THIS is what we are warning you all about!!

[JimL]

JimL suggesting Chinese education camps analogues. Hurray for fedora atheists.

Really! I didn't realize that Chinese education camps taught people to think for themselves. I thought that they were more religion like, teaching their young to all believe the same things. We call that brainwashing nowadays.

[Leonhard]

Really! I didn't realize that Chinese education camps taught people to think for themselves.

Chinese education camps are infamous for actually taking children from believing parents, and teaching them God does not exist. You can try to pick other things that aren't equal with your proposal and theirs, but if what you propose is the government taking children from believing parents, then you're proposing education camps.

At the very least you're proposing something horrible evil, condemned by both religious people and feminists.

[Cow Poke]

At the very least you're proposing something horrible evil, condemned by both religious people and feminists.

Jimmy just repeats and spews forth liberal echo chamber talking points - he rarely actually understands them.

[JimL]

Chinese education camps are infamous for actually taking children from believing parents, and teaching them God does not exist. You can try to pick other things that aren't equal with your proposal and theirs, but if what you propose is the government taking children from believing parents, then you're proposing education camps.

Good thing I never proposed that then.

At the very least you're proposing something horrible evil, condemned by both religious people and feminists.

What is horribly evil about teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves?

[mossrose]

What is horribly evil about teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves?

What is it that makes you think that Christian parents don't do the same thing? We teach our children about God, but they make their own decisions as to whether or not they believe in Him. There is no difference between atheist parents and Christian parents according to your statement here.

You teach your kids your beliefs and I teach my kids mine. But you call my way evil and your way good. I say it's the other way around.

So here we are.

[Cow Poke]

What is horribly evil about teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves?

That's really kind of a goofy question, Jimmy, because there has to be a framework. If your child picked up a bottle of ammonia and started to drink it, would you just sit back and say, "ya know, children need to make decisions for themselves...." Or would you quickly and decisively intervene?

[rogue06]

Good thing I never proposed that then.


What is horribly evil about teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves?

Nothing. But first you need to teach them things like what is right and wrong and what is true and what isn't. Or are you advocating the "Teach Both Sides" and let them decide for themselves approach.

[Cow Poke]

What is horribly evil about teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves?

I'm thinking maybe this is what happened to you, Jimmy, and why you are like you are. Maybe nobody actually took the time to teach you right from wrong, and important things like the principle of "unintended consequences". Perhaps you were just left to develop on your own with no guidance?

[Carrikature]

What sort of thing?

Subpoenaing sermons.

[Carrikature]

That's really kind of a goofy question, Jimmy, because there has to be a framework. If your child picked up a bottle of ammonia and started to drink it, would you just sit back and say, "ya know, children need to make decisions for themselves...." Or would you quickly and decisively intervene?

Part of teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves is giving them that framework. I'm responding to you specifically, but there are several people in this thread that seem oblivious of that particular aspect.

It's NOT just "let them do whatever they want", which is what your ammonia example would be.

[firstfloor]

.... to teach you right from wrong, and important things like the principle of "unintended consequences".

[Cow Poke]

Part of teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves is giving them that framework.

I'm responding to you specifically, but there are several people in this thread that seem oblivious of that particular aspect.

And the framework comes from our own beliefs, experiences and background.

It's NOT just "let them do whatever they want", which is what your ammonia example would be.

There are SO many things that a child can do, ignorant of the consequences, that can be dangerous or even deadly.

[Cow Poke]

... While we do need to pass on certain skills and facts about the world...

And, hence, the problem - I'm sure you and I would choose different "skills and facts about the world" to pass on. And while there may well be cases of "over-parenting", I think we're at a far greater risk from under-parenting.

[Tassman]

That's really kind of a goofy question, Jimmy, because there has to be a framework. If your child picked up a bottle of ammonia and started to drink it, would you just sit back and say, "ya know, children need to make decisions for themselves...." Or would you quickly and decisively intervene?

In an enlightened secular society the "framework" must be a secular one, not a religion-based one. There can be no way to resolve conflicts about moral issues when members of competing denominations and religions hold absolute beliefs which are mutually exclusive.

[Cow Poke]

In an enlightened secular society the "framework" must be a secular one, not a religion-based one.

So, you're going to come to my house and deprive me of raising my children the way I see fit?

There can be no way to resolve conflicts about moral issues when members of competing denominations and religions hold absolute beliefs which are mutually exclusive.

I'll tell you what - you raise your kids the way you see fit, and keep your big enlightened butt out of my business.