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talkpoliticsYes, I know that large chunks of the Bible are based on Jewish National Myth and 'make believe'.
But so are lots of English and American 'history'. It doesn't have to be absolutely true to be inspiring, uplifting or instructive to contemplate.
Dawkins claims that teaching the Christian faith, or any other religious faith to children is a form of child abuse. Me, I am not so sure. Children can be told the story of Noah's ark, but when they get to be old enough to ask serious questions, we can tell them the facts as we know them, that it never really happened.
This would give them a grounding in the culture that they were raised in, and also help them to think critically about their world in other areas - like politics maybe. "The value of fairy tales is not what they tell us about dragons, but they tell us how dragons can be beaten", to paraphrase Chesterton. The Christian faith gave us more than the Crusades and the Inquisition - ask for details ;)
But so are lots of English and American 'history'. It doesn't have to be absolutely true to be inspiring, uplifting or instructive to contemplate.
Dawkins claims that teaching the Christian faith, or any other religious faith to children is a form of child abuse. Me, I am not so sure. Children can be told the story of Noah's ark, but when they get to be old enough to ask serious questions, we can tell them the facts as we know them, that it never really happened.
This would give them a grounding in the culture that they were raised in, and also help them to think critically about their world in other areas - like politics maybe. "The value of fairy tales is not what they tell us about dragons, but they tell us how dragons can be beaten", to paraphrase Chesterton. The Christian faith gave us more than the Crusades and the Inquisition - ask for details ;)
(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 13:04 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 13:07 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 13:12 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 16:09 (UTC)My family are all Christian Fundamentalists, whereas I am an atheist and my wife is a neopagan.
Several years ago when my children were 5 and 7 years old we sent them to spend a couple of weeks with my parents in Florida, when we lived in Ohio so they could spend some time with each other.
When the kids came back home they had nightmares for weeks because they were terrified that "god was going to kill them for sinning" and then even if they did get to go to heaven they would be all alone unless they managed to convince my wife and I to get saved.
They picked up all of this in just 2 weeks, 4 trips to church and living with my fundie parents for 14 days.
Dawkins is overstating the case if you are looking at liberal Christian churches, but even mainstream Christian churches here in the States teach kids far to young to understand all about hellfire and brimstone and yes, that is absolutely a form of child abuse.
(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 16:59 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 20:09 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:21 (UTC)the eternal hellfire that awaits bad christians can be a VERY serious mental anguish
the difference between priest molestation is that VERY few (if any) people you mention this to will consider it your fault. it is socially and culturally understood and accepted that a priest molesting you is NOT your fault and NOT going to make you spend eternity in a lake of fire
conversely, many people may try and make you feel that, say, being gay, will send you to a lake of fire FOREVER and that it's your own damned fault for being gay. i can only imagine the sorts of nightmares that can induce.
(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:24 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:25 (UTC)i understand victim blaming happens, but usually with adult women, not underage boys and their clergy
(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:27 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:28 (UTC)again, not saying it doesn't happen in the broader context of society, but WITHIN the context of it being priests and children within their congregation i do not recall that ever happening
so, provide me with a citation if you can
(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:31 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 23:33 (UTC)carry on!