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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 16:28 (UTC)I've gotten into arguments with college-educated Christians who believe the first marriage was Adam & Eve. and that's far from the silliest thing I've heard defended. Not many young-earth Creationists in your experience either?
(no subject)
Date: 24/7/11 16:31 (UTC)