by Richard Collins

Created on: April 21, 2008

When it comes to religion, children are the unwitting victims of a geographical lottery. Where you were born closely links to what religion your parents follow. This in turn is the best predictor of what you wind up with, often for life. The name given to this phenomenon is hereditary religion, which is defined as the propagation of a religion down through the generations based on the indoctrination of credulous young children before they can resist. If religion was all they got, perhaps this would not be objectionable. Unfortunately, they also get class enmities, religious doctrinal disagreements, nationalistic disputes, tribal jealousies, and other fractious hatreds that make hereditary religion a curse on humanity.

In ancient patriarchal societies husbands had absolute control over their wives and children, who were considered property. In Roman law male children inherited the family wealth and they were carefully groomed for their responsibilities. So important were male children under Roman law that a powerful patriarch could practically murder a rebellious male child with impunity (I know I will hear from at least a few frustrated parents of teenagers on this point). We have to imagine male children in those ancient households sat up straight in their high chairs, did not sass back and intently focused on every bit of vital information they were taught about Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, and all the rest. One source lists 19 Roman deities, in all. Whew, at least our modern monotheistic religions improve the efficiency of teaching a child religion. Perhaps parents had something to do with this.

According to some historians, our present attraction to the doctrine of parent's rights traces back to patriarchal customs, such as described for the Romans. Whether or not that theory is true, few would deny that the forces behind hereditary religion operate openly and freely all over the world today. Woe is to the incautious person who challenges parental rights. They will quickly learn they have stepped into a minefield and that parents regard their right to indoctrinate their children with their religion as sacrosanct. Many parents will offer free psychiatric advice to their overly bold challenger and even suggest appropriate medications. All in an effort to be helpful, I am sure.

Because of a Supreme Court-recognized right to control children's religion, "[p]arents may believe as a matter of religious freedom [that] they have a right to raise their children in their

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