Work

Childhood Belief Formation and the Ethics of Pre-Consent Religious Socialization

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article investigates whether institutional religious socialization of pre-critical children constitutes a capture and redirection of innate cognitive dispositions rather than genuine teaching. Using Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) findings from Bloom, Bering, and Barrett, the paper compares childhood religious education systems across four traditions (catechism, madrasa, cheder, gurukul) and examines ethical implications through consent theory and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 14). The analysis acknowledges positive outcomes of religious socialization and parallel mechanisms in secular contexts.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19182056

Author: Dreshmanis, Maris

Language: English

Topic: Religious Education and Schools

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7140119143

FWCI:

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: