Nina Ezell

Children are sponges. They are delicate, and we must be careful about how we mold them; for they are the next generation. There are so many opinions on how to raise a child. Is there even truthfully a right way? What do you teach them about? What is appropriate to know at what age? "Are body parts too real for my two-year-old?", Is the idea of sex too much to handle for a pre-teen? Of all the questions parents ask, very few consider the topic of religion. Is indoctrination a violation of children's autonomy? Many children, around the world are subject to religious traditions and practices before the age of 1. Is it unfair that they did not get to choose? Will t hey be shunned for exploring different religious pathways later in life? The same way parents hesitate before piercings their newborn daughter's ears, or cutting a child's hair before they're allowed to choose... shouldn't religion apply the same way? Through this project, I want to bring to light the cultural differences in the value of religious education and its impact on children.