From: Kate Distin (memes@distin.co.uk)
Date: Thu 26 Jan 2006 - 22:13:57 GMT
Kenneth Van Oost wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kate Distin <memes@distin.co.uk>
> You wrote,
>
>>What you're really asking, though, is whether it is ok to impose false
>>beliefs upon your children. It may not be ok but it is unavoidable.
>>We're all wrong about something, and so long as we don't know what it is
>>(or, let's face it, what the vast range of things are) we shall continue
>>to behave as though we are right, and pass it on to our children. We
>>can't help it.
>
>
> ....and then you write,
>
>>BUT what we can do is let them know that there are alternatives out
>>there; people who believe different things. If your Elvisian secluded
>>his children and pretended, somehow, that everyone else believed in him
>>too, then we'd have moved into a different realm I feel.
>
>
> << That is a paradox ! Are you giving your children all the chances they can
> get to learn about the alternatives !? Do you learn, explain to your
> children,
> of which I understand you bring them up in a christian way_ that atheism
> exists, that humanism is around, that people believe that any is just an
> illision,
> that the believing itself in a god is a question that their mother can 't
> cope with
> the existing world around her as its stands, that their mother needs an '
> outsider '
> to go round in society, in her social intercourses, in her cultural working
> environ-
> ment, in her political points of view !? Do you let them know that there
> alterntives !?
> And what if the kids will know what the alternatives hold within !?
> And what if one breaks away and embraces atheism !?
> Will you continu to behave as you were right !? I doubt it !
>
> You will continu to ' force ' your children to follow ' the right way ',
> that is the
> christian way ! You were brought up in such a manner, and two, more
> important
> as the first, you haven 't got a clue how to behave as an atheist or like a
> social
> humanist ! How could you as you yourself were completelty surrounded with
> and
> within christian memes !?
> How would you explain to a kid that from now on he may be bildung himself,
> that
> his belief in a god was a mistake, that isn 't a big issue for his mother
> and that he will
> get all the support from his environment when necessary !?
> Good luck !
>
> Regards,
>
> Kenneth
>
>
Dear Kenneth,
I was not brought up as a Christian.
I lived as an atheist for a decade.
My children know that other people have other faiths, and none.
I'm sorry that my Christianity makes you so angry. I think you and I
have to agree to differ about this one. I can't see any point in
debating it further with you.
Best,
Kate
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