Is teaching your child about your religion mental abuse?

[rvg]

ok...then for example how do you explain the fact that human babies know to hold their breath when underwater?....any parent who has taken their child to a babies swimming class knows this happens....if it is not instinctive behavior what is it?

Disclaimer: What I'm about to say is merely a layman's speculation.

I would suspect that it's learned behavior. The child spends plenty of time submerged in a liquid while in utero, and during its last 3-4 weeks inside, the baby is most definitely alert and capable of learning. Just like they learn to suckle while they are still in utero.