I totally agree with age of consent for baptism.
My Mom
would not allow us kids to make any baptismal decisions until we were
adults. She felt Jesus' example was the best way. But we all know
Watchtower has other ideas.
What is interesting about my family
is that none of us kids ever got baptized into any religion.
Fundamentalism doesn't work for kids. We all saw the BS and said no
thanks. Why don't we all sign up? Because the religious claims are not backed up by reality. For me, it wasa combination of the issue of theodicy and disagreeing with Watchtower interpretation of scripture and their doctrines.
As children, we are all told an interpretation of what god is. As we get
older, we formulate our own ideas based on what we are told versus what
Science has discovered and what reality shows us. When the god stories don't match the facts, when hypocrisy is evident, we move away from it.
As for the OP, I would not leap to such a huge conclusion that 'god is the answer'. We all know what an oppressive god does to people ala the Watchtower. I suspect the stats for children raised in a fundamentalist/extremist/oppressive religion would not support 'happier and healthier' children. I, for one, put plans together as a teenager to get away from my parents religion.
Spirituality is a very personal thing. Many connect it with a belief in 'god'. I do not. I have experienced the feeling of 'grace' outside of any religious type activity or thought. Many of my experiences in nature have given me this feeling.
I think if a child is raised in a loving, positive, uplifting, supportive environment where compassion for others is taught, you will have happy, healthy children. No one needs 'god' for this.
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