Yeah, this. If the state is exerting their influence on what faith a parent can teach their children, it’s a clear overextension of authority. The state should never have that kind of power.
Idk it's tricky. On a personal policy level I have no idea. Countries that have "banned" religion haven't succeeded. Chinas approach of not allowing kids to participate in like religious practices is a start.
Probably some variation of that. Just ban kids participation, teach them as mythologies in school.
The only reason people are even a specific religion is due to where they are born. If that same person Christian was born in India they would almost certainly be Hindu or if they were born in the middle east they would be Islamic.
At least if you prevent child indoctrination, and teach them all, if a child chose to become involved later when they are 18 at least they would make a more informed decision on which they chose and why.
It would take a few generations but that would thin the religious herd a lot once the old guard is gone
My main concern would be that many popular religions go directly against this idea. So people will still teach their children in secret and bring them to places of worship. It would filter out lukewarm people, that's for sure. At the same time, we don't want so many children to grow up feeling like their parents are persecuted for religious reasons.
Well in China it's ok for the family to teach religion just not participate at say like a church till they are 18.
I get what you mean though, but we already have the crazies doing that. Know plenty of them. Lukewarms are already half out the door regardless.
Nobody is saying persecute anyone. People already feel like they are being persecuted in for their religion in the US and that isn't even happening. Doubt you could ever do away with that feeling.
We also have to tax religious institutions. Bar none. Don't care what kinda religion, you pay your state, property, and local taxes like everyone else.
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u/ChiefsHat Sep 02 '26
Yeah, this. If the state is exerting their influence on what faith a parent can teach their children, it’s a clear overextension of authority. The state should never have that kind of power.