I can feel you on your opinion about people instilling false truths to the mainstream which, in the end, causes the youth of now to become brainwashed. However, when you said you'd never expose your kids to this kind of nature, aren't you yourself brainwashing them? By putting in your head that you won't expose them to this, you are shielding their minds from society, and when they get older enough to have an opinion, they'll want to know what you've been keeping from them, thus you're (semi)brainwashing will have failed... Although, I respect this opinion.

"And, as against such things as I am, I will not pretend that I do not do the same thing day after day, under the rather cocky assumption that I can help the people I do influence." (Quoted from above)
I don't mind admitting my hypocritical nature.
You don't have to be so gentle in calling me out, though--or maybe I am just accustomed to more harsh words?
But I, like everyone else, think that I am right and that a child molded somewhat after me would be something of the ideal.
How I see it is the same way that most people view imaginary friends--not something for adults to have and something denoting a lost connection with reality.
I certainly won't refrain from showing my child the different bibles, the different religions--mostly because I consider at least a basic knowledge of such things vital to proper intelligence--but that's more to understand others' culture, not to raise a 'believer'.
I don't see that as a choice of faith--rather, it would be a very large red flag that something is a miss.
(Perhaps they've felt left out or ostracized from their peers ? Perhaps they've suffered a loss and are having trouble coping? Maybe they just don't understand something and think that God is the answer?
Now, I was raised around many a a Christian and it will be difficult not to say 'god damn it' or 'Jesus Christ'--part of my being brainwashed from a young age.
I think that going out of my way to explain concepts such as heaven and hell would be something similar to explaining fables associated with heritage.
(Mainly because religion has some of the most amazing concepts and could stimulate a child's brain creatively, the same as a good movie or a descriptive novel. I mean, really, angels? A place for bad people to go to burn for all of eternity? It's all quite neat. Not to mention the works that are based on such concepts--Dante's Divine Comedy, for one.)

There are very few things that I'd keep from my children. While I have the same wide-eyed, tender-hearted concern for 'innocence' as the next female, I believe that a passionate pursuit for knowledge would do them better--even at their early years.
(And, all that is not to say that I'd raise a little brat that likes to inform his Christian classmates that his mommy says Jesus is a lie and that she calls God their parents' imaginary friend. It's a fine line to walk, but raising proper offspring is rather tough--whatever the circumstances.)

Though I am one of harsh words, when I give respect, I means it, and kid? You've got my respects, but now let me propose a question to you. You brought up Dante's Divine Comedy (Which I believe is the greatest piece of literature written)which is just a man's vision of Christian afterlife, and like all religions, its just a vision of how the world is, how it was made and blah of that nature; So my question is when exposing your kids to the different visions of life and what-not, when the time comes when they question your beliefs vs their beliefs, how are you gonna explain yourself?

Very simply: I believe that this is it. There is no afterlife and there is no man in the sky.
I think I am right, of course.
Now, if the question of belief came up when the child was, say, six, I would ask many a question and look rather deeply into the matter.
The thing I fear more than anything else is that my child would be subject to the Godtalk that I went through in school. Not just because my child is being /taught/ religion, but because it is something that made me feel left out and alone. I wouldn't want that for my son or daughter.
Like I said, I view religion as something of a...mental disorder. There would be serious discussion involved if my young child suddenly found a bible to thump.
If, however, the question of religion came up around my child's teen years, I would be a bit more lenient, as it'd probably be a phase. I would still show concern and worry. And, more or less, I would--with a light heart--debate with him/her the same way that I debate with the occasional Christian today.
If they were to choose Christianity, I would go through the bible and show him/her its contradictions and ask for an explanation.
And, as from the beginning, I would always try to instill confidence and self-esteem in my child--try to help them in the way that prayer helps Christians; by giving them a sense of love and control over their own life.
Now, if the phase of religion continued on into their twenties or showed the mark of something permanent, I would, of course, respect their decision, but I'd show no mercy if they were to start up a spat about it.
I wouldn't disown my child; I would just sigh in exasperation and tell them that they are wrong, but it's their life and that I'll love them no matter what.

Just like I'm sure they'd try to prove you wrong but in the end show their respects. Idk, you make very detailed and valid points, about religion and how each religion thus far makes no sense in some extent. But when thinking about it, neither does not having a religion. But that's a debate that's for another time. I can't believe noone else is talkin about this though. This is some interesting shit, and you are an interesting person. Is good to talk to intellectual people.

I try to. Some say that I'm a bit on the long-winded side and if I go on too long, I more or less repeat myself, but it's less of that I have no more points than it is with me saying: 'That tree is purple. The leaves are purple. The leaves are this weird eggplant purple. Like, this mixture of red and blue with more dark blue.'
In my own way, it's me trying to make myself more understandable, but it becomes repetitive. Lawl.
Thanks, though. I appreciate it.