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From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.singles,net.kids
Subject: Re: Religious Brainwashing of Children
Message-ID: <949@pyuxn.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-Aug-84 10:48:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxn.949
Posted: Wed Aug  1 10:48:07 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 3-Aug-84 01:56:34 EDT
References: <2035@hplabsc.UUCP>, <8022@umcp-cs.UUCP> <181@sunybcs.UUCP> <1261@ihuxl.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 32

> > I think it's easier to explain to children the difference between right and
> > wrong using religion.  For example, which would a child be more likely to
> > understand:
> >              1)  Don't do that because it isn't socially acceptable.
> >              2)  Don't do that because god will get mad and...
> 
> Sounds like a great way to grow atheists!  Let's make God the great
> spoilsport!  While we're at it, why not make them memorize Bible
> verses as a punishment?

[ One might speculate that some contributors to net.religion were brought up
just this way, but that would be just sheer speculation... :-) ]

What's very interesting is that here we see that BOTH non-religious/atheistic
people (who don't feel the need to speculate on the nature of god's "rules")
AND religious people (who feel that this sort of methodology is counter-
productive to producing sincerely religious adults) have a strong dislike for
this sort of child-rearing technique.  And yet it lives on:  Don't do this
because you'll be punished by XXX.  Is it any wonder that when people realize
"Hey, nobody's going to punish me; I won't get caught", they feel free to do
what they will, not caring about the effects it may have on others.  Had they
been brought up to think rationally and behave rationally, it might have been
another story.

[By the way, the previous [ ]'d sentence was meant to refer to people on BOTH
sides of the net.religion fence; it may be a great way to "grow atheists", but
it is also a great way to reinforce autocratic thought, producing people who
are part sheep and part tyrant and NO part independent thinker.  But what's
wrong with growing atheists, anyway? :-]
-- 
"Now, Benson, I'm going to have to turn you into a dog for a while."
"Ohhhh, thank you, Master!!"			Rich Rosen    pyuxn!rlr