Passages about children in Religious texts

"Religious texts contain only sporadic passages about children. In some passages children are described as particularly blessed and to be cherished. They are said to reveal the Sacred, and in the monotheistic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) have a more direct relationship with God. There are also troublesome stories of children being sacrificed, raped, eaten, sold, and left to die. Still other stories talk of children only in terms of their value to adults. They are often seen as possessions. When children are referred to as blessings or heirs, it is usually only the sons; the daughters by contrast, are often regarded as a curse."

~Heather Eaton, “Child Honouring and Religion”, from Child Honouring, How to Turn this World Around, edited by Raffi Cavoukian & Sharna Olfman

Painting by Elisabeth Slettnes