Well, semi-respectfully, anyway!

Children raised in ultra religious environments are "brainwashed" because that's all they know. If permitted to be exposed to the "outside world" (like Amish), some may be able to break away. Although I grew up as a church goer, I saw the light--rejecting altogether religion.
I would say a vast majority of children are brought up "wrong", one way or another. And that's because parents are clueless. Shoving religion down the throats of youngsters is only part of the problem. Thanks for you input.

I abhor politics. I hate fund-raising. I'm not good at compromise.

You said: "If you are born into a religion and it is impressed upon you day and night, you buy into it willingly." Did you unintentionally omit the word "don't"? How can young, impressionable children "buy into it willingly" under these indoctrination circumstances? The fact is...they are unwitting pawns with no freedom of choice whatsoever. All they know is that they want to please their parents and if a 14 year old girl's own parents do not oppose her being forced to wed a middleaged man, then she can just kiss her childhood and innocence goodbye. I compare this kind of religious fervor to the parents who would sooner let a child die than permit a simple blood transfusion. In these circumstances, the state must step in and order it. Did you see Gibson's film "Apocalypto"? Would you permit continued beheadings in the name of religious freedom? The difference between that and the other two scenarios (rape of a 14 year old under in a forced marriage; death instead of reasonable medical care) is only one of degree. I don't see how we are supposed to stand by and permit such offensive, destructive behavior to continue in the name of religious freedom. It's not a matter of forcing our beliefs upon others; it's a matter of enforcing everyday, reasonable, common standards of moral behavior. That's why things such as bigamy and sex with underaged children is deemed criminal. (Sorry for the lecture...)

The problem is, moms are wives. And wives of these extremists are taught to be submissive. Why? The Bible says so. Intelligence and reason takes a back seat to what "the man" says. My concern remains with the love bond between mother and child, regardless of religious persuasions (brainwashing). It's a tough call.

Clovis, I agree with what you're saying. I have first hand knowledge (once removed) of the harm done, but I don't think it's something that can be legislated, can it?? I don't have the answers, and I don't think anyone does... so sad.

the indoctrination of children with crazy beliefs that will scar them for life should be a criminal act. To make children believe there's an invisible superman in the sky who knows their every thought and is ready to punish them for eternity in a hell of torture and torment, is not a good recipe for sanity as an adult. But I doubt if the places the government are sending them will be any better... all religionists think the same thing... until religion is declared to be something only to be practiced among consenting adults in private, there's no hope of decent government.

I'm just not sure of the reasoning behind the splitting up of families. Is it abuse? Polygamy? Early marriage? Religious extremism? Poor parenting? I think the govt. has the cart before the horse.

In my opinion those moms have already shown they don't have the child's best interests at heart!

Randy...I'm not sure what you mean by presuming guilt in these circumstances. The extreme fundamentalist LDS beliefs and life style have to be taken into account. That's no presumption; it's a given to which they readily (if defensively) admit. The indoctrination, severe mode of life, and early (!) compulsion of sex upon young girls (with older men) is not a presumption, it's a recognized, ongoing, time-after-time, occurance. The mothers do not protect them from any of this, which itself exhibits a failure of care by common standards. They may view it as religious persecution but to me it's no different than the idiots who refuse to permit blood transfusions for their children who end up dead as a result unless the state steps in and orders it to be done. Parents who allow this sort of thing have been blinded by their religious fervor to the reality of common, reasonable behavior in the raising of their children. (Sorry, didn't mean to rant. Bizarre behavior such as this is beyond my comprehension.)

Thanks, Steve. I appreciate your take on this. Makes sense. Still, is it right to presume guilt first?

It's ironic I should be concerned about this. Maybe I have a guilty conscience about getting custody of my 4 children when I divorced their mother. The youngest ones didn't understand why they had to live with me. Maybe I'll post a blog on this someday.
And yes, get that garden prepared! I won't tell you how mine is doing!

I understand if parents are abusive, etc., but I don't understand the logic behind this.Hope you're doing ok.