Teaching children about hell

[Geneviev]

According to this article, children are targeted by religious indoctrination because they are more vulnerable to believe what they are told. One of the things children are taught to believe by evangelical Christian groups is that anyone who does not believe in their God will be tortured for eternity in hell. The effects of this teaching can include that they are frightened into believing something they wouldn't believe otherwise. Some children can be traumatized by the idea of hell. The article describes religious trauma syndrome, which can be an effect of teaching children about hell.

However, this article claims that it would be worse for parents to not teach children about hell. They consider it the responsibility of parents to protect their children from hell by telling them how to be saved according to their interpretation of the Bible. They call it the God-given responsibility of parents to show their children God's love, which they believe includes teaching them about hell.

What do you think, NSG? Should children be taught about hell or is it wrong?

In my opinion, teaching children about hell is immoral because it will force them to believe in something without giving them a choice.

[Kronica]

I think we shouldn't teach them anything about religion at all until a specific age.

[The New California Republic]

It's fine, as long as we can also teach them about Ferri, Mictlan, Irkalla, Patala, Diyu, Neter-khertet, Tuonela, Kveskneli, Niflheim, Tártaros, Patala, Naraka, Abaddon, Metnal, Duzakh, Kur, and Tamağ.

[Kowani]

Better idea: We don’t teach them about religion in any way save for much like a Religious Studies class.

But if we must:

It's fine, as long as we can also teach them about Ferri, Mictlan, Irkalla, Patala, Diyu, Neter-khertet, Tuonela, Kveskneli, Niflheim, Tártaros, Patala, Naraka, Abaddon, Metnal, Duzakh, Kur, and Tamağ.

[Europa Undivided]

If we’re going to teach them about hell, we also speak of heaven.

Furthermore, it is unlikely that they’ll understand the whole thing when they’re like... uh, 5? Teach it at around 8-9 and we are good.

[Pacomia]

Yes, we should teach them that it doesn’t exist and is nothing to be worried about.

[Europa Undivided]

Yes, we should teach them that it doesn’t exist and is nothing to be worried about.

Absolutely irrelevant.

For one, the article assumes that the parents are religious.

[Pacomia]

Yes, we should teach them that it doesn’t exist and is nothing to be worried about.

Absolutely irrelevant.

For one, the article assumes that the parents are religious.

Fine. Religious schools shouldn’t traumatise children by telling them that if they don’t follow arbitrary and impossible rules, they’ll be tortured for all eternity. That’s a pretty shit thing to do. But not teaching them about hell is also a pretty shit thing to do.

[The New California Republic]

Yes, we should teach them that it doesn’t exist and is nothing to be worried about.

Absolutely irrelevant.

For one, the article assumes that the parents are religious.

This is an open discussion on the subject of teaching children about Hell, the article just being a primer, so it isn't irrelevant at all. The question in the OP is literally "What do you think, NSG? Should children be taught about hell or is it wrong?"

[Risastorstein]

Absolutely irrelevant.

For one, the article assumes that the parents are religious.

Then teach the parents, duh.

[New haven america]

Yes, we should teach them that it doesn’t exist and is nothing to be worried about.

Absolutely irrelevant.

For one, the article assumes that the parents are religious.

Take a chill pill bro.

[Risastorstein]

Of course we should teach them. How will they learn how messed up Christianity and Islam are otherwise?

"So... Hmmm... Like... Sky Daddy created you, okay? But he also thinks you're kind of shitty. Why? You know this t-shirt you like? It's made with linen and cotton. Wearing it is a sin. I'm sorry darling, but you're going to hell. Sky Daddy is gonna torture you for eternity. Don't you think you deserved it?"

[Salus Maior]

Teaching religious doctrine is really only the business of the religious. Secularism can kindly butt out.

If you want to be secular, then by all means be secular. I'm not, and will not, and I will teach my children what I think is important for them to learn.

[Neanderthaland]

I think children are a little too young to appreciate Cate Blanchett.

[Destriustan]

Children should not be forced into a religion by being told that they'll burn for all eternity otherwise. It should be their choice to choose which religion they want to follow.

[Telconi]

Children should not be forced into a religion by being told that they'll burn for all eternity otherwise. It should be their choice to choose which religion they want to follow.

They're children, they really don't have the capacity to make self determination work.

[Alvecia]

Fear of hell ingrained at a young age is something that a lot of turned atheists still struggle with. It can be traumatic.

[Pacomia]

Teaching religious doctrine is really only the business of the religious. Secularism can kindly butt out.

If you want to be secular, then by all means be secular. I'm not, and will not.

Ok, then can y’all stop complaining about how society is immoral now?

[Risastorstein]

Children should not be forced into a religion by being told that they'll burn for all eternity otherwise. It should be their choice to choose which religion they want to follow.

Oddly enough, when people aren't brainwashed early on, they have a hard time believing in resurrection, angels and creation myths involving lots of incest.

[Salus Maior]

Teaching religious doctrine is really only the business of the religious. Secularism can kindly butt out.

If you want to be secular, then by all means be secular. I'm not, and will not.

Ok, then can y’all stop complaining about how society is immoral now?

Then what would I do with all the time I waste on NSG?

[Pacomia]

Ok, then can y’all stop complaining about how society is immoral now?

Then what would I do with all the time I waste on NSG?

Bingo. Now let us talk about teaching about hell.

[Totenborg]

I can only speak for myself, but being told about Hell only served to screw me up when I was a child.

[Salus Maior]

Then what would I do with all the time I waste on NSG?

Bingo. Now let us talk about teaching about hell.

Already did. There really isn't much more to talk about, outside of the non-religious making demands of the religious and how they practice.

[Pacomia]

Bingo. Now let us talk about teaching about hell.

Already did. There really isn't much more to talk about, outside of the non-religious making demands of the religious and how they practice.

This sort of thing works both ways. Have you noticed religious people talking about how society had gone to hell and that we’re all immoral degenerates or something?

[Hammer Britannia]

Sure, so long as we explain to kids that it's an idea and not fact.