Without the indoctrination of children, would Christianity or Islam have survived into the 21st century? Children should be told about religions, in much the same way that they are taught about glacial moraines, the novels of Thomas Hardy or the six wives of Henry the Eighth. Religious indoctrination is very different: the recruiting of conscripts into a faith tradition at an age when they cannot offer informed consent. Children are not just required to learn; they are coerced into belief.
According to an article on the Guardian website, using research data from Germany, the gradual reduction in religious education “significantly reduced religiousness, both in private (less praying) and public (church attendance), with the effect biggest in Catholic areas”. So far, so predictable. But there was also “no impact on moral or ethical views, life satisfaction or political leaning. That may be because religious education was replaced with non-denominational ethical teaching, rather than more maths”.
Children should be able to decide for themselves, about religious affiliation - and much else - when they are emotionally and intellectually ready. Of course, they may eventually decide to reject the faith of their forefathers… and successful and long-lasting religions don’t want to take that risk.
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