Children are in fear of hell

Mr Ernest Vella

Jun 27th 2012, 17:10

Dr. Grech ghamel sweeping statement u m'ghamilx ricerka. Dan minghajr ma akkuza lil hadd, akkuza lil kulhadd...lil kull min jaghti sehemu fil-qasam tal-formazzjoni nisranija. Infakkru imma li bil-maqlub ta kif jahseb hu, is-Socjeta tal-Museum bhala l-iktar socjeta li ghandha sehem f'dan il-qasam, ma taghmilx extra religion lessons, imma katekezi li hija kompletament differenti. Jiena nahseb li taghmel statement hekk, u titfghu mas-saqajn biex tghid xi haga turi x'livell ta' professjonista hu. Is-Socjeta tal-Museum wigbet bl-iktar mod edukat possibli, ghax hekk ghallimha il-fundatur San Gorg Preca. Jiena nistenna li jekk huwa bniedem serju jispecifika ghal min qed jghid. Mill-banda l-ohra l-infern jezisti imma ghal nies ta' intenzjonijiet hziena, ghal dawk li jiskandalizzaw lit-tfal. It-tfal ma jmorrux l-infern, il-kbar imorru ghax jaghmlu l-hajja tat-tfal infern. Bl-analizi kollha li ghamel, ma tkellimx fuq l-effetti hziena li t-tfal jghaddu minnha meta ikunu esposti ghal kliem baxx u hazin, daghha, glied, vjolenza, separazzjoni, divorzju etc.

Rosanna Debono

Jun 16th 2012, 19:31

The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux With Additional Writings and Sayings of St. Thérèse - STORY OF A SOUL -
http://www.catholicbible101.com/St.%20Therese%20Story%20of%20a%20soul.pdf
from page 38 - The day of her First Holy Communion -
"At last there dawned the most beautiful day of all the days of my life. How
perfectly I remember even the smallest details of those sacred hours! the
joyful awakening, the reverent and tender embraces of my mistresses and
older companions, the room filled with snow-white frocks, where each child
was dressed in turn, and, above all, our entrance into the chapel and the
melody of the morning hymn: "O Altar of God, where the Angels are
hovering."
But I would not and I could not tell you all. Some things lose their fragrance
when exposed to the air, and so, too, one's inmost thoughts cannot be
39
translated into earthly words without instantly losing their deep and
heavenly meaning. How sweet was the first embrace of Jesus! It was indeed
an embrace of love. I felt that I was loved, and I said: "I love Thee, and I
give myself to Thee for ever." Jesus asked nothing of me, and claimed no
sacrifice; for a long time He and little Thérèse had known and understood
one another. That day our meeting was more than simple recognition, it was
perfect union. We were no longer two. Thérèse had disappeared like a drop
of water lost in the immensity of the ocean; Jesus alone remained—He was
the Master, the King! Had not Thérèse asked Him to take away her liberty
which frightened her? She felt herself so weak and frail, that she wished to
be for ever united to the Divine Strength.
And then my joy became so intense, so deep, that it could not be restrained;
tears of happiness welled up and overflowed. My companions were
astonished, and asked each other afterwards: "Why did she cry? Had she
anything on her conscience? No, it is because neither her Mother nor her
dearly loved Carmelite sister is here." And no one understood that all the joy
of Heaven had come down into one heart, and that this heart, exiled, weak,
and mortal as it was, could not contain it without tears.
How could my Mother's absence grieve me on my First Communion Day?
As Heaven itself dwelt in my soul, in receiving a visit from Our Divine Lord
I received one from my dear Mother too. Nor was I crying on account of
Pauline's absence, for we were even more closely united than before. No, I
repeat it—joy alone, a joy too deep for words, overflowed within me.
During the afternoon I read the act of consecration to Our Lady, for myself
and my companions. I was chosen probably because I had been deprived of
my earthly Mother while still so young. With all my heart I consecrated
myself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and asked her to watch over me. She
seemed to look lovingly on her Little Flower and to smile at her again, and I
thought of the visible smile which had once cured me, and of all I owed her.
Had she not herself, on the morning of that 8th of May, placed in the garden
of my soul her Son Jesus—"the Flower of the field and the Lily of the
valleys"?[4]
On the evening of this happy day Papa and I went to the Carmel, and I saw
Pauline, now become the Spouse of Christ. She wore a white veil like mine
and a crown of roses. My joy was unclouded, for I hoped soon to join her,
and at her side to wait for Heaven".
If only every child is taught how to experience Jesus then we all would understand the TRUTH !

A.f Ellul

Jun 11th 2012, 19:47

To Victor Pulis, about the killing of the first born baby when Moses was a baby because the pharaoh was afraid of multiplying the Israel generation and one day will fight against the Egyptians. About that you are right, but about the three days in Bethlehem and went back to Nazareth is written in the bible, read St.Luke’s bible .the Three kings takes three years travelling to reach the destination where the star show them and stood in front the house where Jesus lives .If you don’t know about these things, you needs to read and revue the bible better.

C Muscat

Jun 11th 2012, 15:27

Some five years ago I have stopped teaching religion to the children for First Holy Communion due to my work in foreign countries. I used the official book handed to those attending twice a week for catechism and there was not one lesson teaching about hell.
The first chapters (out of memory) were teachings about ourselves and about the world around us being so beautiful; then the teachings are about Jesus being our friend and completeing the year about the sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation. Practically the teachings are about Jesus being our friend like a good shepherd.

The problem is not with teachings but with ignorance of facts such as the raising of self esteem in our families especially in our children.

Steve Zammit

Jun 11th 2012, 13:53

I attended MUSEUM when I was a kid everyday...nor did they threaten us with fears of hell, but only thought us how to be friends with all and live on Jeses' footsteps...

Proud I can say is that my young days at MUSUEM where the best I had and i miss them...tired and sick of all the grown up talk talk...

so chill guys will you

laura anderson

Jun 11th 2012, 11:56

I thought that being afraid of going to hell was the basis for the catholic religion? At least thats what i picked up from my 18 years of going to chapel twice a week...

Jonathan Camilleri

Jun 11th 2012, 10:56

When I went to MUSEUM, I used to be taught that Jesus was a friendly person who is always ready to listen to my troubles, not Ken-Shiro, the punisher of evil...

Jonathan Camilleri

Jun 11th 2012, 10:55

It is unbelievable that in 2012 some people still lead by fear, rather than positive encouragement. Isn't it enough to face abusive employers when we work, do our children have to grow up in fear as well?

Who are the religion teachers, and, what are they saying?

Yes, it is our business, because we are paying taxes and school fees!

anthony sultana

Jun 11th 2012, 10:34

All religions they brainwash the kids, by telling them lies, they promise them life after death.When the kids grow up they realize that it was nothing but brainwashing.Ofcourse you will be happy if it was true that there is life after death,but it is all imagination.We must not live on lies,but we must learn to face the truth.There are people that they explode them themselfs to kill other people on a promise that they go to heaven, and they are very happy,it is easy to make kids happy.

Wenzu Vella

Jun 11th 2012, 09:43

The world is full of fanatics. Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Judaism, Jehovah, Bihar, Buddhists, etc; etc; the truth is that all religions are man made. Started by a so called vision of GOD.
Every religion with rules of its own to attract as many followers as possible for the benefit of the hierarchies. I remember very well my days of catechism. (Catechism= religious questions and answers.) There were no questions from us kids but doctrine from the teachers. Their main aim was to instil fear of hell.
Most of the comments on this blog are below par of any intelligence. I say this not in disrespect but because it shows that most are still living in the past and have not grown up yet.
To believe in a God is one thing but to invent and make up rules that the punishment is eternal damnation in the name of a merciful God that we are supposed to have been made in his image is an-other. I stopped believing in this myth a long time ago.

Lawrence Bonello

Jun 11th 2012, 09:14

Called to mind this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxo81Ok9Urk

Osmar Baldacchino

Jun 11th 2012, 08:30

L-ahwa inhossni vera dizappuntat meta naqra il-kummenti taghkom. Jien zaghzugh ta'18 -il sena u nghallem flimkien ma' socju iehor lit-tfal tal-ewwel tqarbina. Kieku tafu bl-liema hegga jigu il-MUSEUM u x'kuntentiza jkollhom li ghall-ewwel darba f'hajjithom Gesu' l-akbar habib taghhom se jkun jista' jidhol gewwa qalbhom. Mhux talli ma jkunux imbezzghin mill-infern izda jkunu jridu din il-gurnata tassew importanti ghalihom illi tasal
Madanakollu miniex qieghed nichad li f'Malta m'hawnx problemi psikologici t'eta zghira marbuta mar-religjon. Pero skuzawni jkolli nammeti li l-piz ta'din il-problema mhuwiex tal-Katekisti. Hawn wisq ideat antiki u antikwati fl-imhuh tan-nies u kif qal is-superjur Tonio Caruana fl-artiklu mhux biss in-nanniet izda ukoll il-genituri ta'dawn it-tfal. Din is-sena giet omm bilkemm ma tirrabjax maghna ghax it-tfal ghidnilhom li l-Ewkaristija jigdmuha biex jibilghuha ghax skont hi trid thalliha tinhall f'halqek.
Skuzawni l-espressjoni, imma meta se nnehu l-ghanqbut minn go mohhna!!! Mhux bilfors it-tfal ikunu ttrawmatizzati.
Ejjew nammetu li kollox jinbidel maz-zmien, anke jekk niehdu lis-sfera tax'xjenza maz-zmien tbiddel il-fehmiet u tiskoppri li certu ideat u metodi huma antikwati u daqstant iehor il-Katekizmu.
L-ewwel u qabel kollox flok inkunu hfief biex nippuntaw subghajna nharsu fil-mera u naraw kemm is-socjeta kontemporanja taghna thalli impatt fuq it-tfal, imbaghad inkunu nistghu naraw ghaliex il-kundizzjonijiet mentali tat-tfal dejjem jizdiedu. Ejjew ukoll naggornaw l-arlogg taghna mal-prezent u inkunu lesti li naghlmu l-Katekizmu bl-imhabba li Gesu kien jghallem biha!

Membru SDC

C Muscat

Jun 11th 2012, 08:15

First of all, we must bear in mind that it is 100% not compulsory to receive Holy Comunion at any stage of life; but to receive this sacrament (nothing under civil law) one must be prepared to understand what this is for.

For anyone that would like to mix up religion and civil law; I hope that democracy still reign (not so clear within some remarks) and will continue to be in our beautiful island.

j Vella

Jun 11th 2012, 07:14

I agree with you.

A.f Ellul

Jun 11th 2012, 07:05

To Victo pulis. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and after 3 days ,when Joseph register his Family in the census ,The Holy Family went beck home in Nazareth where he continue his work and living, When Harold heard the news from the three Kings ,Harold was worried because he was proud , so decided to kill the first born boy under 2 years. So joseph was ordered by the Angle to run away to Egypt and stay there until the news from the Angle. When Harold died, The Holy Family went back home in Nazareth ordered by the Angle.
In the old testament, the pharaoh didn't kill the first boy in the Israel family, he only said to Moses, but happened to the Egyptian families by the passive angle. It means that what the pharaoh orders happened to him.

A.f Ellul

Jun 11th 2012, 06:30

Jiena ma nafx kif qeghdin issemghu dan avvis fuq it-taghlim u hsara mentali,ghaliex ma jsemmghux il-hsara mentali li qeghda sir fuq dawk il-guvintur li jkunu gew traduti mit-tfajliet li johorgu tqal u jittalbu lill gvern blis-skuza ta single mothers u jittalbu l-flus min ghand il-guvnot u jhasrulu mohhu biex imbaghad dawn is-single mothers ipoggu ma xi guvni iehor u hallijom jisirqu l-flus bil-ligi u povru guvni ghax imarduh mentalment.vera bhal ma qal Kristu,ahfrilhom ghax ma jafux xinuma jaghmlu.imma miskien min jisraq ghax hemm lin-nfern ghalieh

Roberto Angelone

Jun 11th 2012, 00:26

Children are already at ill odds should they have to face the brunt of frustrations imposed by the catholic church upon religious carers ( http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110804/local/Abuse-priest-defrocked-as-Church-expresses-sorrow-.378639 ) in the real world...to extend that "Hell" to the Christian Valhalla is Criminal...

Some basic lessons in self-defence (to address some forms of pastoral care) might be more useful than threats of sulphur & brimstone...

http://www.amindatplay.eu/2009/12/02/intelligence%C2%B2-catholic-church-debate-transcript/

Franco Mercieca

Jun 10th 2012, 23:40

Agreed Anton I still remember the tales of fear very vividly even though almost 4 decades have passed
A positive way to teach religion to our children is highly recommended
Teachers need to be thought first

Alfred Gatt

Jun 10th 2012, 22:42

Dr Anton Grech has stated that he has not carried out a scientific study while the Museum personnel have given quite a diffrenet version, saying that they do not introduce these notions of hell to those children. There are so many scary DVDs which children of that age and younger see. Is it possible that these do not affect them. Maybe Dr Anton Grech could do a study on the impact that these have on children.

Roger Tirazona

Jun 10th 2012, 21:08

I'm shocked to read irrational comments like the one from Mr. C. Camilleri down below. Is this how we expect to raise our future generation by teaching them fear in order to get respect? by bullying them with hideous visions of eternal torture in order for them to appreciate that which is good? This is sickening at the very least.

Such an admission is a judgment against any human being who has a different concept of an afterlife. Do we really need the promise of eternal bliss (which by the way, is described by St. Paul as simply looking down on the forsaken and enjoying their tortures) to be good? Do we need the chance to win a trolley full of gifts to be generous to the community chest fund? Of course not! It is evident our species can be altruistic, empathic, moral and just, without the need for a carrot hanging in front of our face, or fear of hellfire.

It is truly unfortunate that some people below, like Charlene Valentina Giordimaina and C. Camilleri think so demeaningly of humanity, that would resort to fear and vile visions of torture, spiritual bullying with the superstitious and the supernatural, in order to "discipline" their children. Perhaps these strategies were used with them and wish to repeat them with their children. Stands to show that ultimately, it's not religious institutions who have the greatest blame for this systematic abuse on children, but the parents/guardians themselves, who are solely responsible for whom and what is shaping their children's minds.

Not only such comments are demeaning of humanity, but some actually have the gall to question the credibility of Dr. Grech. I do not know Dr. Grech, nor do I have an interest in defending him, but haven't these people figured out that he is referring to real cases of which he, as a professional, keeps record of? Are you so blatantly in denial that our Maltese society is teaching children to believe something baseless just to be "good" at the price of their sanity, that we want to discredit a professional by calling him a liar and profiteering in order to "sell some pills"?

M Farrugia

Jun 10th 2012, 20:56

F'dan il-blog mill-ewwel kien hawn u lablab fil-vojt dwar indotriazzjoni ect. JIena ma nafx x'kienu l-intenzjonijiet ta dan l-ariklu, imma ta hafna individwi f'dan il-blog intenzjoni wahda ghandhom agenda mohbijau xejn aktar.

M Farrugia

Jun 10th 2012, 20:53

Minghajr ma tkun qed tikxef ebda sigriet jew data protected information tista tghidilna mill-liema bliet u irhula dawn it-tfal qed jigu ghandek. Sa fejn naf jiena l-katekizmu hbuwatotalment differeni minn ta dari . La x-xitan lanqas l-infern ma jissemma waqt il-lezzjonijet. Qed insaqsi sabiex jekk hemm xi hadd f'xi belt jew rahal qed jabbuza mill-mod kif jghallem l-awtoritajiet tal-KNisja jkunu jafu. Tajjeb li wihed jghid li hawn diversi postijiet li minflok tal-museum hemm katekisti jghallmu, u barra minhekk l-ghalliema fl-iskejjel ma ghandhomx it-tahrig sabix jghallmu ir-religjon. Jista jghati il-kaz li dawn il-bizat gejja mill-iskejjel.

Carmel Vella

Jun 10th 2012, 20:49

The old MUSEO was the biggest indoctrination session I ever attended. Every evening for several years. Now THAT was scary, and boring. Put me totally off the RC beliefs for a long time. I do believe there is a God, and I do believe the ten commandments are a good set of rules to follow , even if you are not Catholic.
But, I certainly never needed a head shrink after all that.

Victor Pulis

Jun 10th 2012, 20:35

Giov DeMartino

Today, 17:51

Mr Azzoppardi: What was the real intention of those who told you so? Remember when we frightened our children with the bellija in the well? We were lying, what what was our intention?

And what happened when we grew up? We found out that the bellija was just a myth!!

Frans Aguis

Jun 10th 2012, 19:39

I was brought up like most went to a state school with teachers and catechism teaching me the first basics of religion.I had two agnostic parents who barely ever mentioned religion in the house but went along with the "tradition" like everyone else.
I recall how one day when I was 9 a student from another class came and during the religion part of the day he told the teacher that he was a Jehovah's witness and asked to sit out the lesson to which the teacher obviously allowed.
The point is that at the not so young age, with very moderate parents I recall how I looked at this child as if he was an alien and how he was probably going to hell unlike me. And couldn't understand how his parents were that evil to allow it. Religion is always extreme and always breeds extremists.

Frans Aguis

Jun 10th 2012, 19:30

Who will be the next prime minister to start seriously discussing making Malta a secular state?It is a shame the only person to do it was Mintoff...50 YEARS AGO

Chloe BORG

Jun 10th 2012, 18:48

yes yes keep brainwashing these children.
POLITICS , ECONOMY , RELIGION , LAW are the reason there will never be peace on earth.

Reinhard Azzopardi

Jun 10th 2012, 18:42

The following is a joke I read lately. I thought it was funny but really it's food for thought:

A little boy wanted a bicycle so he prayed hard to Jesus to bring him one. After a few weeks he realised that Jesus didn't work that way so..... he stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness :)

Frans Aguis

Jun 10th 2012, 18:41

Morals have nothing to do with religion.Morality has evolved over time despite religion not because of it.

Frans Aguis

Jun 10th 2012, 18:40

Religious indoctrination == Child abuse... Period...
I'm sorry but I suppose if the religion suddenly starts to glorify martyrdom you would probably agree with me.And religions are not constant they change and "evolve" or "devolve" so I think this is the attitude to take with regards to teaching religion to children

C Briffa

Jun 10th 2012, 17:58

So we shall not educate our children that if you break the law you will end up in Jail? So if you evade tax its cool, if you kill somebody just get a good lawyer, if you like a man/woman which are not your wife/husband just go for it, we have divorce, your mother and father are just there to pay for your living and education and you do not owe them any respect and the list goes on!!!!
Luckily the same people you claim are inflicting their beliefs and fears are the same that that eradicated the stigma against people with impaired and severe disabilities, are the same people to encourage from a young age to the children to respect each other not to steal what its not yours, to respect your parents and to the list goes on.
So back in UK you didn’t find this problem, so teaching your children that the royal family has all the rights to be rich and that they do not work because they live on the taxpayers back that is normal.
You know Dr. Grech lately most people are experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) against anything that has to do with God or the Catholic Church.

Roberto D'Amato

Jun 10th 2012, 17:31

i'm sorry to say, but many of you are judging us, the catechists without knowing the real truth. WE DON'T TEACH THESE THINGS; IF THEY EVER DID I DON'T KNOW!!! it' parents that they are etching these things, intact last week a boy came and told me if it is true that hell is full of fire and satan stings you with his fork, and I told him no, don't believe it!! I think it's better if you see what you're etching your kids not judging others for things they don't do!! this society is going from bad to worse... no thinking before speaking!!!!

Mr D Galea

Jun 10th 2012, 17:15

Ħasra li artiklu bħal dan ipoġġi lil kulħadd f'keffa waħda u instigat biss biex jagħmel ħsara.

Is-sodisfazzjoni ma jagħtihulniex xi artiklu fuq il-gazzetta iżda dik l-omm li meta wassalt l-iben tagħha għall-ewwel tqarbina tiġi u tgħidlek prosit u grazzi għal dak kollu li sar ma' binha għax minn dak li kienet tkun taf mingħand binha stess, taf li dak li għamilna hu biex it-tfal jieħdu gost u fl-istess ħin jitgħallmu b'mod kreattiv u differenti.

Membru tas-SDC

Lawrence Genovese

Jun 10th 2012, 17:07

Warning Date Theory - 28 December 2012.
by FrMarie-Paul OfourLadyof-Lasalette on Wednesday, 6 June 2012 at 05:45 •
Warning Date Theory - 28 December 2012

My timing theory for the Illumination part of the Warning - the last part - is 28 December 2012. Why do I say this?
December 28 is a martyr Feast Day - the Feast of the Holy Innocents - the baby boys killed by King Herod who was looking to kill baby Jesus. This martyr feast day is associated with Jesus' Coming - the first time of course. In our day we are anxiously awaiting His Second Coming, so that symbolism fits well. There will also be many martyrs needed to pave the way for the New Paradise after the Second Coming (the Millennium - 1000 Years).
But more important to our era is the following date - 21 December 2012. Anyone paying attention to the great amount of talk on that date knows that it is the end of the Mayan calendar cycle. Even the Mayans didn't say it was the end of the world, just the end of the cycle. We are in cycle 12 of the Baktun (12.X.X.X.X) - the long cycle - and will change over into the 13th Baktun (13.0.0.0.0) on 21 December 2012.
Recall that the Warning will be preceeded by the Cross in the sky for all to see - by seven (7) days. If you think how everyone will be looking for pagan Mayan signs, wouldn't that be the perfect time for Jesus to display His Cross in the sky for everyone to see? That would be a wake up call to the world to show pagan Mayans don't have the answer, but the Christian Jesus Christ - Son of God - Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity - does!
Therefore, adding seven (7) days to December 21 ends up with December 28.
The Warning is the first set of the Three Days of Darkness, hence the new year - 2013 - would be the start of the short reign of peace after the Warning. Three (3) days after December 28 is the New Year 2013. Notice the 13 matches the 13th Baktun? And 13 is the day of the month where Our Lady of Fatima appeared, and prophesied about the Era of Peace, which is the Second Coming Era. And in the Novus Ordo Catholic calendar, January 1 is the Feast of the Mother of God - the beginning of the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart (to be made full at the Second Coming).
This means the Miracle would be in 2013. According to the "rules" for the Miracle, it must:
a) be on a Thursday,
b) be between the 8th and 16th inclusive,
c) be in March, April or May,
d) be a feast of a lesser known saint regarding the Eucharist, and
e) within one year of the Warning.
That means the choices of dates are March 8, March 15, April 11, May 8 and May 16 in 2013. (I have to research little known Eucharist oriented martyrs for those dates).
Some months back I opined that the Miracle would possibly be on 13 April 2017, but after more prayer and meditation that seems more appropriate for the final Three Days of Darkness, the final Chastisement. If the Miracle was that late, the period between the Warning and Miracle would have to be extended to much more than a year, which has not been prophesied anywhere, even though a "prayer delay" might be possible.
Lastly, you may also recall that my interpretation of MDM messages indicate the Warning is to occur before the end of June 2012. This thinking here is consistent with that under the following conditions. First, the other parts of the Warning could start in June - the earthquakes, the war in the Middle East, or the financial collapse. Second, there can be a prayer delay - something all too common for those who have followed apparitions for some time. Even Jonah's 40 day warning to Nineveh in the Bible was stretched to over 100 years. Since the Warning was originally to occur in 1972, to me 2012 is really the year - at whatever date - since it will have been the 40 years in the spiritual desert of great apostasy in the Church. December 28 would be the last possible date given the Warning has it's Three Days of Darkness
.FrMarie-Paul OfourLadyof-Lasalette The full Triumph of the Immaculate Heart is at the Second Coming, when everyone lives in the Kingdom of the Divine Will. My opinion for that season, based on various symbolisms, Biblical and Israel, is 2017 sometime. MDM messages said that it would be within the lifetime of most people living now, so it cannot be too far away. Anyway, doing the math (in my thinking) is if the Warning is this year, and we have a short period of peace after the Warning, then late in 2013 the Antichrist and False Prophet have their full reign of 3.5 years (42 months / 1260 days), then you end up in 2017. Just an opinion of general time frames

Alex Buds

Jun 10th 2012, 17:01

Religion is an obsolete nightmare of contradictions which is bound to lead to situations like this. Given that there is no scientific evidence for any of the world's thousands of religions, we have only ourselves to blame for believing in them for so long.

Edward Camilleri

Jun 10th 2012, 16:47

But isn't it obvious that the one thing the catholic church was and is good at is mainly to instill fear in its followers from young so that it gains more power? Unfortunately the church has beein doing this successfully for millenia.

anthony sultana

Jun 10th 2012, 16:36

To much lies in the religions, up to 2000 years ago the prophets was still believing that the world is flat, on such a simple thing they where wrong, how can ever one believe the religion books.

Bernard Pollacco

Jun 10th 2012, 16:19

why is politics implied in the comments below ? :/

R. Aquilina

Jun 10th 2012, 15:55

We must teach our children that we are saved by grace that our Lord Jesus Christ gave us for free! All we have to do is accept him as our Saviour! Our works become like filthy rags in the eyes of God!! And the Bible warns that in the end times there will be letters supposedly from God that in reality they are fake! Everything God wanted us to know is in the Bible....any other thing from that is a lie! Do you want to know what the real God says?? READ THE BIBLE! Do not trust men!!

Mary Fisher

Jun 10th 2012, 15:33

I cannot add or subtract from what has lavishly been said already but I quite agree with Dr. Anton Grech. However, heaven for the good and hell for the bad and purgatory for the in betweens have always existed. I am 72 and that is the way I was taught. As life goes on and it metes what it has to give, you start wondering whether hell is here on earth and heaven is the few in between happy times that we get. I am Catholic and one thing I have always criticised is the fact that our religion is negative. The "Thou shalt not" prevails more than the "Thou shalt" and unfortunately we then go through life with negative thoughts and we become pessimistic and suspicious of everything - even of what is meant to be good. I do not know the answer to all this. Children have to have a deterrant whether it is the 'policeman' or the 'babaw' and maybe Dr. Anton will go deeper into the subject and come up with a positive remedy. In the meantime let us all make an effort to be GOOD and we will all go to heaven. See you all there.

david debattista

Jun 10th 2012, 15:31

Maria Busuttil
I see evil every day in the most subtle ways and forms . We humans are a sorry lot !
It would help if THE HOLY LADY WOULD MAKE AN APPEARANCE FOR ALL TO SEE
AND SHOW US THE WAY IN A MOST SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL WAY !
MOST ARE LOST TRYING TO FIND THEIR WAY, AND NOT TOUCHED BY GRACE !
IT WOULD STOP ALL THE MADNESS ALL THE KILLING IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
AND TELL US POOR SOULS WHAT GOD TRUTH REALLY IS !
I CAN ASSURE YOU MOST WILL THEN TAKE TO BATTLE WHATEVER THE DEVILS
THROWS AT US. WE ARE ONLY HUMANS !

Roger Tirazona

Jun 10th 2012, 15:31

And in case nobody noticed, Limbo does not exist anymore. This hideous idea (which an Algerian pseudo-intellectual of the Church came up with) which was used as a scare-mongering tactic to force parents to baptise children as early as possible, is obsolete since 2007. So all those parents who were made to despair because their children died before baptism, and were told they were beyond salvation, were made to despair for nothing.

Emma Xerri

Jun 10th 2012, 15:20

Finally, someone has the courage to say the truth about the so-called MUSEUM. We children used to leave that place scared ****less and me and my siblings still talk of it to this day. The only positive side, it made us total unbelievers when we became able to reason rationally.

Mr David Borg

Jun 10th 2012, 15:17

What about scary cartoons children often watch? Besides children have fertile imagination. However at six they can hardly understand the concept of life after death and also hell.

Giov DeMartino

Jun 10th 2012, 15:12

IL--kummenti t'haw taht -hafna minnhom- juru ghala l-umanita qeghda kif qeghda.

Mr l Azzopardi

Jun 10th 2012, 15:09

Remember when we were kids ourselves and the rubbish they told us?!

If you masturbate you will lose your eye sight for good and you will never walk properly again

or

Everytime you sin the Virgin Mary's fingers are broken over and over again and the individual responsible for teaching doctrine would twist your finger to show you how much more the virgin mary would suffer if you did commit a sin.

or

The more you sin the more thorns get inserted into the bleeding head of Christ and then you would be told to look at the statue at length and say "sorry Jesus".

What is diabolical is that 30 years on they are still terrorising young children to submission.

Maria Busuttil

Jun 10th 2012, 14:25

600,000 fallen angels were released last year from the pits of Hell. A further 5 million have now been released.
Thursday, June 7th, 2012 @ 08:00 pm

My dearly beloved daughter it is time to take up arms in the Heavenly battle which rages again with Satan and his fallen angels.

Now unleashed in every nation Satan’s army of angels and their devoted disciples on earth are infesting God’s children in every way.

There are the visual signs. The crisis in My Church, the Catholic Church, was created through the forces of evil whose number one goal was to bring it to its knees. Not content with this, the forces of evil want to destroy the Holy Eucharist by defiling it.

By demoralising My Church on earth the plan by Satan was to destroy the faith of My followers.

Many of My followers no longer pay homage to Me, their Saviour, because they blame the sins of those who represent Me in the Church. How this wounds Me when they forsake Me so quickly.

The apostasy in the world today was also planned by Satan by tempting God’s children to deny their faith.

Instead he uses a new religion often known as the New Age Religion. Instead of glorifying God, the Eternal Father, they glorify the human being as spiritually superior and in command.

Like Lucifer who wanted to be not only like God, but who wanted to become God, this rapidly evolving cult wants to convince God’s children that they are in control of their own destiny.

That all can be controlled through a false belief in a metaphysical world which does not exist.

Belief in false Gods such as the Buddha has harmed so many people and led them into a dark world, which seems to glitter on first inspection, but which fails to ignite pure love for one another.

Instead all these New Age religions amount to one thing.Self-obsession and love of one self at the expense of another.

The wars which Satan’s masonic orders create are becoming plentiful and the largest group of all will mastermind control of the Middle East through massacre.

In Europe they will mastermind the introduction of a new one world currency to make slaves of them.

Satan’s grip is so strong that it will take much prayer to topple the power he wields. Then there will be the temptation to turn God’s children away from the Truth.

He, Satan, can play havoc with your mind. But, while he does not have the power to know what you think he can place thoughts and doubts in your mind.

When you resist at first, by praying for the graces to protect yourselves, he increases his activities.

Satan sends his demon angels to believers and torments them. If you could see them it would shock you. Two or three can surround you and can trip you up, cause you to become confused, distressed and your mind filled with uncharitable thoughts against another person.

Anything to do with God, His Churches, His children and those who represent Him on earth are the first targets.

Then he targets those in high places who have control over the lives of millions. He tempts them with corruption, manipulation of power and the introduction of bad laws designed to cause pain and hardship. And then he orchestrates war.

Children do not ignore the battle for it is real.

600,000 fallen angels were released last year from the pits of Hell.

A further 5 million have now been released. The time for God’s army in Heaven, to destroy Satan, has begun. The time for My Army on earth to gather arms has also begun.

Time is short. We have much work to do.

Prayer is the weapon. Conversion is the goal. I can only achieve the salvation of souls if My Voice is heard at this time.

Satan knows this. He has placed a curse over this Mission and will pull many of God’s children away. Yet he cannot win. For no one can stop the Book of Truth being revealed for it is I, Jesus Christ, who does this.

Yet many poor souls will be convinced to look the other way as I announce the Truth for all the world to see as foretold in the Book of Revelation.

Never allow him to engage with you. You can do this by refusing to engage in insults or sneering by others when you proclaim My Holy Word. For to engage with him you give him the ammunition he needs to wear you down.

Your Beloved Jesus

Saviour of all mankind

Kurt Mifsud

Jun 10th 2012, 14:23

Formerly there were those who said: You believe things that are incomprehensible, inconsistent, impossible because we have commanded you to believe them; go then and do what is unjust because we command it. Such people show admirable reasoning. Truly, whoever is able to make you absurd is able to make you unjust. If the God-given understanding of your mind does not resist a demand to believe what is impossible, then you will not resist a demand to do wrong to that God-given sense of justice in your heart. As soon as one faculty of your soul has been dominated, other faculties will follow as well. And from this derives all those crimes of religion which have overrun the world. - Voltaire (1694-1778)

I Grech

Jun 10th 2012, 14:15

It is very sad to read comments like those of Charlene Valentina Giordimaina. It is quite immature when people decide that they cannot act morally lest they fear something or someone. This leads to adults who cannot take decisions for the general good because their fears prohibit them. Case in point is same-sex marriage: there is a group of people who believe that if homosexuals are allowed to marry and have families THEY (the believers) will go to hell. Through this rationale they forget the other lessons their book teaches, that is to love others as they do themselves. I do not know if this is to be called hypocrisy or a psychological condition meriting treatment.

In pre WWII Germany the fear was being labelled a non NAZI. Acting on fear, most people went pro NAZI and the rest is well known and documented history. Through such extreme exercise of the fear regime atrocities are always permitted.

B. Jones

Jun 10th 2012, 14:12

Though this article comes a bit too late, I would like to thank Dr. Grech for bringing to the nations' attention, what I have been criticising for more than two decades.

I was so shocked about the way religion was taught in Malta, that I refused to send my children to catechism to protect them from this negative approach, which back then was more often than not based on fear, prejudice and even racism.

It is good to read that things have improved in the meantime. However, I suggest that Mr. Caruana continues to keep a close eye on who is teaching the children. Religious fanatics are still around us and as one can read in the article, the damages these people manage to cause, can last a life time.

C. Borg

Jun 10th 2012, 14:10

You should all be ashamed of yourselves...denying God like this?? I feel like reading the Bible all over again when reading your comments; like when the Jews did not accept Jesus as our Messiah and they crucified Him. Do you think that you're breathing because you can make yourself breathe?? Do you think that you were born 'by mistake'? We're all here because Jesus loves everyone of us, and every newborn is a miracle given by our Lord. You'll experience God's love, only when you accept it truly in your hearts. Without God in our lives, we feel hopeless, void inside out, lonely and sad. If you’d like to read more about THE WARNING go to:
http://www.thewarningsecondcoming.com/messages/latest-messages/

Or, the Akita (Japan), and the Garabandal (Spain) apparitions of Our Lady.

Let Jesus lead your lives and pray for salvation, because HEAVEN and hell truly exist!! GOD BLESS!!

Victor Pulis

Jun 10th 2012, 14:09

The christian hell is not an original concept. it is bsed on tartarus the Greek idea of an after life for the wicked. The Egyptians also had there model of a place where wicked souls would be throw to suffer for ever. Hell is never mentioned in the old testament.

Joe Scerri

Jun 10th 2012, 14:02

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people." - Karl Marx

pat muscat

Jun 10th 2012, 13:55

Ahseb u ara kemm kienu imwerwrin aktar il-Maltin tas-60s meta l-Arcisqof Gonzi qalhom li min jivvota labour imur l-infern! Nahseb li l-aktar li huma imwerwrin mill-Infern huma l-Ghawdxin!

Anthony Galea

Jun 10th 2012, 13:50

I would be more disturbed if Hell did not exist, because then all those who excaped justice in this world would escape it again in the next.

Ramon Casha

Jun 10th 2012, 13:21

It's been a long time since I attended those lessons but it seems to me even today that a lot depends on the individual teacher. MUSEUM should ensure that all their teachers are well trained and professional and know how to avoid material which is not age-appropriate. Leave the scary stuff for much later. 6 years of age is much too young to try to understand how God loves them so much that he'll punish them for all eternity in hell.

James Tyrrell

Jun 10th 2012, 13:18

But surely instilling a fear of going to hell in kids is part of the church's plan to control the people. That's what religion is all about isn't it, make the people as frightened as possible so they will do as they are told. I personally hate all religions and certainly don't believe in any of that rubbish yet I have always had a very healthy view of death and have never feared it in the least.

Mark Vella

Jun 10th 2012, 13:16

Religion is the 99% of the problems we encounter in our social life.

Instead of teaching our children to live a good life for themselves and others, the GOOD PEDOFILE PREACHERS and all those sick Religion Psychopats bring them up in fear of hell and christ!!!

I will never let the church dominate my son!

Mr Ryan Portelli

Jun 10th 2012, 13:02

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein

Roger Tirazona

Jun 10th 2012, 12:58

SDC (MUSEUM) had its original goal, and still does to a certain extent, pull children off the streets; many of them with no other place to go but remain in the streets. I would doubt anyone would discuss whether this is a good thing or not. It's the teaching children, who have NO faculty of critical thinking, that they can only be good if they do exactly what one book says or what one institution says; it's the removal of the faculty of critical thinking at a very young age that is my quarrel.

This is not only done by SDC or religious institutions, but by any one imposing a single religious view on children, too young to know any different and to threaten them with supernatural and spiritual hideous consequences should they even dare to question. This includes even parents and nannas and aunts and Parrini, perhaps ESPECIALLY these, since they are the ones insisting on their own children being indoctrinated in such manners in the first place.

Quoting Richard Dawkins, we would not dream to label a child a communist child, a republican child, a nationalist or labourite child of the age of 2 to 6. Yet we have no problems calling them Muslim children, Christian children, Catholic Children and Protestant Children and we even separate them while children in faith-based schools as done in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Stop the Child abuse - let them grow in love and unity with a free mind and let them choose for themselves when they grow up.

Mark Shaw

Jun 10th 2012, 12:57

the answer is simple, remove religion, remove the problem

anthony sultana

Jun 10th 2012, 12:47

Malta 50 years ago was like Iran today, Iran is Islamic state, Malta was Cristhian state 50 years ago, now we are geting out of it slowly slowly, out of that rubish believes,Thanks to dose people around the world that are showing us that religous states are for wars not for peace.

Lina Caruana

Jun 10th 2012, 12:37

The trouble is that this psychiatrist thinks that he can tell others what to do equating himself with Jesus Christ instead of finding flaws in some of the methods of teaching

Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina

Jun 10th 2012, 12:34

@ Dr Anton Grech,

L- għar ħaġa li jista jiġrilek f' ħajtek hija li tant issir bravu, li l-anqas dak li jridek temmen Alla dak li ħalqek, tibda ma tifmhux, ma temnux, ma tibżax minnu, m tieħux gost bih, u tibda tipprova tirredikulaħ, u tibda tiprova li dak li inti ma intix kapaċi tkompli tihem, tkun tried li anke l-oħrajn jibdew ma jifmhux!

Iva, hekk uritna Omna Maria ġewwa Fatima, li l-infern veru jeżist!

jekk in ti ma temminx affari tiegħek, jien nemmen lill Madonna u mhux lilhek!

Hemm bżonn nieqfu nivvintaw ideat, issa anke b'sitwazzjonijiet mentali, mingħajr l-ebda studju u riċerka serja, biex inkisru t-twemmin nisrani tal-Maltin u l-Għawdxin!

Ilkoll irridu nżommu quddiem għajnejna li xi darba irid jasal dak il-mument li lkoll irriedu nirrispondu għall dak kollu li parlajna fil-vojt bi'prożunzjoni, u dak kollu li għamilna kontra Dak li Ħalaqna, wiċimbwiċ!

Għax imbgħad jekk huwa veru li hemm l-infern x'ser nagħmlu Dr Anton Grech?

Imbgħad x'ser nirrispondu Dr Anton Grech?

Inti x'ser tirrispondieħ Dr Anton Grech?

Għallinqas,tista bħala bniedem għaref tilluminana u tattina ftit punti kif nirrispondugħ lill dak li ħalaqna!

S Spiteri

Jun 10th 2012, 12:26

Duttrina is not compulsory. It is compulsory only for those wishing to do Holy Communion or recevive confirmation. If so many do not believe what they call "this nonsense" any more, why do we still insist for us and our children to receive the holy sacraments? Or we only do it because its a cultural thing? Isn't that a big hypocrasy, using Religion to show off our social status and then accusing the church of being hypocratic? Aren't we being served in our own currency?

Christian Borg

Jun 10th 2012, 12:20

What is hell? is it a bbq? of course it's not!
You should all remember that in cathecesis you were thaught that God is everywhere
and after you die you would be more aware of the presence of God
so hell is a place where if you in life chose the fundamental decision that you do not want God,
you would be for eternity in the presence of someone you do not want, that is hell!

Marton Saliba

Jun 10th 2012, 12:11

Maybe children should be taught lo live a good life out of the sheer principle of living, not though promises of heaven and fears of hell...

then again scaring someone into the line is the easiest course of action....

Victor Pulis

Jun 10th 2012, 12:10

Mr Ernest Vella

Today, 10:19

Victor Pulis ma tistax tiggudika lill-Membri tal-Museum ghax mhux vera jghallmu dak li qieghed tallega!
Sur Vella tista'tghidli jekk hux dnub mejjet jekk ma tmurx quddies nhar ta Hadd? U jekk hu dnub veru li jekk tmut tispicca BBQ ghal eternita?Jekk le ghala kienu jwerwru daqs tant nies? Ghala kienu jippridkaw li jekk tmut tarbija minghajr ma titghammed tispicca l-limbu u issa qalulna li limbu ghalaq?! Kemm il genitur ghaddew minn martirju ghax ma lahaqx ghammed it tarbija qabel ma mietet?

David Vella

Jun 10th 2012, 12:08

And you know what Mr.Grech? And why this world is going berserk? Well, simply because a huge number of adults ceased to be scared of the existence of Hell.

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Jun 10th 2012, 12:00

My youngest son recently received his First Holy Communion. Before he & I went up for the EVENT, I explained to him that now he will be able to comprehend better Divinity who was sitting right next to him. He smiled. He saw SECURITY & STABILITY not HYPOCRECY , GREED & IMPOSITION. From that moment, my youngest son too became Divine.

Karl Consiglio

Jun 10th 2012, 11:48

Absolute naivety, Malta needs to stop being a child and grow up.

Karl Consiglio

Jun 10th 2012, 11:43

The concept that "Jesus is our friend" is no less ridiculous than the fear of hell. If they want they got Barney.

Karl Consiglio

Jun 10th 2012, 11:35

This whole thing that God is watching with a CCTV camera is ridiculous, as though one is only a good person because God is watching, downright ridiculous.

Joselle Camilleri

Jun 10th 2012, 11:35

Fear, fear, fear, and social control. That is what this is all about. It has always been the scope of the church in early and mediaeval times to control people. The only way to exert that control was through infamous methods of punishment and inquisition and, when that finished, through psychological fear and blackmail... HELL. Yet, we all know that Jesus has only taught us that God is love and mercy. He dined with sinners, he stood by the poor and the oppressed, he threatened nobody but forgave everybody. So, I ask, why should our children be burdened with all this hell nonsense? L'enfer c'est les autres... hell is created by egoists whose sole aim is to ruin to your life... hell is the world the disadvantaged are living in today.

Charles W. Sammut

Jun 10th 2012, 11:33

Religion is a throwback to the dark ages. Its practice should be banned in the interest of mankind. 90% of conflicts are the result of religion.

Karl Consiglio

Jun 10th 2012, 11:32

Focus should be that there is no evidence that God exists. The fear of hell is child abuse.

steve loveridge

Jun 10th 2012, 11:25

Typical brain washing by the so called religion, i think some one ought to teach the children good morales, as hell is on earth and heaven is how they live and how they make it. Respect others is the key word and treat everyone as how they would like to be treated.

Mr Joseph Huber

Jun 10th 2012, 11:12

Dear psychiatrist, I suggest you contact the Vatican to advise about a rational and psychologically 'safe' way to introduce the concept of eternal salvation or damnation because you seem to know better than Jesus Christ himself.

Daniel Schembri

Jun 10th 2012, 11:06

The only solution for this is to tackle the issue on a political level, targetting the responsible institutions to ensure that the most susceptible population (children) are given the right conditions to live freely. An educative campaign which would expose the holy book and the history of the Church for what they really are is also a must. Teaching comparative religion with some history of philosophy, rather than Catholocism, in primary schools will also prevent irrationalities and delusions. And changing the Constitution to make it more inclusive to religious diversity would expose the (cultural) relativity underlying religious affiliation. And ... baptism should be regarded for what it really is - a hierarchical institution membership 'ritual' which would swell statistics, and thus .. Church popularity. On an individual level NOT baptising non consenting babies is ... a moral obligation towards our offsprings. It's up to the clergy f 20 years from now to convince the yet-unbaptised and well informed consenting adults (today's children) whether to choose baptism or not .. only when the latter grow up.

Charlene Valentina Giordimaina

Jun 10th 2012, 11:04

Punishment is a deterrence - humans will not live in a good manner simply because they believe that "Jesus loves them." Humans need that sense of fear that if they act badly, they will be punished.

Of course I was scared of Hell when I was six years old (and I still am). However, that wasn't the only thing I was scared of. I was also scared of the fictitious Man that would abduct me if I speak to strange people in the road; I was also scared of my teachers and my headmasters because they're authority and I am just a little kid learning the alphabet and the numbers.

Sure, peeing in my pants as soon as the teacher shouts at me (or rather, corrects me), weren't amongst the best childhood experiences I had - I was a child that hated school because of all this. I was a child that lived in constant fear. But you know what? Now that I'm a little older (I'm 18 years old), I am very thankful of my past fears.

Being scared of hell: taught me to obey the commandments and live a good life;
Being scared of the fictitious evil man: taught me to never speak to strangers or give confidence to people I don't know (be it in the local square or in Paceville);
Being scared of my teacher and my headmaster: taught me to respect people who worked hard in their life and who now occupy a position better than me.

I think that the problem today is that children are not scared of anything at all, with no respect and no sense of authority - at 6 years of age, they already believe that they have conquered the world.

Lucienne Dimech

Jun 10th 2012, 10:53

Stop this useless duttrina nonsense. Every school teaches enough religion in this CPU try so why Ned the sort of private lessons in religion. It should stop and ease this useless waste of time. Our children need to have time to relax and enjoy some free time during their days. It's enough that adults do not seem to if d the time to converse and relax unless it is done thru some electro ic device. Why I still this sickness in children? Parents out there stop sending yr kids to duttrina they will still receive holy commu ion you just have to take them to church and explain briefly what is meant to be happening.

Gerry Cowie

Jun 10th 2012, 10:52

Happy Corpus Christi to all believers, athiests, fundementalist humanists and secularists!

anthony sultana

Jun 10th 2012, 10:50

Live after death is just imagination. Religion is like a manual ,to keep people on the right track, and still don"t work.

R Zammit

Jun 10th 2012, 10:28

It seems that in Malta we cannot let go of the medieval attitude towards religion :/

Sandro Pace

Jun 10th 2012, 10:27

Exaggerations and casual abuse of religion are wrong. However, religion should not be blamed for everything. It is always a mix of things that cause these psychological conditions I think. I was taught the concept of eternal punishment if not at 6, at a year later, and I do not regret it. However, I was always taught that it was for heinous crimes and unrepenant immoral living. And this concept was never abused just to correct trivial things.

This should be the gist. Proportionality and rationality, but not outright ban on mentioning. Lets not go to extremes. There is nothing wrong in instilling some fear earlier on for 'very bad things'. And lets not be naive. At 7 or 8, every one knows what a murder is, if not other immoral things. Of course, for those who want their children to be taught religion. But religion is not a la carte.

What is wrong in that? This is the problem with degradation of society, especially lack of discipline in schools and bullying. Excessive pampering. And the concept that I can do what I like as long as I can get away with it legally, or that everything can be easily forgiven spiritually. If children at the age of 8 if not 6 are taught the Ten Commandments, they should also learn that breaking some of them will lead to harsh spiritual punishment. Otherwise might as well not teach anything, cause it could be counterproductive.

Whether legally or spiritually speaking, society without the notion of proportional punishment is a dangerous one. And the earlier these concepts are instilled, the better. The advantages far outweigh any disadvantages.

Mr Victor Borg

Jun 10th 2012, 10:24

The Catholic Church - like the other monotheistic religions of Islam and Judaism - is built on a conspiracy of fear.

Lawrence Genovese

Jun 10th 2012, 10:23

Hell exist for sure. You will know the whole truth in 6 months time during the WARNING and then you will beg for Mercy.

Luke Lanzon

Jun 10th 2012, 10:21

That is why kids should leave religion, that is why I left religion. How can you believe in something that says worship me or go to this place "hell", kind of sounds like a modern dictatorship don't you think do whatever I say or else.........

Charles Massa

Jun 10th 2012, 10:15

About time l knisja tbiddel is sistema ta taghlim taghha. Ghada antikwata. Dejjem il biza. Imma dawn ma jitalmux

Demis Micallef

Jun 10th 2012, 10:10

There is alot of pressure on the kids, they are afraid they are made to repeat a year if they fail to attend 75% of the lessons. Each time they are sick they have to make a medical certificate. And no its not about storytelling and activities through play, children have to buy books and also amke hw. With regards to Confirmation the children are to be 12 years. They will be in secondary schools and hw and study will be much more than primary school, it should have been left at age 10. Children are not attending religious classes of their free will but are forced to attend to make the Confirmation.

Cornelius Murphy

Jun 10th 2012, 10:04

Brainwashing children with religion is child abuse.

But what can you do? If you wait until they are old enough to think for themselves they won't believe the fairy stories.

Mr Ryan Portelli

Jun 10th 2012, 10:01

DUH!! Ever thought that perhaps they're doing it on purpose?! It's called brainwashing!! Why else would they start teaching religion at such a young age?!

Carmen Piscopo

Jun 10th 2012, 09:50

Our Lady in Fatima not only spoke about Hell to the three little children, ages between six and ten, but showed it to them. None of them ended up being pschologically unstable but on the other hand they ended up Saints. There always have been people with mental problems, it has nothing to do with religion or hell.
The truth is that Hell really exists, Jesus made it clear and told us even what to find there. If you love someone you warn him of the danger ahead not to find himslef in it.
I believe Our Lady is much wiser and knows better than our modern psychiatrists!
.

J Micallef

Jun 10th 2012, 09:49

Tell the kids not to worry to much, hell is on earth and they're living it every day.

Victor Pulis

Jun 10th 2012, 09:43

“How often do we hear children being threatened with, ‘If you’re naughty, you won’t go to heaven!’ – and not just from elderly grandmothers. There is a lot of ignorance among young couples.”

Very recently it was being banded about and not by grandmothers or ignorant parents that those who voted for divorce risked going to hell. It was not made officially because of obvious reasons but it was subtly stated. and some priests even came right out and said it.
Religion is based on fear. It's no use saying that Jesus was our friend when at the same time we say that if you're bad (?) you will go to hell for eternity. Eternity never ends. Now tell me what can a person do in his lifetime to merit never ending punishment?

Giov DeMartino

Jun 10th 2012, 09:40

In the past we were always afraid of hell. And I still am. And I think that the problem today is that people are no longer afraid of hell.

michelle agius

Jun 10th 2012, 09:39

the thing is schools teach religion in schools so why bother with catechism????? my opinion its a waste of time as i think what they teach at school and catechism is the same religion . so why bother !!!!!!

Victor Pulis

Jun 10th 2012, 09:36

MUSEUM general secretary Joe Galea said: “How often do we hear children being threatened with, ‘If you’re naughty, you won’t go to heaven!’ – and not just from elderly grandmothers. There is a lot of ignorance among young couples.”

Isn't that the whole concept of religion? If you're bad you go to hell.

We do not introduce abstract concepts such as hell or punishments – at the age of six children cannot understand such things,” he(Tonio Caruana) said,

But we introduce tham later on in life and forget that Jesus is our friend! Then we start drumming hell into their minds and tell them that if you sin you will go to hell for eternity and that's a long time!
By the way is it still a mortal sin if you skip mass on Sunday? That's what we were taught at museum. And we were told thatjust one mortal sin can send you to the eternal BBQ for eternity. Imagine that!

J Degabriele

Jun 10th 2012, 09:23

Why do we have to be so exaggerated? I , for one, am against frightening young children and I can say that I had one hell of a job one Christmas trying to explain to my 3 year old grandchild about the Redentur statue that she saw in a church, and asking who and what it was!
And I vividly remember the Catechism lessons we used to have as children, surrounded by horrid pictures of devils dragging sinners off to hell.
And what about the Lenten sermons we used to have at school? At the age of 15, I, a good girl by any standards, even for those days, was sure that I was going to hell!
However, one outgrows such things and common sense and maturity prevails. We never even thought or knew of getting any kind of psychiatric help!
Some children do have a more vivid imagination than others and I am sure that today Catechism lessons are a far cry from the ones we used to have! Besides, children today are exposed to all sorts of horrors on TV and on the internet. All fairy tales have a wicked witch which is the bane of all little ones. So why pick on religion lessons and paste the article as a leading one on a Sunday paper?! Some balance, please!

Lina Caruana

Jun 10th 2012, 09:18

I am sure here various positive ways of inculcating religious sentiments in children. There should be specialized teaching expertise too. Parents should also learn how to do it as a part of their child rearing knowledge if we mean that it is being done badly. One of the reasons why I could not totally accept PSD was because it was not holistically related to the family context.

Vincent Scerri

Jun 10th 2012, 09:11

We should tell our children there is no such thing as hell. No more no less.