[goodpoint]

Religious trauma is documented in psychology. People suffer when they are indoctrinated by their parents.

> this just feels mean and divisive from the perspective of a conservative OR a Christian

If they feel offended maybe they should ask themselves some hard questions instead of demanding the speaker to hide his experience.

[swat535]

What does "indoctrinated by their parents" mean? Everyone learns from their parents and is "indoctrinated" by their values.

If you grow up as an adult and discover that you disagree with their values, it doesn't mean that they "indoctrinated" you.

[Anamon]

It's a gradual distinction for sure, but I consider it a "I know it when I see it" situation.

Parents try to impart their values, but indoctrination for me begins where they won't allow their children to come to their own, potentially disagreeing opinions. Prohibiting contact to peers with other views, that sort of thing.

You can impart values on children and try to lead by example, but ultimately, they're sovereign individuals, not their parents' property. It's the unwillingness to accept that where I see education and guidance cross the border into indoctrination.

A far better qualifier than my "I know it when I see it", for someone pretty certain they weren't indoctrinated, would probably be a grown-up's reflection on their own upbringing. If they're lucky and become an independent person, they will have a good feeling about whether their upbringing involved unacceptable levels of coercion and isolation.