A
angellous_evangellous
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They don't call it "weak" atheism for nothing. No reasoning needed at all.![]()
Sorta like Christian fundies.
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They don't call it "weak" atheism for nothing. No reasoning needed at all.![]()
I didn't wait that long to ponder them.Granted, 11 is a little early to be pondering these questions so I think I`ll give her a little more time.
I didn't wait that long to ponder them.
I was lucky to have friends who liked to discuss such things for as long as I can remember.
I never thought of a time limit for my kids.True, considering who her father is and the influence my beliefs have had on her life I know she has pondered the possibilities.
But I`m still gonna give her a little more time to come to a conclusion.![]()
I never thought of a time limit for my kids.
They just believe what they believe.
I suppose that it would if the "why" were wrong-headed & the beliefs offensive, but no such problems.It doesn`t matter to you "why" they believe it?
True, considering who her father is and the influence my beliefs have had on her life I know she has pondered the possibilities.
But I`m still gonna give her a little more time to come to a conclusion.
![]()
Respect her decisions and she'll respect yours.Ahhh...
I have a problem.
My 11 year old daughter has just gotten a Facebook page (I know I know 13 is the age limit.) and she`s been having a blast playing games and chatting with her classmates online (Apparently I`m not the only one who could care less about age limits)
I just checked on her page for the 15th time today and see she has added "Devout Atheist" boldly displayed on her profile page.
<Sigh>
My atheism has caused many problems for my daughter most of which revolve around the fact that all my neighbors were very freindly and she played with the numerous kids in the neighborhood up and until my Devout Christian neighbors discovered my atheism.
Now she`s a leper and none of the kids in the neighborhood are allowed to play with her because she is of course satans child and will lead their kids into the very depths of hell.
Now her classmates parents will undoubtedly see that she`s a "devout atheist" and I fear the same ostracization will occur.
My wife wants it removed from her page.
I don`t want to give her any reason to believe there is shame in what she thinks she believes/disbelieves (I realize she`s 11 and may very well be a baptist preacher by the time she`s 22 but for now she claims atheism undoubtedly due to my beliefs)
You have to understand this kid isn`t your average 11 year old and neither are her classmates they`re all gifted with 130 or above IQ`s and in special classes running special critical thinking competitions and the whole parent/teacher/student/ situation in this class is very tight knit.
Most of them could perform well at high school levels in many areas.
She`s adamant she won`t remove it and I`m at a loss as I`ve always told her she should never be ashamed of whatever she believes about anything.
I`ve informed her she runs the risk of being ostracized in the same manner she was in our neighborhood and she just doesn`t give a damn.
She says that if they can`t accept her for what she is she doesn`t want their acceptance.
This of course fills me with so much pride I could burst but I really don`t want her tight knit "family" that the class has become over the past few years to shun her as it would truly hurt her.
I`m not worried about the kids reactions as truthfully most of them are smarter than their parents but I`m worried about what the parents might do or make their kids do.
What do I do here?
Help??
But the weak shall inherit the Earth.They don't call it "weak" atheism for nothing. No reasoning needed at all.![]()
Ouch. Probably.But the weak shall inherit the Earth.
oh wait... did I get that right?
Ahhh...
I have a problem.
My 11 year old daughter has just gotten a Facebook page (I know I know 13 is the age limit.) and she`s been having a blast playing games and chatting with her classmates online (Apparently I`m not the only one who could care less about age limits)
I just checked on her page for the 15th time today and see she has added "Devout Atheist" boldly displayed on her profile page.
<Sigh>
My atheism has caused many problems for my daughter most of which revolve around the fact that all my neighbors were very freindly and she played with the numerous kids in the neighborhood up and until my Devout Christian neighbors discovered my atheism.
Now she`s a leper and none of the kids in the neighborhood are allowed to play with her because she is of course satans child and will lead their kids into the very depths of hell.
Now her classmates parents will undoubtedly see that she`s a "devout atheist" and I fear the same ostracization will occur.
My wife wants it removed from her page.
I don`t want to give her any reason to believe there is shame in what she thinks she believes/disbelieves (I realize she`s 11 and may very well be a baptist preacher by the time she`s 22 but for now she claims atheism undoubtedly due to my beliefs)
You have to understand this kid isn`t your average 11 year old and neither are her classmates they`re all gifted with 130 or above IQ`s and in special classes running special critical thinking competitions and the whole parent/teacher/student/ situation in this class is very tight knit.
Most of them could perform well at high school levels in many areas.
She`s adamant she won`t remove it and I`m at a loss as I`ve always told her she should never be ashamed of whatever she believes about anything.
I`ve informed her she runs the risk of being ostracized in the same manner she was in our neighborhood and she just doesn`t give a damn.
She says that if they can`t accept her for what she is she doesn`t want their acceptance.
This of course fills me with so much pride I could burst but I really don`t want her tight knit "family" that the class has become over the past few years to shun her as it would truly hurt her.
I`m not worried about the kids reactions as truthfully most of them are smarter than their parents but I`m worried about what the parents might do or make their kids do.
What do I do here?
Help??
First, thanks for calling me deut - it's been a long time.
In my opinion ...
To believe oneself smarter and more sophisticated than one's peers is seductive, especially for an adolescent in the process of defining/establishing one's sense of self and self-worth, and skepticism is cheap. Most 11 year olds have no sense of philosophy or cosmology. Most are unaware of religious scholarship and incapable of evaluating its worth. Their 'atheism' is necessarily shallow and oft-times counter-cultural. In my opinion it is, at best, qualitatively premature.... and I bet she'll turn out great.
I'm not trying to argue the validity of either position in this thread. I'm simply trying to present the Christian argument as clear as possible. Understand that most Christian parents do not want their kids around people who could potentially lead their kids away from what they believe is the truth. Why? Because they believe that=hell. It's not out of hatred that they try to keep a safe distance from you and your family, it's out of fear. Most of these Christian parents probably wouldn't want their kids hanging out with any children other than other Christian children. If you were Muslim or Jewish you'd probably be dealing with the same situation. For your kid to really be considered acceptable as a playmate for the Christian children she'd probably have to lie and call herself a Christian. She might be able to sneak in by calling herself a theist (being very ambiguous about the specific type of theism). My attitude is that we as 21st century Westerners spoil our kids. In the Middle Ages, kids that were 8 years old would be working full time and they'd get married at 12. There's was a very harsh world yet they persevered. IMO, you should let your daughter be welcomed into the real world. Better that than live a lie. What kind of a lesson will it teach your daughter to lie about who she is in order to be welcomed. I've never been a parent but I am someone who's had their teeth kicked in on a constant basis since my earliest days. If you knew more about my life I guarantee you wouldn't challenge that claim. It's time to be a warrior I say.
I remember being 11 years old and I wasn't brain dead... .
This applies equally to most of the theisms kids of the same age claim... and I guess we could extend this to many adults..To believe oneself smarter and more sophisticated than one's peers is seductive, especially for an adolescent in the process of defining/establishing one's sense of self and self-worth, and skepticism is cheap. Most 11 year olds have no sense of philosophy or cosmology. Most are unaware of religious scholarship and incapable of evaluating its worth.
Help??
Just curious, has she or her peers received and religious (or anti-religious) indoctrination, either at school, home, or elsewhere? I am neutral with regards to what she puts on her FB profile, but it might help you to understand where she's coming from.Ahhh...
You have to understand this kid isn`t your average 11 year old and neither are her classmates they`re all gifted with 130 or above IQ`s and in special classes running special critical thinking competitions and the whole parent/teacher/student/ situation in this class is very tight knit.