I Think Indoctrinating Children With Religion Is Child Abuse
Doctor Jesus... There are so many reasons why I consider indoctrinating kids with religion is child abuse. I chose, however, to make this story about only one of those reasons. One that has affected many children growing up in religious households. One that has affected me.
My father was the picture of practicality. He made sure, that we as his kids, get everything that we need. Then, at the ripe old age of 40 he converted to Christianity - or was forced into it by my step mom. Either way, he made his choice.
I was in high-school at the time and was an atheist. My health became somewhat of a concern when I barely had the energy to stand up in the mornings. I spent more time in the hospital than at school. In the beginning my father was supportive, willing to do anything to help me get better.
He started taking religion more and more seriously. Then he started taking me to exorcisms, claiming that it was a demon that made me ill. He completely withdrew all medical help I was receiving. Obviously, my condition grew worse. He told me that I brought it upon myself by not following "the path of Jesus". All the while I was deteriorating and suffering. A parent is supposed to look out for the welfare of their children. Believing that some deity is going to come heal me because of his faith endangered and harmed me. Is that not child abuse?
When my father saw that I was getting too bad, he took me back to the hospital. It was the doctors who managed to help me, not God. Doctor Jesus never came. If it wasn't for my father's relentless practicality, I would probably not have lived.
That is how dangerous religious beliefs were to me, and they weren't even my beliefs. Now imagine you raise a child to believe that God will cure all his ills. He won't take his medication, or go to the hospital when he needs to... instead he relies on God to make it go away. He will die.
No amount of faith can replace skilled doctors. Letting your health or the health of your loved ones deteriorate out of some religious delusion is dangerous. I was there. I called, but Doctor Jesus never came.
My father was the picture of practicality. He made sure, that we as his kids, get everything that we need. Then, at the ripe old age of 40 he converted to Christianity - or was forced into it by my step mom. Either way, he made his choice.
I was in high-school at the time and was an atheist. My health became somewhat of a concern when I barely had the energy to stand up in the mornings. I spent more time in the hospital than at school. In the beginning my father was supportive, willing to do anything to help me get better.
He started taking religion more and more seriously. Then he started taking me to exorcisms, claiming that it was a demon that made me ill. He completely withdrew all medical help I was receiving. Obviously, my condition grew worse. He told me that I brought it upon myself by not following "the path of Jesus". All the while I was deteriorating and suffering. A parent is supposed to look out for the welfare of their children. Believing that some deity is going to come heal me because of his faith endangered and harmed me. Is that not child abuse?
When my father saw that I was getting too bad, he took me back to the hospital. It was the doctors who managed to help me, not God. Doctor Jesus never came. If it wasn't for my father's relentless practicality, I would probably not have lived.
That is how dangerous religious beliefs were to me, and they weren't even my beliefs. Now imagine you raise a child to believe that God will cure all his ills. He won't take his medication, or go to the hospital when he needs to... instead he relies on God to make it go away. He will die.
No amount of faith can replace skilled doctors. Letting your health or the health of your loved ones deteriorate out of some religious delusion is dangerous. I was there. I called, but Doctor Jesus never came.
31-35, F
