Passing down information to the next generation is necessary to help them grow and understand the world we live in. The first source of information for an individual growing up and learning about the world is usually their family. There are lots of ways to teach children such as training, informing and leading by example.
Unfortunately, indoctrination can make its way into our lives.
I would like to think that most people who indoctrinate others in their religious or philosophical approaches to life have the best intentions at heart. I grew up in what I would call a strict religious environment that influenced almost every thought that I had as a child.
I was given a very detailed path for my life within the church and was always chosen for leadership roles in my particular age group. I did not start questioning who I was or what I wanted to be until I was a teenager. It seemed like every innocent question that sprouted from my head was typically followed by a lecture. I was always pointed to find all my answers through the church.
I began having doubts about my faith and openly discussed my thoughts and feelings with family and friends. When church officials became aware of my lack of faith, they gave me more assignments to complete and persuaded my family to take me to psychologists and psychiatrists in the church to help me with my mental and spiritual dissonance.
As I grew older I noticed the church conveniently insulated itself from criticism by teaching its members not to question their teachings, which is the very definition of indoctrination.
Eventually I rejected the church and its teachings and cultivated my own identity and philosophy on life. It has taken me years to actually be content and comfortable with who I am. I spent my entire childhood repeatedly being told what I was supposed to become, when in my opinion I should have been more focused on learning about the world in an unfiltered, unbiased and non-judgmental environment.
I try to accept everyone for their way of thinking, and I do my best to love everyone equally. It doesn’t matter to me what someone believes in, and I think religion offers a lot of people happiness and answers that make sense to them. However, I am very against having an individual be the victim of a heavily indoctrinated environment where a person has almost no individuality.
