Religion and Free-Will

It is truly essential that individuals who choose to believe join a religion by choice upon reaching maturity when they can be counted on to make a rational decision upon such important and life-changing matters. The imposition of a religion and its beliefs upon children not old enough to make this choice and choose their spiritual path for themselves leads to a potentially very damaging process of indoctrination along sectarian lines that is to be discouraged: for it can leave a lifelong scar. Belief must stem from free-will and this is especially crucial if religious violence and sectarian strife is to be combated effectively around the world.