Soviet example illustrates the power of parental influence on children
Stuart Stevenson (Letters, December 27) tries to refute my claim that the survival of religious faith depends on the indoctrination of young children by pointing out that Christianity did not die out in the USSR.
Stuart Stevenson (Letters, December 27) tries to refute my claim that the survival of religious faith depends on the indoctrination of young children by pointing out that Christianity did not die out in the USSR.
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His argument fails because, despite the Communist regime's efforts to eliminate the public dissemination of Christianity, the most powerful religious influence of all – that of parents on children – persisted in private. It was not illegal to be a Christian; the number of believers made a total ban on religious expression impractical; and the regime lacked the resources to monitor activity in every home. Moreover, the failure of Communism to satisfy the populace in material terms and the brutality with which dissenting ideologies were suppressed propagated a widespread, if covert, desire for a counter-culture, and Christianity presented itself as the most obvious candidate. The example of the USSR proves only that heavy-handedness can be counter-productive, and parental influence is not easily usurped.
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Soviet example illustrates the power of parental influence on children
Stuart Stevenson (Letters, December 27) tries to refute my claim that the survival of religious faith depends on the indoctrination of young children by pointing out that Christianity did not die out in the USSR.
His argument fails because, despite the Communist regime's efforts to eliminate the public dissemination of Christianity, the most powerful religious influence of all – that of parents on children – persisted in private. It was not illegal to be a Christian; the number of believers made a total ban on religious expression impractical; and the regime lacked the resources to monitor activity in every home. Moreover, the failure of Communism to satisfy the populace in material terms and the brutality with which dissenting ideologies were suppressed propagated a widespread, if covert, desire for a counter-culture, and Christianity presented itself as the most obvious candidate. The example of the USSR proves only that heavy-handedness can be counter-productive, and parental influence is not easily usurped.
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We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
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