.

[Stiganator]

.

 

[Jumpem]

She is being taught the rights things already.

 

[scttgrd]

I hate to tell you unless you manage to get custody, there isn't a thing you can do. It won't be long before you are the heathen, and I hope you don't piss off your ex.

 

[Shawn]

Tell her it's about as real as Santa Clause.

 

[PottedMeat]

You might not have to do a damn thing - depending on how hard she's being taught that crap, she's going to rebel.

 

[ManBearPig]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
" I get so angry at those kings that worship idols. etc etc"

lmao! I lol'd at this. Good luck buddy. Pretty funny thing coming out of a four year olds mouth.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
How do you handle a situation like this? How do I prevent brainwashing and keep her mind open?

I'm a parent and a unitarian universalist. I think you shouldn't worry about it and should try your damndest not to make it an area of conflict.

Consider that a child takes thier behavioral cues from thier caretakers. your daughter WILL observe and emulate your behavior. Additionally, you must realize that the dualistic structure of right and wrong presented in fundamentalist Christianity is particularly appealing to the world-view of a child. It is not surprising that she sees a lot of sense in such a religion. It is straightforward and she has a caretaker who is a participant, how can you fault her.

I would say asking a 4 year old to appreciate the finer points of an open an accepting spirituality is putting the cart before the horse. Live your life compassionately and in a spirit of acceptance and understanding, if you're able to do that you'll appreciate your child's point of view, and in the end it's likely she'll come around to yours.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Reminds me of the time when the Pope came to the US. I remember on the Radio, they asked a kid who couldn't have been more than 7 what he thought of the Pope.

One of the things he said was "I'm glad he's not a Jew"

As a side note get your kid some science books. Thats the entire reason I became atheist after being raised Christian. Crap loads of science books at a young age.

 

[RESmonkey]

Please don't hinder human progression with religion.

 

[Oceandevi]

Teach them by example. Satanists have more fun and have no regrets. Christians worry a lot and always have to pray and shit.

 

[child of wonder]

My parents try to convert my 5 and 4 year old when they watch them. It really pisses me off having my 5 year old son tell me that there is a man in the sky called God and we have to thank him before we eat and that if I say differently I'M wrong.

 

[RESmonkey]

Explain to them how there is no God, and that the children shouldn't think about things like that until they're older.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

humans should not be exposed to religion until they are adults, for the same reasons they should not be exposed to sex and violence

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

You might not have to do a damn thing - depending on how hard she's being taught that crap, she's going to rebel.

This.

Plus, learning to live by the lessons in the Bible can't hurt her.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

You must do everything in your power to keep your child away from her mother, STAT!

Poor kid. Child abuse is just wrong.

 

[Stiganator]

.

 

[Skeeedunt]

Teaching her about Christianity is one thing, but it sounds like she's already being indoctrinated with a healthy dose of hatred and intolerance. That's what would worry me the most.

 

[RESmonkey]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

You might not have to do a damn thing - depending on how hard she's being taught that crap, she's going to rebel.

This.

Plus, learning to live by the lessons in the Bible can't hurt her.

You can teach lessons without lies.


Seriously, ditch the bible. You can teach your kids with cartoons and such.

 

[timosyy]

Umm... whatever she learns about living life from Christianity won't hurt her. Especially at her age, its mostly stuff like... be nice to people, don't steal, be honest, forgive others, and sermon on the mount stuff (be kind, gentle, caring, etc.).

What's really dangerous are the people she'd be around, I guess. The church is more dangerous than Christianity/the Bible. Eventually when she enters her teenage/rebellious years she'll start to question people in authority (including the church/her religious upbringing), and she'll decide for herself. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Edit: Bottom line being-- its fine to have the church instill these moral values at a young age, its what you'd probably be trying to teach her anyways. When she grows up, especially since she'll be seeing both sides (I'm assuming you're not Christian), it'll be pretty easy for her to choose for herself. Yes, you see "brainwashed" children of the religious right, but i'm assuming they have both parents pushing them in that direction + most of them will leave it in college.

 

[The Sauce]

You need to be the voice or reason and moderation - something born-againers are incapable of - and not the voice of opposition. The opposition will come on it's own. You do not want to create a tug-of-war. If she is pulled in two directions she will pick one. Children tend to pick more concrete and extreme beliefs - explaining the child-like attitudes of the hyper-religious. If she is pushed in one direction then most likely she will eventually resist. Common psychology.

 

[nakedfrog]

When my daughter was that age and her grandmother was filling her with Jehovah's Witness junk, I always answered her as "That's what some people believe". When she got older, I kept up by saying that there were other religions and giving her a brief explanation. Without me feeding her the specific words, by age ten or eleven she came to the conclusion herself that the religions that say they're the only way can't all be right.

 

[idiotekniQues]

religion is evil, most of the time.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I'm in a similar situation. I began comparative religion courses by the time my daughter was 6. At about age 10 she was mature enough to begin lessons about the dangers of zealotism, egocentrism, etc. That was also the age that she was forbidden to say or do anything bigoted.

She's still a Christian, and that's fine, but she isn't a nutjob any more, at least around me. There's nothing wrong with having a religion, but there IS something wrong with being insane.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
My daughter lives with her mother for the most part. She became a born again Christian sort of person. I've noticed my daughter saying things that worry me. i.e. " I get so angry at those kings that worship idols. etc etc"

She is only 4 so it is difficult to explain the complexities of religion to her. I have told her that there are many different religions with many different gods i.e. Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, etc. I'll ask her why she says some of the things she says and she says because it is the bible. I told her that some people believe everything in the bible and other people think it tells us stories that teach us how to be nice to each other.

How do you handle a situation like this? How do I prevent brainwashing and keep her mind open?

Tell her religion is a interpretation of direct experience, the founders of all religions saw the same God but interpreted differently.

 

[Pacfanweb]

The problem I have with the bible and religion in general is this: If the bible is clearly God's word and that's how things are supposed to be, then why are their so many different religions that use the same book?