Tonight, at a funeral viewing for my aunt who recently passed away, my family was saying prayers before the viewing began. During these prayers, one of my cousin's children stood out in the middle of the floor while all of us were standing around in a semi circle. As my family said their prayers, I couldn't help but stare at the little girl as she just looked in amazement at what was going on. I kept trying to think what was she thinking??
Why are they all speaking in the same tone? Very monotonous if you ask me! Could use a tune to lighten it up. Oddly, they are all saying the same words; or at least that's what it sounds like to me. What in the world are they saying? Why are they saying this?
Now, without disrespecting religion (as I have a high respect for all religions and actually enjoy learning about both religion and mythology), I have to ask the same question I ask when it comes to medicine (we'll save that topic for another day); are we limiting ourselves by teaching children religious beliefs so young? Sure, many people believe religious teachings at young age help children grow up more pure, more righteous, on the right path, and simply overall better people. This is due, obviously, to the moralistic teachings of the Bible, Torah, Koran and other teachings. However, is this teaching inhibiting ideas from ever being created?
Let's face it, children have the brightest minds and most vivid imaginations. All of us, surely, can remember times growing up when drives to certain places almost seemed like adventures across the world...only to grow up and learn it's right across the bridge and down the hill. Or imagine that far off tall buildings were castles in a modern day world; only to find out it's a really neatly designed flower shop. Children have great minds! They see the world that many adults will never see it. It's very often sad to see an adult who loses their imagination and sees the world as a solid, stoic place rather than a bending, changing place. So I question, does teaching a religion to a child at such a young age really help?
With Scruff McGruff, Big Bird, Dora the Explorer, Blue, mom, dad, grandpa, and grandma...don't children have enough influence to become good people without the influence of religion? Isn't the idea of religion supposed to be a relationship with you and faith; alone? How is a child supposed to make that decision, even consciously when older, if that is all they are known? Being brought up Catholic, there were times you weren't allowed to ask why? Or go out on a limb and try to see something else from another side. It was just wrong. You are just supposed to go to church because that is your relationship with God. Growing up, I feel like I never had a choice to think about those things of life. Why are we here? God made us! Well, in my younger, more intelligent days, I may have come up with a damn good hypothesis! I may now, although the chances of that dwindle as time passes on.
The point I am making with this idea is this little girl has a mindful of ideas, thoughts, opinions, and beliefs that the world may have never seen! And most likely the world will never see that due to the oppression that comes, sadly, from sternly being taught a religion at such a young age. The greatest question a child continuously asks, "why?" is hushed by religious beliefs instead of egging the child on to answer their own question. In school, when a student asks a question, a good teacher does not simply give an answer to the student. The teacher responds with a question to make the child think, to come up with their own answer, to get to the spot on their own using their own ideas, thoughts, opinions, and beliefs.
Religion is not bad. In fact, it helps many people day in and day out. However, I cannot help to think what a child would think without the influence of a belief they were not innately bestowed with.
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