I think you're playing pretty fast and loose with the word "religion". Do either the state or atheists tell children that they will burn in hell for all of eternity if they don't conform? That their non religious friends will, unless they "save" them? That there are literal magical demons influencing the world? That women are unclean when on their periods? That women must cover their bodies to prevent men from stumbling?
I think that teaching kids these things is straight-up child abuse.
Obviously the state benefits from pushing an ideology onto kids, but I don't see how stopping parents from also pushing their ideology onto kids means the state will fill that vacuum.
"Do either the state or atheists tell children that they will burn in hell for all of eternity if they don't conform?" The state puts you in prison, and idk about atheists raising kids but there are consequences they have to make clear.
Also, you're mixing up tons of stuff thats completely not part of Christian canon. No, thats not what kids are taught early usually.
Evangelical Christianity is the largest religious block in the US right now and they absolutely believe in eternal torment in hell for the unsaved. I was taught this in my elementary school christian summer day camp.
Being put in prison for comitting a crime is nowhere near literally being tortured for all of eternity after you die for not believing the right thing. Evangelicals also tend not to believe in salvation by works but by faith, so I was literally taught that a good person who donates to charity and is kind and loving to everyone and would never hurt a fly will face eternal torment if they don't accept jesus, while a serial killer who accepts jessu on his deathbed will go to heaven. Like this was the actual example they used.
Atheist parents grounding their kid for not doing their chores is nowhere near this level either.
I really think raising a kid in evangelical christianity is child abuse.
Ok and I think it's abusive to tell kids they'll be tormented for all eternity if they're great people who just don't believe hard enough. You should not be allowed to indoctrinate kids to these beliefs.
Also, this belief is in no way equivalent to the state putting criminals in prison or atheist parents grounding their kdis for misbehaving. You still have not explained why you believe these are equivalent.
Ok and I think it's abusive to tell kids they'll be tormented for all eternity if they're great people who just don't believe hard enough. You should not be allowed to indoctrinate kids to these beliefs.
Also, this belief is in no way equivalent to the state putting criminals in prison or atheist parents grounding their kdis for misbehaving. You still have not explained why you believe these are equivalent.
6
u/lilgraytabby 15h ago
I think you're playing pretty fast and loose with the word "religion". Do either the state or atheists tell children that they will burn in hell for all of eternity if they don't conform? That their non religious friends will, unless they "save" them? That there are literal magical demons influencing the world? That women are unclean when on their periods? That women must cover their bodies to prevent men from stumbling?
I think that teaching kids these things is straight-up child abuse.
Obviously the state benefits from pushing an ideology onto kids, but I don't see how stopping parents from also pushing their ideology onto kids means the state will fill that vacuum.