Comments on: Kids Are Awesome http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:30:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: mambochicken23 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127668 mambochicken23 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:39:11 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127668 Parthenon, I am very thankful that my parents didn't teach me about their religious beliefs. They actually are both Presbyterian, but they didn't indoctrinate me into the church when I was a child. When I grew up, I figured out for myself what I put trust in. Incidentally, this is the same model they used for political discussions. They never instructed me on politics. Turns out my dad is a conservative Republican and my mom is a centrist Democrat. I didn't know that until I was in my late teens, after I had discovered that I was a socially-liberal, fiscally-moderate Democrat atheist Instead of teaching me what I should believe (e.g., Republican vs. Democrat, Christian vs. Muslim vs. Jewish vs. Hindu vs. atheist), they helped me by teaching me the value of education, logic, and reason, and let me use those building blocks to form my own categorical decisions about where I stand on issues of politics and religion. I think that its sad that small children are born into situations where they are taught to believe in something simply because it's what the parents deem is true. Instead of teaching their children to seek truth, parents often teach their children on what IS truth. In my mind, this is doing their children a grave disservice. While some grow up and change their minds about what they've been taught, this is the exception rather than the rule. I'm afraid I'm with Dawkins on this one. Parthenon, I am very thankful that my parents didn’t teach me about their religious beliefs. They actually are both Presbyterian, but they didn’t indoctrinate me into the church when I was a child. When I grew up, I figured out for myself what I put trust in. Incidentally, this is the same model they used for political discussions. They never instructed me on politics. Turns out my dad is a conservative Republican and my mom is a centrist Democrat. I didn’t know that until I was in my late teens, after I had discovered that I was a socially-liberal, fiscally-moderate Democrat atheist

Instead of teaching me what I should believe (e.g., Republican vs. Democrat, Christian vs. Muslim vs. Jewish vs. Hindu vs. atheist), they helped me by teaching me the value of education, logic, and reason, and let me use those building blocks to form my own categorical decisions about where I stand on issues of politics and religion.

I think that its sad that small children are born into situations where they are taught to believe in something simply because it’s what the parents deem is true. Instead of teaching their children to seek truth, parents often teach their children on what IS truth. In my mind, this is doing their children a grave disservice. While some grow up and change their minds about what they’ve been taught, this is the exception rather than the rule.

I’m afraid I’m with Dawkins on this one.

]]> By: Parthenon http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127658 Parthenon Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:20:43 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127658 Child abuse... if a parent declines to teach their kid what they believe is the best way to live, <i>that's</i> more like child abuse IMO. If you're an atheist and want to teach them you're worm food when you die, fine. If you want to teach them about Buddha or Allah or Jehovah, well, I've known plenty of people of all stripes who've later changed their minds. But non-religious people are unnecessarily assholes about it, aren't they? I'm not going to tell an atheist he's brainwashing <i>his</i> kid. Child abuse… if a parent declines to teach their kid what they believe is the best way to live, that’s more like child abuse IMO. If you’re an atheist and want to teach them you’re worm food when you die, fine. If you want to teach them about Buddha or Allah or Jehovah, well, I’ve known plenty of people of all stripes who’ve later changed their minds. But non-religious people are unnecessarily assholes about it, aren’t they? I’m not going to tell an atheist he’s brainwashing his kid.

]]> By: bryan http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127657 bryan Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:15:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127657 Well, actually Parthenon, Richard Dawkins likens it to child abuse! I just think it's a lot of old mumbo-jumbo. Well, actually Parthenon, Richard Dawkins likens it to child abuse! I just think it’s a lot of old mumbo-jumbo.

]]> By: Parthenon http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127654 Parthenon Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:05:16 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127654 Parents passing on their religion is 'brainwashing?' Parents passing on their religion is ‘brainwashing?’

]]> By: anotherbozo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127653 anotherbozo Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:05:07 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127653 OK, but STAPLES??? OK, but STAPLES???

]]> By: mambochicken23 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127644 mambochicken23 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:06:33 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127644 A bunch of those were really funny to me, even though I really dislike seeing these young children being brainwashed. A bunch of those were really funny to me, even though I really dislike seeing these young children being brainwashed.

]]> By: jr http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/11/18/kids-are-awesome/#comment-127638 jr Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:00:53 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=11470#comment-127638 Dear God, I want Joe Lieberman to like me. Harry Reid Dear God,
I want Joe Lieberman to like me.
Harry Reid

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