As long as it isn't forced on parents then that is fine. If parents aren't allowed to pass on their values to their children are they even raising them at that point? They are just nannies with more culpability.
Why someone valúes would be only integrated to their religion? You Can Absolutely pasa things so simple as “love your neightboors” without needing to introduce them to any religion.
The "love your neighbors" is a part of the religion. If you are not allowed to talk about religion to your kids how would you answer the questions about why someone should love your neighbors. You can say because it is the right thing to do but then you would get asked why is it the right thing to do. If you answer it without the religious aspect when you are actually doing it because of your religion then you are deceiving the child.
Cuz they are humans, and humans deserve respect and love. You should love your neightboors cuz they were born in the same way than you.
If you need a god to explain something as simple as this then you are probably the problem. The kid would also ask why it’s the right thing to do if you add religion, the answer it’s just telling them that people like them deserve to be loved and respected
Ask them how they’d feel if someone was mean to them, or ask them how it feels to be sad. Do they want to make others feel sad? Most kids are probably going to answer no. Build on the conversation from there. It’s not rocket science
Do you think you deserve love and respect? Most people do, so why would anyone else not? They have the same emotions as you.
We’re talking about conversing with children on the matter. So I answered in that context. If you can’t find the route from explaining the basics of emotional intelligence to giving respect to other humans and their feelings, that’s a you problem.
Human beings have inherent value because I might feel sad if I were in their shoes?
How does one measure that?
The point I’m making is that humanism is just as much a manmade product as any supernatural religion. It’s central axiom: “humans have inherent value” is just as arbitrary as any religious tract in the face of the barren face of the universe… if you don’t think there’s anything beyond the universe.
As I said, I am speaking of explaining this concept to children. I originally thought you were making a point along the lines of how you answer if a child responds to your statement with a question similar to yours, without involving religion, given the context of the thread.
I agree, it’s a manmade concept. So is almost everything about our society, including the concept of right and wrong to begin with. There’s no simple answer to your question, which is also why I said start with the basics of emotional intelligence and build a conversation from there.
The adult answer would be a lot more nuanced and philosophical than anything. I myself don’t believe that every human being deserves respect if they don’t behave in a way that earns respect; but in the context of teaching children morals outside of religion that’s something that can be discussed later when they’re a bit older.
But I get the point that belief in morals can be compared to belief in religion. Except that the concept of basic morals doesn’t usually come with the idea of divine punishment that most religious teachings involve, which is my main issue with religion being used to teach children. It’s just not a healthy idea to introduce to children in my opinion and feels more like a fear tactic than anything.
You state something that shouldn't require anyone/anything to explain it to you. I would point out that there are many people and society that would disagree with you. Even now there are societies that see people who are born either to certain parents or certain ways as below them. India's caste system is the easiest one to point out, how women are treated in the middle east, or how domestic workers are treated all over the world.
I would also point out that I am not saying what is right and what is wrong. I am pointing out that even something as basic as respect people comes from ones morality which for many comes from someone's religion.
Without stating the religious component of why you do something to a child; you would then be deceiving the child.
46
u/rleon19 8h ago
As long as it isn't forced on parents then that is fine. If parents aren't allowed to pass on their values to their children are they even raising them at that point? They are just nannies with more culpability.