The theist often finds it necessary to have their faith hammered into their children. It's all about repetition. Why?
We talk about having things 'drummed into us', sometimes. With religion, this is a very appropriate analogy. Theistic ideas are presented to vulnerable young minds like the beats of a loud drum ... God is Love God is Love God God is Love ... You'll Go To Hell You'll Go To Hell You'll Go To Hell You'll Go To Hell ... with the idea that this will encourage (or force) the children to march along in step.
Theists often claim atheism is a religion. Yet I don't know any godless folk who sit their children down and have them repeat "There is no god" over and over. I don't know any godless folk who encourage their children to read The God Delusion x number of times a day and repeat key parts before they go to bed. I don't know any goldess folk who send their kids to special atheist schools where they can have the lessons on the lack of evidence for gods.
In my own case, my son knows I'm an atheist but he's free believe whatever he wants. Weeks, months, maybe years can go past without imaginary creators ever getting a mention.
But I have to wonder why, if a god is so almighty and his lessons for life so strong, belief in him has to be bludgeoned into us from an impressionable age. It's like a square peg being forced into a round hole - if you keep hitting it hard enough, eventually it will go in (and you'll probably never be able to get it out again).
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Square Pegs
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5 comments:
I understand what you're saying. Religion was beaten into my parents (literally). I think the problem is that anyone can claim to be Christian and distort it into some kind of manipulative ideology. North Korea is an atheist country but I know that the atrocities that happen there don't necessarily spring from atheism.
It was never beaten into me, my parents gave me the opportunity to choose. I didn't grow up Christian, I only became one when I came back from Iraq. It would be a joy to teach my future children about God. How could I withhold the greatest part of my life from my children? Christ has given me a brand new life (it may seem like self-delusion to you), I would want them to know Who it is that has done that.
What your son's name? How old?
15 (but he would prefer to remain anonymous).
If you want your kids to understand science, you'll have to try not to mess things up with ID and creationism. There's no evidence for them at all.
:) Oh, I can see it now: "Son, God loves you so much but you're an accident and there is no qualitative difference between you and a cockroach other than a big piece of flesh behind your eyes and the fact that you are on the top of the food chain."
"There's no evidence for them at all."
Wouldn't you have to know ALL evidences to make that claim. Is that possible?
"Wouldn't you have to know ALL evidences to make that claim."
Why?
If someone puts forward an idea such as creationism aor intelligent design it's up to them to give solid evidence.
Like I said, if you want to live in your fantasy land (with your children) because you can't stomach reality, that's fine. But there's no point in having a discussion about anything rational.
I point you to my "Alice & The Parrot" post.
Wow, wonderful post. We've noticed the same thing with our daughter (my step)...her mother marches her to church and back, talks constantly about God. Over here, it's more like hey, what do you want for dinner tonight?
I'll be interested in my daughter's take on this entry...well done.
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