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Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo
While I agree that a four year old lacks the cognitive ability to choose to place his soul in the hands of his Creator, I am mildly suprised at the hatred and vitriol spewed out.
Borderline child abuse? Crazy?
The kid is doing little different than your average 4yr old in their kindergarten school play. He repeats what he has learned on a stage with as much emotive force as he can in front of a crowd. So are all kindergarten plays now borderline child abuse? Or is this "child abuse" merely because you don't agree with the subject matter?
At the least, he likely has a great future as a thespian should he choose it. Children his age often perform - whether in a play, singing or other activity (like with a musical instrument) - and its not just relegated to churches. The outcry here is simply because it involves a religion that many despise for their own reasons.
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The quote which I cited from the child's parent is from the vid of the 19 month old baby, hence the word infant. I didn't watch the vid of the 4yr old, but he probably uses words there which he does not understand, and does not feel any compassion to a deity - at least not in the way adults do. Which makes it even worse than the incomprehensible babbling he did as a baby.
It only has secondary something to do with religion, I have the same objections against child beauty pageants. People project their own wishes and hopes on their children and force them to act like adults. This is more a compensation for their own life than a legitimate wish that their kid has successful life.
If a kid takes part in a kindergarten play, it is a different thing. If the kid is not forced to participate, then it is ok - a little parental motivation is also ok.
I have seen kids from my friends dance to music which they may never listen to again in their later life. It is fun and a laugh and just a mirror of how us adults behave at a party. I would object if they would force the kid on stage and then put up the video on YouTube to show how the kid is the new Fred Astaire.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo
Now if people of age are swayed by his oratory, if the churchgoers are not discerning enough to realize he has not even reached the "age of responsibility" (though exactly what that is remains highly debated) or if congregation members are willing to somehow think that he actually understands what the devil he is "preaching", then they are ignorant.
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This was exactly my point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo
Ignorant doesn't equate to crazy. Nor does it equate to "borderline child abuse".
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and here we disagree. I have my doubts that the parents do the best for their child but only force their way of life onto the kid. I am aware that this is a big gray area. When the parents are religious, the naturally try to give the child something on the way which they see as important, same with other values they agree on. This is called education. However one should be aware that a child is neither a copy of oneself nor a trophy.