Indoctrinate our children

[Prov.31Princess]

So, I have become quite intrigued at the amount of Muslim children that can quote/sing almost the entire Koran and they are barely 10 years old. I watched a YouTube video of a 2 year old girl answering questions about the Koran and about the Islamic faith with amazing accuracy. I watched another video of a 3 year old girl telling a story about Muhammed and answering tough questions about their feelings on the Jews and Christians. I have seen pictures of 1 year olds praying with their fathers and little girls praying with their mothers. It's amazing, it truly is. I think if we could get passed the fact that they are Muslim, we might actually be impressed with how well their children grasp their religion. And there is so much more to be learned in Islam than there is with Christianity. They have special sayings they have to quote before they do specific things. They have specific prayers said at specific times of day and for specific reasons. Then I look at our children. We are so proud when they come home quoting a scripture verse they learned in Sunday School. We are proud of them when they remember to say their prayers before bed. Don't get me wrong...those things are amazing. But, I'm wondering if Christianity would be flourishing like Islam, if we were able to "indoctrinate" our children as well as they do. These children know the importance of their faith from infancy. Is not our faith in the one true God more important? My son is 2 years old and he knows more songs from Blues Clues and Backyardigans than he knows Bible songs. He can quote an entire episode (in baby talk along with some real words) of Backyardigans, but he doesn't even know a phrase from Scripture. Most of those children know the Koran in Arabic and in English. It's just amazing. I would love to know how they do it personally. But, in seeing all of this, are we really doing enough when it comes to the faith and spirituallity of our children?

 

[HoneyBee84]

Sep. 18, 2008 at 1:12 PM We should teach our children more but I have a hard time with seeing that line between indoctrination and brain-washing. The Bible definitely says to train our children in the ways they should go and when they are older they will not depart from it. But what is the difference in "training" and indoctrinating? Confused.

[Prov.31Princess]

Sep. 18, 2008 at 2:11 PM

Some see the word indoctrinate and think brainwashing. Brainwashing is teaching and training, but with force and aggression. Indoctrinating is teaching doctrine, beliefs, and ideas with bias perhaps, but with an uncritical mind. Teaching our children to accept what the Bible says without any question or doubt could be considered indoctrinating them. Teaching them that Baptist or Catholic or any denomination is the only way is indoctrinating them into our beliefs. Indoctrinating has negative connotations, yes. But, is it something we may need to do with our kids in order to win their souls back from the world and Satan? Perhaps.

(Original Poster)

[MemawBrie]

Sep. 18, 2008 at 2:15 PM

I'm always amazed at the ability the little ones have to memorize Scripture. I get the biggest kick out of listening to their memory verses in AWANA. They're so precious!

[Prov.31Princess]

Sep. 18, 2008 at 2:16 PM

I know. Me too. It's always cute to hear little kids do things that adults have such a hard time with! LOL

(Original Poster)