Should we teach philosophy to children?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Should we teach philosophy to children?". Your opponent's style: logical and evidence-based

Religion only

Interesting constraint. But if we limit philosophy to only religious content, what happens to the child who questions the existence of God? Are we teaching them *to* philosophize, or merely teaching them *a* philosophy? And if a child from a different faith tradition enters the classroom, whose religious philosophy takes precedence? How do you reconcile teaching critical thinking - philosophy's core - with potentially dogmatic religious instruction?

To just believe in religion.

Ah, so you're advocating for belief without questioning. But isn't that precisely the opposite of philosophy? If we teach children "just to believe," how do we distinguish this from indoctrination? And what happens when that child encounters someone with equally strong but contradictory religious beliefs? If belief without examination is the goal, why call it philosophy at all? Wouldn't you simply call it religious education? Can genuine faith exist without the capacity to doubt?

Yes it is the opposite. Religion, especially catholism is the answer.

But if Catholicism is *the* answer, why have billions of people throughout history - many quite intelligent - reached different conclusions about ultimate truth? If questioning leads away from the right answer, how do we explain Catholic theologians like Aquinas, who used rigorous philosophical reasoning to *support* faith? And if we shield children from philosophical thinking, how will they defend their Catholic beliefs when challenged by others who *have* been taught to think critically? Doesn't faith untested by reason remain fragile?