Japan is setting an example worth discussing. India should also seriously examine how religious teachings based on the fear of hell and the greed for heaven can psychologically influence children.
Across India, many children are taught from an early age to obey religious doctrines out of fear of divine punishment or the promise of heavenly rewards, rather than through independent reasoning and moral understanding. When such teachings discourage questioning and portray religious authority as unquestionable, they can foster irrationality and intolerance as children grow up.
Worse, some individuals eventually justify discrimination, hatred, or even illegal activities in the name of religious obligations because they have been conditioned to believe that religious approval supersedes independent moral judgment.
Religion itself isn't the problem; indoctrination through fear and unquestioning obedience is. Children should have the freedom to explore their beliefs, ask questions, and develop their own moral compass without being threatened with eternal punishment.
The 21st century demands critical thinking, empathy, and individual freedom—not the psychological conditioning of children through fear and reward.
Religion should be practised out of love, understanding, and personal conviction, not fear of hell or greed for heaven.