Religion - when should people learn about it.

[sumskilz]

Did they analyze all the possible universes that a god could create?

Yes

[Bethrezen]

I'm also wondering what I'm going to do when I'll have a child.

In my country (Romania), all children must be baptized asap to the Christian Orthodox religion. There are no exceptions. It's no law or anything, but everyone does it. And everyone expects you to do it.
Me and my wife already passed through fire with our families by not having a religious wedding. Not baptizing my child/children would be Total War :-)
Why should children be labelled as belonging to a religious sect this young? Why should they be exposed to pagan Christianized traditions which make no sense in a modern society?

In our schools, going to a "Religion" class means going to learn about the Orthodox religion, not religion in general. Most religion teachers aren't teachers at all; they are priests who are doing a part time job between a wedding and a funerary. I don't know how it's like in other countries, but if you teach someone about religion, then teach him about all religions, and about the history of religion (how it appeared, why it appeared, the evolution of religion over the time etc.).

[Phier]

My children were both baptized. Being I do not believe in god I see nothing wrong with that and it keeps older family members happy. I wouldn't worry too much about them getting religion classes. Teach a child to be a critical thinker and they can free themselves. If they can't, then odds are they are better off with religion.

[Sphere]

I'm also wondering what I'm going to do when I'll have a child.

In my country (Romania), all children must be baptized asap to the Christian Orthodox religion. There are no exceptions. It's no law or anything, but everyone does it. And everyone expects you to do it.
Me and my wife already passed through fire with our families by not having a religious wedding. Not baptizing my child/children would be Total War :-)
Why should children be labelled as belonging to a religious sect this young? Why should they be exposed to pagan Christianized traditions which make no sense in a modern society?

In our schools, going to a "Religion" class means going to learn about the Orthodox religion, not religion in general. Most religion teachers aren't teachers at all; they are priests who are doing a part time job between a wedding and a funerary. I don't know how it's like in other countries, but if you teach someone about religion, then teach him about all religions, and about the history of religion (how it appeared, why it appeared, the evolution of religion over the time etc.).

Was there a post Ceausescu religious revival like there was in Poland and Russia, or was it never really repressed?

[Sar1n]

Yes

Do you realize that such thing is impossible, because, since you believe that god is omnipotent, the number of possible universes is, by your beliefs, infinite?

Anyway...children shouldn't be taught this or that religion. They should be taught what religions are, and what's the difference between them and science, logic and rational thinking. Only then they should be taught pecific religions and given the choice.

[Bethrezen]

Was there a post Ceausescu religious revival like there was in Poland and Russia, or was it never really repressed?

There was no religious repression during Ceausescu, except the anti-communist and anti-Russia propaganda we got fed after '89 saying otherwise, to make sure our country stays away from the East for good.

[Taiji]

I'm also wondering what I'm going to do when I'll have a child.

In my country (Romania), all children must be baptized asap to the Christian Orthodox religion. There are no exceptions. It's no law or anything, but everyone does it. And everyone expects you to do it.
Me and my wife already passed through fire with our families by not having a religious wedding. Not baptizing my child/children would be Total War :-)
Why should children be labelled as belonging to a religious sect this young? Why should they be exposed to pagan Christianized traditions which make no sense in a modern society?

In our schools, going to a "Religion" class means going to learn about the Orthodox religion, not religion in general. Most religion teachers aren't teachers at all; they are priests who are doing a part time job between a wedding and a funerary. I don't know how it's like in other countries, but if you teach someone about religion, then teach him about all religions, and about the history of religion (how it appeared, why it appeared, the evolution of religion over the time etc.).

Given the 'Christianised pagan' (great term btw) culture, I'd say baptise them to avoid persecution. I'm sure some Christians will even treat a baby badly due to their kooky beliefs. It also might be sensible to teach them to pretend to be Christian when it matters - Just remember to teach that there's no ethical problem in tricking a devout trickster; it's not like robbing a robber because you don't end up with equivalent of stolen goods in any way.

[Sphere]

There was no religious repression during Ceausescu, except the anti-communist and anti-Russia propaganda we got fed after '89 saying otherwise, to make sure our country stays away from the East for good.

Thanks.

[Roma_Victrix]

Too many of our idle Athenian youth today openly mock and question the gods. It is time for them to fear Zeus once again!

[Mayer]

There was no religious repression during Ceausescu, except the anti-communist and anti-Russia propaganda we got fed after '89 saying otherwise, to make sure our country stays away from the East for good.

What about Systematization destroying 3 monasteries, 3 synagogues and 20 churches as well as moving several churches into a narrowing neighborhood to make place for a grandiose rebuilding of Bucharest (in particular the Bulevardul Victoria Socialismului (Victory Road of Socialism) with the palace of the people, the world's largest public building with an administrative function at the end) or the Romanian Orthodox Chuch's obsession to create a monstrous cathedral even surpassing Ceausescu's prestige building and building 10 new churches each month in poverty stricken Romania to immortialize their rule over men now that communism has fallen?

btw it is all financed by tax money and everyone who dares to oppose the construction of these churches is threatened with anathema

[Bethrezen]

What about Systematization destroying 3 monasteries, 3 synagogues and 20 churches as well as moving several churches into a narrowing neighborhood to make place for a grandiose rebuilding of Bucharest (in particular the Bulevardul Victoria Socialismului (Victory Road of Socialism) with the palace of the people, the world's largest public building with an administrative function at the end)

Like I said. It's anti-communism propaganda. When you want to make room in a city which was and still is in continuing growth, rebuild infrastructure, you need to relocate entire structures, be it churches, monasteries, schools, shops, houses. It's because of that effort Bucharest currently has the infrastructure as it is (even if now it's totally outdated) and residential buildings with more than 4 stores. What would it take to upgrade today the Bucharest's infrastructure? Well, of course, more relocation. If you move a church to make room for a boulevard, it doesn't count as religious repression...

Romanian Orthodox Chuch's obsession to create a monstrous cathedral even surpassing Ceausescu's prestige building and building 10 new churches each month in poverty stricken Romania to immortialize their rule over men now that communism has fallen

Exactly. Imagine trying to build something actually useful and modern in an area full of churches. Besides, what was before Ceausescu's prestige building is now our government's prestige building, the Parliament Palace. Ironic.

[Mayer]

well it is evident that the PCR aimed to reduce the influence of religion on the populace (true to Marx's motto "religion is the opium of the masses") and wasn't soft on church property with getting rid of historical places of worship in order to make room for a grandiose rebuilding of the city.

and just because the parliament resides in the palace doesn't mean that the current rulers unanimously view the structure favorably, those who liked the old cosmopolitan Bucharest more call it authoritarian piece of city planning à la Hitler and Stalin, others who look on the upkeep costs want to transform it into a shopping mall or entertainment center to make it profitable and the church places a even bigger building near it to inflate their ego.