SarraceniaScott

I have heard people claim that being educated in a liberal religous doctrine (regardless of whether that person becomes a theist or atheist) is a vaccination against fundamentalism and other cults, and that it's one that complements bringing your children up to be free and critical thinkers.

The claim is based on the assumption that a person may be either hard-wired for religious faith, or suffer such fear of death they will grab onto any religious belief that promises salvation. If not exposed to a liberal religion, they will be a ripe target for fundies and other cultists.

I am an atheist, and the claim seems to make some sense to me; I tend to view religion as a mind-virus, and consider liberal religion as a less virulent strain, so it follows that it would serve as the "vaccinia" against fundamentalism's "smallpox".

I'd like to know what theists and atheists both on this board think about it.

Rational BAC

As a baptized and confirmed Episcopalian (of the so called "higher" type of Episcopalian)---------

I have absolutely no clue about what the Fundies are talking about. Completely foreign to all my Christian upbringing as an Episcopalian.

Lemur

Courses in comparative religion would be much, much more useful than education in any one religion, no matter how liberal, imho. Assuming of course that this was taught from the stance that all religion traditions are equal, rather than as an apologetic of one particular religion against each of the other faiths.

Speaking from experience, one of the best cures of religious mania is to be made to recognize that your religion is not unique but rather fits the general pattern of all religions.

THX1138

In my own personal experience, this is what led me to deconvert.

J

newtype_alpha

From my own experience, comparitive religion classes are not only very eye opening experiences for many students, but in my high school they were also the most popular classes in the entire history division. You had to sign a waiting list at least a semester in advance just to get in. I think that probably has to do with the fact that we had a REALLY good history teacher directing the class, plus the fact that younger people tend to be alot more curious about other cultures and other societies different from the "ordinary" one they see every day.

I won't comment on religion being a mind virus, but fundamentalism almost certainly is. The fact that it affects all religions and cultures the same way wherever it pops up is testement to its nature; if you walk around outside in 20 degree weather in a t-shirt and shorts, you're likely to catch a cold. If you walk around in todays modern world completely ignorant of other cultures and religious beliefs, you're likely to catch Fundamentalism. :down:

Godless Wonder

I say if you spend a lot of time in close proximity to a whole bunch of humans, you're likely to catch a cold, regardless of the air temperature, and if you are more isolated, you're less likely to catch a cold, regardless of the air temperature.
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Joni-san

Well here in the land of the midnight sun we get education on X-ianity when we enter school (although Muslims and those who have permission are excempted) and this continues through grades 1-6. Usually one gets the first taste of comparative religion at the end of sixth grade. In the Finnish equivalent of Junior High the first year of Religion class is spent on comparative religion and later comparing the X-ian denominations. Religion also seems to pop up during history lessons (Well considereing that one of the common ways of converting Finns [in the first crusades] was forced babtism and decapitation I guess it's reasonable...)

I guess the first years could be called indoctorination, but luckily I got scot free from any bad influence (and I managed to score higher than most X-ian students too on tests while doing it :devil3: -)

20 degrees? Isn't that a good day for swimming and other outdoors stuff

Aravnah Ornan

If liberal religious education is a vaccine, it has side effects. I've known people who received a liberal religious education and ended up liking the religion but disliking the cherry-picking and fluffy-bunny aspects of the liberal version of the religion. As a result, they fundified.

Kassiana

I was in UU church and Sunday school for two years before becoming a fundamentalist Christian. It didn't stop me one bit. I'm sure there are others who could say the same.

Philippe*

My parents had not been raised like catholic fundies, but they tried to raise me their first child (altar boy, boy scout, education with jesuits, relation with opus dei, aso...), and in a lesser way their second one to be very traditionalist catholics, but it was a failure with my adolescent crisis, and the last children had got almost no religious education. They have understood hardcore religion sucked in some ways. So now everybody is vaccined.

Philippe