent suffering. Gods grace does give us forgiveness and peace, through this life.

 

[chrome]

You've never seen God, because you've closed your mind's eye. If you've ever seen the beautiful birth of a child, you've seen God. If you've

Doesn't his statements about dedicating himself to the faith for 20+ years contradict your statement above? Who is best to judge, between you and he, who closed their mind?

 

[chrome]

I don’t know the statistical data to your question. Maybe google can help?

My opinion would be that in the eyes of men, a non-believer can do every good and moral act.

In the eyes of God, I will defer to John 15:4-5

Isn't this a bit of a paradox? Why would a non-believer take any solace in scripture?

 

[chrome]

Christianity is never oppressive, or abusive.

Never oppressive or abusive? This is deeply, historically untrue. One only has to peel back the first few chapters of the bible, let alone the the early bronze age, to watch the horrors of the christian religion, and many other abrahamic belief systems, wreak havoc on society at large.

 

[theLBC]

I don't believe religion is necessary for moral virtue. I am not religious. I find religion to be the source of so many of the world's problems.

Morality is definable by society and culture. Religion is a part of that, but not a necessity.

what highly ethical and moral culture that was agnostic would you use as an example?

that might be true, but hardly demonstrable, since we all grew up in a judeo-christian society, or some other culture with religious foundations.

 

[theLBC]

Never oppressive or abusive? This is deeply, historically untrue. One only has to peel back the first few chapters of the bible, let alone the the early bronze age, to watch the horrors of the christian religion, and many other abrahamic belief systems, wreak havoc on society at large.

all religion is flawed, because all men are flawed.
the fault is not with christianity, but with men that corrupt religion for personal or selfish reasons.

i am not religious, but i can tell the difference between faith and fraud.

 

[chrome]

all religion is flawed, because all men are flawed.
the fault is not with christianity, but with men that corrupt religion for personal or selfish reasons.

i am not religious, but i can tell the difference between faith and fraud.

Agreed with your first statement 100%, as I am unconvinced religions to date are inspired by a deity, and more than likely left to man's own design.

But one only has to look to the basic tenets of the abrahamic scripture to show how the core belief tenets are flawed and oppressive.

 

[theLBC]

Agreed with your first statement 100%, as I am unconvinced religions to date are inspired by a deity, and more than likely left to man's own design.

But one only has to look to the basic tenets of the abrahamic scripture to show how the core belief tenets are flawed and oppressive.

i agree, but i think we have to read it in the context of when it was written.
i will always believe that men will do whatever they think they can get away with.
luckily, people that may not believe in a "god" (like myself), still have have an active superego that prevents me from acting on my base desires, even in the absence of risk of being caught.

if you think people are generally good, i'm not going to argue, but i can provide endless citations that may change your mind.

A third of male university students say they would rape a woman

A significant proportion of men who said they would force a woman to have sex did not recognise it as rape

www.independent.co.uk

 

[chrome]

i agree, but i think we have to read it in the context of when it was written.
i will always believe that men will do whatever they think they can get away with.
luckily, people that may not believe in a "god" (like myself), still have have an active superego that prevents me from acting on my base desires, even in the absence of risk of being caught.

if you think people are generally good, i'm not going to argue, but i can provide endless citations that may change your mind.

A third of male university students say they would rape a woman

A significant proportion of men who said they would force a woman to have sex did not recognise it as rape

www.independent.co.uk

Gotcha, I think we are on similar ground. The only place of potential disagreement is I cannot bring myself to sign off on any context where rape, slavery, and genocide is "ok", especially if endorsed and/or commanded by a deity.

Not saying you sign on off on this either, but I just can't get down with it.

Generally speaking, I agree, people are "good".

 

[BLEE]

what highly ethical and moral culture that was agnostic would you use as an example?

that might be true, but hardly demonstrable, since we all grew up in a judeo-christian society, or some other culture with religious foundations.

If a person, or group does evil, in the name of Christianity, they are not Christians. The Crusades and the Inquisition were horrible and evil. Men have and will do evil, in the name of God. They worship at the alter of the self. They are false Christians.

 

[BullGear]

Doesn't his statements about dedicating himself to the faith for 20+ years contradict your statement above? Who is best to judge, between you and he, who closed their mind?

Well, since I've been a Christian for the last 40 years, I think I know what I speak. He's the one who turned from God. He closed his mind's eye not me.

 

[BullGear]

Isn't this a bit of a paradox? Why would a non-believer take any solace in scripture?

We're all none believer at some point in their lives, some have turn to God, some have turned from God. I've got a good story about turning to God, a real story involving my grandfather, but that's for a later time.

 

[BullGear]

Agreed with your first statement 100%, as I am unconvinced religions to date are inspired by a deity, and more than likely left to man's own design.

But one only has to look to the basic tenets of the abrahamic scripture to show how the core belief tenets are flawed and oppressive.

We are not held to the laws you try to assert onto today's society. Jesus gave his life for our sins and gave us commandments to live by.

 

[BullGear]

Gotcha, I think we are on similar ground. The only place of potential disagreement is I cannot bring myself to sign off on any context where rape, slavery, and genocide is "ok", especially if endorsed and/or commanded by a deity.

Not saying you sign on off on this either, but I just can't get down with it.

Generally speaking, I agree, people are "good".

Where does Jesus advocate for any of these sins. Stop trying to confuse people with Old Testament doctrine and the laws given to us by Jesus.

 

[W54/XM-388]

It's always interesting how the haters of the Christian belief system, always seem to have no concept of world history outside the tiny little part of the globe for the tiny part of history that suits their fancy to be able to claim that somehow Christianity is responsible for all evil or some such B.S.

Go do a bit of study on the past lets say 5000 years of recorded history.
The Human experience, regardless of whatever religion people picked or choose to claim they don't have one, tends to historically be savage, brutal and difficult.

Just take a look at the last century, some of the worst horrors in hundreds of years were perpetuated by militant Atheists, sometimes in countries where there was some "Abrahamic" faith, and even worse in places where it never ever was a thing...

There is plenty of recorded history of horrific brutality and genocide where Christianity had never been as well as long before it even was an idea.

Whine and cry about it as much as you want, but much like Machiavelli stated in his discourses on the first decade of Titus Leviticus, a society is determined by it's primary belief system and if it's good, the society will be good and if it's bad, society will be bad. For all it's flaws, take a very good look at the world before Christianity, for all it's flaws it was better than what came before and it evolved eventually to leave behind the evils that were thousands of years old, even if it did take some time.

If you want to bitch and whine and blabber about some evil Christians supposedly did, first be honest and say was that not common or often done before them and by others not them?

Have you taken a look recently at what the Militant Atheist Communist religion in China is doing to people of some other religion?
Concentration camps, forced labour, genocide, forced indoctrination.....

 

[theLBC]

If a person, or group does evil, in the name of Christianity, they are not Christians. The Crusades and the Inquisition were horrible and evil. Men have and will do evil, in the name of God. They worship at the alter of the self. They are false Christians.

while i agree (for example) that bill clinton is not a "christian", many would call that a no true scotsman argument.
the crusades is a story that is often told poorly. the first crusades were not about saving jerusalem from muslims, but byzantine christian territory from the turkish empire.

 

[Triple BB]

School and liberal social media are two main reasons for the failing of Christianity with our youth. I work at a high school with 2000 students. I went to this same school 38 years ago. Looking back, normal to us were many things considered conservative. Homosexuality was wrong and certainly wasn't shoved down peoples throats. There was an emphasis on hard work and earning what you got. God was valued and respected and most kids practiced a religious faith. Its not that way anymore as Christian values don't mesh with liberal values. Year before last a gay kid was voted prom queen by the student body. We have openly transgender dudes walking the halls in high heels and dresses. I point this out as the lgbt community mocks religion and considers them the enemy. Many teachers openly preach their liberal agenda without fear of reprisal. Acceptance is preached by our school leadership as long as it doesn't involve God or religion. Most kids think this is normal. And I'm in one of the reddest States in the country...

 

[theLBC]

on a positive note, i have heard that religion and traditional values in young people are making a resurgence in some places.

 

[AngryKoala]

It's always interesting how the haters of the Christian belief system, always seem to have no concept of world history outside the tiny little part of the globe for the tiny part of history that suits their fancy to be able to claim that somehow Christianity is responsible for all evil or some such B.S.

Go do a bit of study on the past lets say 5000 years of recorded history.
The Human experience, regardless of whatever religion people picked or choose to claim they don't have one, tends to historically be savage, brutal and difficult.

Just take a look at the last century, some of the worst horrors in hundreds of years were perpetuated by militant Atheists, sometimes in countries where there was some "Abrahamic" faith, and even worse in places where it never ever was a thing...

There is plenty of recorded history of horrific brutality and genocide where Christianity had never been as well as long before it even was an idea.

Whine and cry about it as much as you want, but much like Machiavelli stated in his discourses on the first decade of Titus Leviticus, a society is determined by it's primary belief system and if it's good, the society will be good and if it's bad, society will be bad. For all it's flaws, take a very good look at the world before Christianity, for all it's flaws it was better than what came before and it evolved eventually to leave behind the evils that were thousands of years old, even if it did take some time.

If you want to bitch and whine and blabber about some evil Christians supposedly did, first be honest and say was that not common or often done before them and by others not them?

Have you taken a look recently at what the Militant Atheist Communist religion in China is doing to people of some other religion?
Concentration camps, forced labour, genocide, forced indoctrination.....

This is one the primary reasons I believe religion was fabricated. Without consequences (eternal damnation) what reason does an individual have to be good? Society needed something to provide order/laws thus religion was created.

Many religions speak of a deity or deities. What makes God more real than the Hindu Gods? Why is Christianity deemed correct vs. Taoism? Christians like to label other religions as blasphemous but what makes Christianity correct?

Are we to believe the word of men as proof of Jesus and God?

 

[UKDslayer]

Hey, just for fun...

Look up Kim Clement, Trump prophesy.

Not buying into EVERY youtube "prophet" but...

Amos 3:7 (New King James Version) Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

He said two terms..

 

[Aries256]

I ditched religion when I was 16. Got tired of the hypocrisy, the hate, the nosiness, and how control freak it is. Glad I dumped that cult. Besides for history, as it is a part (more a dark and sinister part) of history, no religion should not be taught and spread to children, and children who reject it, should not have it forced on them, and when I do have children, dont want even a word of it barfed up on them.

 

[Aries256]

School and liberal social media are two main reasons for the failing of Christianity with our youth. I work at a high school with 2000 students. I went to this same school 38 years ago. Looking back, normal to us were many things considered conservative. Homosexuality was wrong and certainly wasn't shoved down peoples throats. There was an emphasis on hard work and earning what you got. God was valued and respected and most kids practiced a religious faith. Its not that way anymore as Christian values don't mesh with liberal values. Year before last a gay kid was voted prom queen by the student body. We have openly transgender dudes walking the halls in high heels and dresses. I point this out as the lgbt community mocks religion and considers them the enemy. Many teachers openly preach their liberal agenda without fear of reprisal. Acceptance is preached by our school leadership as long as it doesn't involve God or religion. Most kids think this is normal. And I'm in one of the reddest States in the country...

Well given the lies about gay people the religious have spread about gay people, the threats, attacks, and unwarranted hostility towards gay people, gee I wonder why gay people view the religious as a enemy, I would too if were in their shoes.

 

[Mudburner]

He said two terms..

He sure did. Makes me wonder where he got his info from? Despite the present nastiness, some people still believe what he said.

 

[AngryKoala]

I ditched religion when I was 16. Got tired of the hypocrisy, the hate, the nosiness, and how control freak it is. Glad I dumped that cult. Besides for history, as it is a part (more a dark and sinister part) of history, no religion should not be taught and spread to children, and children who reject it, should not have it forced on them, and when I do have children, dont want even a word of it barfed up on them.

I would agree that it has no place in a public schools curriculum unless taught in history class or a world culture class. I do believe schools should allow for prayer of all religions and those who do not practice a religion should not be ridiculed.

When you have children, offer them the option without bias. They may choose to practice religion or they may not but at least present them with the choice.

 

[clcustom1911]

I have to disagree. I offer my son multiple perspectives and let him choose. He has chosen to believe in God. Religion was forced on me at an early age hence I am agnostic now. One does not necessarily need to believe in God to embrace the morals/values that religion professes.

Many atrocities were committed under the false pretense of religious support from a deity.

You're a good parent, you didn't denounce organized religion, you gave choices.

Commie principals are forced: they denounce organized religion, and advocate for the breakup of the nuclear family concepts in favor of the State being charged with everything regarding children.