AJ the greek

I picked up this Focus on the Family Bulletin in a hospital lobby the other day and was floored by the discussion of allowing children to decide for themselves on religious matters.

<a href="http://www.family.org/docstudy/solid/a0008700.html" target="_blank">From Focus on Family Web Site</a>

He's basically saying that there is a critical time to get kids saved. I guess I wouldn't diagree, BUT, does this not betray some bit of doubt on the part of Dobson? Does he not have enough confidence in God's power to save? I am sure he's an Ephesians 2:9 kind of guy.(God does the saving, etc.)

Just a inconsistency in theology, but what's new?

The article gave me confidence that I can raise a freethinker however, sorry James.

There's hope after all against the power of the Holy Ghost, the parents are responsible for saving kids from hell!

On this topic, I remember a Baptist missionary stating some statistic where if you're not saved by age 18, that there is very little chance of it happening later. Can't remember the numbers. A bunch of doubters of their all-powerful God.

typed too fast, had to edit and add that last thought.

[ March 31, 2002: Message edited by: AJ the greek ]</p>

Grumpy

If so, that basically consigns born-again Christianity to the dustbin of "when I was young & stupid." You know, like underoos and Goth makeup.

AJ the greek

When I was young and stupid...


but then again I was 25, and it only lasted for two years. Maybe if they had got to me sooner. Anyway, I think it was just a pitch for child evangelism, maybe just a "holy lie", wish I took better notes.

David Bowden

If this is so, then demographics seem to be in favor of a massive culture-shift away from Christianity within one generation: Teens and young adults today have by far the lowest commitment to Christian faith of all age groups. I remember reading this in one of the big religion polls that came out last year; maybe it was the CUNY survey?

Lookout! America may catch up with Europe yet!

-Wanderer

[ March 31, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]</p>

babelfish

So God is similar to the tobacco companies in this regard. The majority of people who get hooked (on religion or cigarettes) seem to do so before they are 20.

This gives me massive amounts of encouragement that my kids won't get sucked in. Although they may sneak a smoke, I doubt they'll be sneaking into church.

babelfish

Quote from the article:

Judging by the number of people, on this board and elsewhere, who were thoroughly indoctrinated into one religion or another and later rejected it, this is surely is NOT correct.

SanDiegoAtheist

Yup. The statistics were actually collected by the Barna Institute (a Christian think tank).

Odds of being saved before 14 (the percentage chance of becoming 'born again') : 32%

Odds of being saved from 14 - 18 : 4%

Odds of being saved 19 - death : 6%

<a href="http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PagePressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=37&Reference=B " target="_blank">Teens and Adults have little chance of accepting Christ as their savior</a>

Brainwash em young, or they're gonna wind up in hell.

Cheers,

The San Diego Atheist

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: SanDiegoAtheist ]</p>

Grumpy

There's a Child Evangelism Fellowship franchise just down the street from my house. I sometimes imagine myself walking in there and asking if they believe that a child should decide whether to be a Republican or a Democrat before they enter grade school. (Okay, maybe a bad example.)

And they worry about gay people recruiting children.

Pantera

And So they should. Just look at <a href="http://www.theonion.com/onion3326/homosexualrecruit.html" target="_blank">this</a>.

never been there

1 - why don't they interview Hawaiians or Alaskans? Too far from G_d?

2 - I figure kids under 14 get religion because their parents teach them to be religious. I think it's hopeful that 2/3 of the children of believers are skeptics. Comparing the 4% who sign up in the four teenage years to the 6% in the next 50 years, teens are where it's at for recruiting. I think that the evangelists have already figured that out.