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Originally Posted by scaeagles
I actually think it is. As a parent, the hardest thing to do with my children - and I have heard this from other parents as well - is to teach then to NOT be a me first selfish person who is interested in their own well being alone.
Hateful and cruel? Not those. But self serving above all else? Certainly. And a self serving attitude becomes one that can be cruel and hateful to acheive ones ends.
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I disagree. I don't even think that the self serving attitude needs to be taught out of children. I think Wendy is right, they are selfish because when they are small and their wants and needs are the same, their needs are (hopefully) met right away. It's an adjustment phase as they get older and have to learn to function as a member of the family, but they will learn it just by watching those around them put others first. Jesus taught by example, did he not?
I'm not addressing this to you, Scaeagles, but what puts me off the most about Christianity (and I'm a Christian) is the parents. Or I should say a lot of the parents that I've encountered. There seems to be a mindset that kids are bad and if they aren't forced to do the right thing they never will. That outlook is what gives sadistic nuts like Ezzo and the Pearls* followers.
I don't think that God created bad people. It only makes sense in terms of Christianity to assume that people are inherently good and giving if we are made in His image.
*Ezzo and the Pearls both write really sick child rearing books advocating child abuse. Several deaths have occured because of these books.