Ragnarok

"The thin child thought that these stories-- the sweet, cotton-wool meek and mild one, the barbaric sacrificial gloating one, were both human make-ups, like the life of the giants in the Riesengebirge. Neither aspect made her want to write, or fed her imagination. They numbed it. She tried to think she might be wicked for thinking these things. She might be like Ignorance, in Pilgrim's Progress, who fell into the pit at the gate of heaven. She tried to feel wicked. But her mind veered away, to where it was alive."  pg. 12

This passage shows an aspect of religion, and the teaching of it, that has never sat well with me. In Sunday school, one of the first places that small children are exposed to religion in a way that they can comprehend it, there is clearly a lot of emphasis on the good that comes from accepting the teachings. But there is also an ulterior agenda of grooming behaviors that reinforce this commitment to religion until they are old enough to be making the conscious decision to be followers, and make the necessary sacrifices and lifestyle choices. This means that questions about religion are often avoided, redirected, or simply left unanswered-- in hopes that the urge to critically analyze is dropped for good. This creates a sort of taboo of discourse about religion between everyone, and between adults and children especially. It feels wrong to ask questions, and it creates the illusion that there is something wrong with questioning your beliefs; as if there is weakness in not blindly and boldly accepting what is fed to you your whole life. Children feel alone in their doubt, like there is something wrong with them, and this spawns feelings of shame and a misunderstanding of what one's relationship with religion should be. I believe that if people are truly so concerned with forming lasting faith in children, they should allow them to explore and ask questions and analyze, and to see the value in the way critical thought can reinforce your own beliefs. Instead of creating a hostile, tight-lipped environment for curious young minds, why not use this as an opportunity to let them form their own informed opinions? This discourse could be exactly what is missing from religion, exactly what is needed to make minds 'come alive.'