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Old 08-05-2007, 10:09 PM   #16 (permalink)
EffEmDoubleyou
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What an interesting topic. I don't have children, so my opinion probably holds little weight, but I really responded to Geoff's statements. I think in a sense it's okay to lie to kids about things that are beyond their comprehension.

What is a lie? It's a deception we engage in because it is not in our self-interest to reveal the truth. That isn't what you're doing if you allow your kids to believe the allegorical aspects of religion as historical truth. You're merely giving them a placeholder that will allow them a foundation to build on with more sophisticated thinking later. The malice that is part and parcel of a lie is absent here, so "lie" is a term that is harsher on you than is warranted.

As an example, think of what a lot of people say when a small child asks them where babies come from. Many say, "When a mommy and a daddy love each other very much, God gives them a baby." Which, if you believe in God, isn't entirely untrue. It's just not specifically true. It's a way to give them something they can wrap their heads around without being untrue to the reality of the answer.

In regard to the grandparents, I think it's okay to say that mommy and grandma think about things a little differently. It might be a good way to introduce the kids to differences of opinion. Personally, I wouldn't approach it like Ferrus, where he says he "humors" those with religious beliefs while still conceding that a God is alogical. I think it is dangerous to teach children to link the presence or absence of religious beliefs with a level of intelligence or emotional strength. Religion doesn't work that way.
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