Wasn't it a sad period in our history when innocent school children were indocrinated with the God myth?
536604
Indoctrinating and brainwashing children to believe that a god exists to enslave them or send them to Hell to be tortured forever and ever is tantamount to child abuse.
1062447
Hey sans! I think that the saddest thing is the sheer number of otherwise perfectly intelligent people that stunt their mental growth by imprisoning themselves withing a system of beliefs. Einstein refused to publish several important papers for years, for fear that they would be seen as evidence of the lack of existence of God.
590903
If god exists, then he probably had a hand in starving those children.  In the past he hasn't been above killing innocent children.  He was upset at some Egyptians, so what did he do?  He killed the innocent Egyptians instead: the first born cute babies.
999787
No one can know the mind of God, because I don’t think anything written in ANY religious book is from a divine source, it’s from people who were trying to control the status quo in whatever time it was written.  It had more to do with politics than it did worship.
773082
I could have written this question myself, and I look forward to your answers received.  I too am of the mind that it is what we are taught, and in the worst cases what we are taught to fear the questioning of.\n\nI always thought it would be an interesting (although possibly psycologically cruel) experiment to take a child or two from each of the major religions and raise them with no mention or concept of "god" or religion.  Would the develop a belief of their own?  At least it would be interesting to see what an intelligent person would lean toward if they only learn of the concept of god after growing to an age where they can decide on their own.\n\nI feel that is what I did, but in reverse, and it sounds like what happened to you as well.  As I got older and learned more about our world, I found that I didn't really believe what I was taught all my life.  Frankly, I don't feel the need to believe in a god or religion.\n\nI believe in being a good person as much as I can be, and that is fundamentally based in not causing other creatures intentional harm and living a moral and decent life.  Very similar ideas to what most religions teach.\n\nI also think it is a fine line between a religion and a cult.  Religions just have broad acceptance.  Kind of like if in 3000 years, the Branch Davidians were the most popular religion and David Coresh is referred to as Jesus is today.  Obviously that won't happen, and I really only used that example because I think it is the one most people will know of whom I am speaking.
180947
Yes its very sad that something so good should be taken away from children but you can't legislate goodness or wisdom.
603160
If they only taught "Facts" in school then there would be little to go on.  \n\nHistory is a subjective (not objective) area of study.\n\nScience itself believes in no absolutes, resolving that there is no proven theories, only those that are unproven as of yet.\n\nI could go on, but to answer the actual question I would say that as long as there is balance in the text, it would actually improve the way we look at others.  \n\nI for one would love it if my Religion were represented more respectfully than the way we see it on TV or read about in the papers.  The same goes for Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindu's, etc.  If we represented the religion the way it was INTENDED, we'd probably find out we're not all that different.
542079
Sad isn't it.  They aren't very serious about their Christianity are they?
337167
since the american school system was founded by the church and seperation of church and state is a myth...I am for religon in school!
565256
Because the "Power of Myth" makes some people believe so.\n\nI think the so called organized religions are really to blame for misconceptions, and untruths that have been shoved down unsuspecting innocent humans.\n\nEducation and scientific advancement are for the open minded. Unfortunately, there are many many people BRAINWASED by many religions in this world.  Sadly some will be that way all their lives.
146349
supposedly no role if you are referring to the public schools.\n\nWhat is the actual subject of your paper.\n\nSchools have played a big part in Removing Religion... or at least those people who complain that their children shouldn't be exposed to even the mention of God.\n\nI wonder what they are using for currency these days.
1108816
To Mainworry your answer is great although this came from modern mans deciphering, and deducing. Most people just read the bible without understanding the history or social events that were going on during that time  period that caused people to be moved enough to write something down about it. Unfortunately too many take it literally and usually break it down into verses which mold into their particular belief. With that said I can say that I feel that the gods of religions are the lesser gods and I feel that these gods probably do have some choices. A sort of limited choice over those so inclined to follow the god any particular religion.
343619
I don't find it hurtful, just sad that so many people are deluded into thinking it, that we sacrifice animals and children also that we worship Satan.  Blatantly untrue and just another attempt at demonizing.
368192
I am glad there is someone else out there questioning the manmade mythological figure as well as the socially constructed theologies or religious politics, I was raised in a catholic environment and decided based on the hypocrisy and stupidity that there was no god at the age of five,but only told my dad,my mom and her mom dragged us to church almost everyday and on the weekends where we were forced to witness a bunch of ignorant hypocrites who drank,beat their wives and children,whose sons were in prison for raping and murdering,daughters who have illegitimate children or are molested by a family member it is the same typical congregation anywhere you go, everyone goes to the meat market looking for a date,ready to punish and condemn other people for their mistakes or flaws while pretending to have none themselves,and pay (donate money) to listen to some stranger talk about something he does not believe in or follow himself (it is rare to find a sincere minister and you can tell that because when people find out one exists only his mass becomes a standing room only event and people come from all over to hear him)\nthe Jehovah witnesses were the most intolerant as children we were scared of them and we would run inside ,turn off the tv and play quietly pretending not to be home,when they came walking down the street with their watch tower magazines trying to convert everyone and prepared to argue with you for hours with your own bible if you give them a chance to,they rejected and disowned their own children and family members for their cult and we felt sorry for their kids and wanted nothing to do with their selfish god who seemed worse than our catholic one ,only the exdrug addict /alcoholic - former convict born again christians could match the persistence and brainwashed mentality of the witnesses, it's like their new addiction was jesus and they had to praise every other damn word out of your mouth it is sickening(remember these were observations of a child)as children we saw through all the crap that adults hide behind ,so they dont have to deal with what they dont understand, and watched them practice predjudice,bigoted behavior,heard their ugly intolerant words as they punish others for the same sins they commit themselves in private,I wonder happened to some of my peers and how they ended up becoming part of this virus of society, \nwhat bothers me most is the comments and questions that demonstrate many supposed christians dont know what the hell they are talking about - they miss the whole point or dont understand and apply their own supposed values to themselves but hold the world to their personal standards ,they all insist jesus came from a virgin (god forbid that vagina ever had a penis in it or an orgasm)but dont seem to understand or care about the significance of the heretic christs story or parable, either the whole lesson went over their head or they are stupid hypocrites that dont understand a blind man can smell their bs\nas an adult I am still learning about other religions and I see alot of ugly things people do to cause suffering in the name of god and alot less good coming from religion which seems to serve evil more than anything else\nI have seen men die afraid,sad,and alone knowing that they are somehow treated as subhuman and regarded with hatred by their own parents for being gay and having aids. \nsecond only to protesting at funerals this is one of the most vile unforgivable christian acts ,I have witnessed\nand if I were wrong and there is actually a special hell for those that believe in hell ,then I would gladly go there and wait for all those parents who did that to the children they brought into this world and pull their souls in after there bodies died and give satan a break while I did his work for them on their souls\nand no I am not a gay man,just a human female that cares about humans despite their assigned social statuses and labels\nif you have read any of my previous answers yo
840695
If we go back in history, there was so much violence how can anyone repay what has happened. Everyone no matter what their nationality would find many wrongs. But we have to stop measuring past history by today's standards and beliefs. History tells stories of abuse and violence, who knows what isn't documented. Whether or not you believe the bible, the stories in it are the most violent, but we can't imagine what was going on in our ancestors minds, nor can we even pretend to be able to put ourselves in their place. Whats done is done, and most important is learn from the past and not repeat it and hope that the ugliness never happens again no matter what color or race. Plus we are so intermingled who's to say if we did right some of the wrongs how would we determine who gets what? Who should pay? And would you be willing to pay a price for something a family member of yours did generations back? It takes all I've got just to explain to my kids what I did before they were born!
1009292
I think people not believing in God because "why would a God bring hurt,sickness,suffering on his people" is such a cop out. It is annoying. As far as the story about Egypt and everything, God was showing his power and his seriousness to the Pharaoh, it had to be done. God wouldn't do something like that for his "pleasure" but for his plan, and his plan is right.
950810
Like most early religions, the condemnation of education was a way for the church to control the people. It's unfortunate but it is a fact that all religions are power based pushing their agenda and loosing sight of what God asks of man. There is a big difference in being spiritual and being religious.  I would say that any religion would be better than no religion but we must search our hearts to find a true religion for ourselves and not just follow the man made teachings because it's convenient