The Religion’s definition of children includes ideas about the events which occur at the beginning of life and at the end of life. Different Religions define children in different ways. Some Christians perceive children as a pure gift which needs protection while others perceive as sinful which needs to be saved. Buddhist presume children contain Buddha nature and goodness. There are Rituals which children undergo even without understanding the meaning like the rite of passage. Rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual that a person must experience before moving to a different phase in life. Example, a student must complete a university education to enter the professional world. Rite of passage means a child has participated in this custom and has passed from childhood to adulthood. There are adult rituals which children can participate and there are also special rituals which are just for children. Children exert authority in their own way. They redefine adult stories, rituals, and culture. They are also prone to abuse and harm, therefore needs protection. Many religious communities impose religion on children. Teaching them practices, ethics and beliefs through story telling or religious schools. Religions are not bad, however, they can’t claim to be “all good” but injecting religion, or any other fantasy-based stories into children before they are sufficiently developed to think critically, is a severe form of child abuse that affects that child and its future.
PROVOCATIVE QUESTIONS
Should parents stop passing down religions to their children, and let them think for themselves?
Are rites of passage necessary for children?
Why are many religious children so misinformed about evolution?
