Young children should not be forced into religion.

It is not the role of the church to make children better people, this is the role of parents. Again to prevent going around in circles I have already stated why I don't feel it is right for children to be forced into religion through school, parenting, church etc. I'm sorry but where is the proof that children who grow up in a religious household and go to church on a regular basis are less likely to turn to crime? Please don't make such a bold accusation unless you have evidence to back it up. You say "if a child is told to be good to reach heaven they will have a true desire to be good people because they can become good individuals." This was essentially what I dealt with except I reversed it as going to hell if they are bad rather than the sweeter sounding going to heaven if they are good. As this is essentially the same point or principle of point that I have already discussed so I shall group them together. Even if a child has a true desire to be good individuals because they are told that they will go to heaven if they are and hell if they are not, this is still the child wanting to act moral out of fear of being greatly punished. It is in no way wanting to be moral for the sake of being a good person or for the sake of helping others, it is being moral out of fear of burning in hell. This in turn is then teaching kids that it is okay just to be moral out of selfishness as the idea of doing good things just to save your own skin and that you don't actually truly care about morality or helping people is undoubtedly selfish. But this of course is not the child's fault, it is the fault of the individual who told the impressionable child such a wicked and fearful thing. You stated that you would like to know how the idea of hell causes mental harm to a child. Very well. The idea of hell, like all religious teachings are superstitious stories so first of all they simply shouldn't be told to the child as true. They should just be told that "this is what Christians believe" or whatever the religion may be. Now, bring this into the concept of the hell idea. This is completely a superstitious idea therefore how is it right to tell a child potentially false information and have a child to believe that such superstition is 100% true, rendering them in a mode of fear and worry. Not to mention that the idea of a young child going to hell is utterly grotesque. The bible also talks of exactly who will be going to hell: Revelation 21:8 ESV / 54 helpful votes "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."" Granted a young child mostly wouldn't be told about such passages but in hardcore Christian schools, churches or communities it is very possible that young children would be taught such ideas, it is after all in the bible. Also if a child can be told that they will go to hell if they are bad then I don't see why they wouldn't be told WHO goes to hell. I cannot seem to find the video now but Richard Dawkins tells of a time when a woman wrote to him saying that when she was 7, her friend died (who was also 7). As her friend was of a different religion, she was told that her friend had gone to hell and would roast there forever. How can such a teaching not harm a young impressionable child who believes this as true? I say keep superstitious teachings as JUST superstitious teachings rather than have a child believe that such horrific ideas are what's 100% true with no question. This is brain-washing, mental child abuse and deeply immoral. You say "Hell is not simply a dead end or the end of the road. It is a place where those who have not even tried to follow god or rejected him are taught about him not simply the end." You have provided no evidence of religions that teach this or where this idea can be found. You ask how Creationism is causing kids harm. It is causing them harm because of the simple fact that it is wrong information. Creationism has been disproven, Evolution on the other hand is a FACT. Where is the logical reasoning behind teaching kids wrong information? The only reason it is being taught is because it is a religious idea and people love the idea of young children following religion. This sounds reasonable enough however it is the way in which religious teachings are being taught where I see a major problem. The idea of a young impressionable child being forced into religion and then taught that such religious teachings are the absolute truth and that they need not think any more about it frustrates me greatly. Again, taking everything I said into account, the idea of what religion is and what it consists of should be taught but should NEVER be forced.