I saw Richard Dawkins on C-SPAN tonight. I'd never actually seen him on TV. He was very thought-provoking and his new book, The God Delusion, is a must on my Christmas list ... if you'll forgive the irony of that. lol
He brought up an interesting point: There aren't actually "Christian children" or for that matter, "Muslim children" or "Jewish children". These are "children with Christian parents" or Muslim parents and so on. A child that is 3 or 4 years old has not made a conscious and informed choice to be of whichever religion. He/she is merely following the wishes of the parents. To project on a child those terms is more a reflection of your wishes than theirs. That is not to say that they won't come to that choice later on in life. And I am not suggesting that people shouldn't raise their children in their religion. Just don't call them what they can't possibly be yet.
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Speaking of religion -- and I will be speaking a lot on religion because of the probable diminished political fodder of a lame-duck presidency -- Campus Progress has a nice article on the historically progressive causes of evangelicals. Though written before the election, it anticipates the defection of some evangelicals during this election cycle because of those causes:
"Progressives have long represented many of the causes evangelicals care about most, including peacemaking, anti-poverty and anti-hunger work, and environmental stewardship. Many have come to think that evangelicals are only mobilized around social issues like abortion or opposition to gay marriage. But, in fact, the issues that inspire the Christian faithful to act have broadened as evangelicals partner with religious and secular progressives to strengthen today’s progressive movement."
Don't assume that a new Democratic majority will cozy up the Religious Right, but also don't assume that Democrats and progressives don't see the mutual good of addressing common causes. And not all liberals are godless like me. Sorry, Ann Coulter. Don't mean to disappoint you.
9 comments:
I like that saying... especially since Religion is a choice often inflicted upon us without consent. That's one thing I'll give to the Evangelicals, they don't believe in automatic belief - you have to be of an age to make the choice yourself. A few months ago some friends and I participated in an un-baptism for all those who were baptized into the Christian faith against their will. It was quite liberating.
Laura said: A few months ago some friends and I participated in an un-baptism for all those who were baptized into the Christian faith against their will.
WOW. What an idea - an un-baptism [rotflmao]. I guess that most of us are baptised before we can make an informed decision. I know I was... My sister walked to hers but was still too young to know what was going on. None of her kids have been baptised though....
I think my life from the point of my baptism on has been one long "un-baptism". I think I have done enough un-baptising for several people. lol
un-baptisim? how ridiculous. If the person that was baptised in the first place, makes a choice later in life that there isn't a God and then proceeds with an un-baptism, what exactly does this act accomplish besides just digging at people? If baptism is foolish to those who don't believe in it's purpose then an un-baptism is equally, if not more so--foolish.
Back on topic--
I also agree that 3-5 year olds can't possibly fathom the responsiblity in making a choice to serve Christ. However, raising a child in a Christian home is more about the parents following the principles of Christ and his teachings than it is about making new disciples of Christ in our children.
It would be weird to be a Christian and a parent and not have some merging of the two.
I'm sure children are not immune to their parent's political viewpoints/affliations, morals, values, thoughts on family, drinking, smoking, sex, etc. How is religion any different?
Un-baptism does indeed sound silly Sadie... but it's a adult making a public display undoing something that was done to him/her (normally without proper consent) as a child. It's not something I would consider though - having been baptised at an early age - despite my adult hard-line atheism, but I can certainly see the reasoning behind it.
As to children being indoctrinated into their parents faith - I think that's pretty much inevitable. As Sadie said children pick up a lot of their beliefs from their parents and it would be rather strange if they didn't. Thankfully, however, as adults people can question their upbringing and believe different things from their parents - which is as it should be.
It was totally silly Sadie - we all agreed that we didn't need some symbolic gesture since we'd all, as Dback said, unbaptised ourselves over a period of years by not accepting religion in our lives. But we thought of it while drunk, so... Since, however, we didn't force it upon anyone who did not want to participate and it took place in someone's private home, it offended no one. I remember my mom getting all offended when I told her about the unbaptism, and my argument to her was the same as yours: Do you really think it matters if I "unbaptize" myself in some ritual? I still don't consider myself christian.
Sadie,
Welcome back, BTW. Hope you had a good trip!
Concerning un-baptism, we were trying to be funny, not blasphemous. Your reaction gives me an indication that you have some appreciation for the irony of several agnostics/atheists having been baptised.
Also, you said, "I'm sure children are not immune to their parent's political viewpoints/affliations, morals, values, thoughts on family, drinking, smoking, sex, etc. How is religion any different?" -- that's exactly the point. You wouldn't call a 4 year old a Democrat, would you? By the same token, you shouldn't call one a Christian.
what happened to the comment I wrote back here? Darn it.
I addressed everyone idividually.
I haven't the patience to re-write the whole thing, now.
POO.
I didn't delete anything (never do). I just switched to Blogger beta in the last week. Hopefully that didn't mess with it. Please re-post if you can remember what you said.
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