Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Mageth · 03-14-2005, 09:16 AM

Note: if you have chidren and are not adverse to letting them participate in a seemingly innocent neighborhood easter egg hunt, you might want to check it out first...

Driving home from Houston last night, I was scanning the radio channels when I ran across a "Family Life Today" weekend broadcast:

Quote:

Who could imagine that such a little Easter egg can hold such a big message, but they can when they're Resurrection Eggs. On today's broadcast, Dennis Rainey, along with children's performer, Miss PattyCake, talks to Patricia Myers, a listener who used the Resurrection Eggs last year to teach the gospel to those who might never have heard it otherwise. Find out how you can follow in her footsteps by joining us for today's broadcast.

They were discussing "Resurrection Eggs" and their "World's Largest Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt".

Quote:

Resurrection Eggs
Help children understand Easter in a fresh, new way with Resurrection Eggs! Colorful eggs, meaningful objects, and a devotional booklet bring the story of the death and resurrection of Christ to life--many children will place their faith in the risen Savior! Start a tradition this year and join over 1,000,000 parents and teachers who are already using Resurrection Eggs.

Quote:

With Resurrection Eggs and other helpful tools such as our Eggstra Easy Egg Hosting Handbook, brochures, and invitations, you can discover the excitement of helping share the gospel with one million children this year!

They also hope, according to their radio broadcast, that those 1 million children will go home and share the "true meaning of Easter" with their parents. Apparently, their parents just arrived from another Galaxy and have never heard the Easter story before.

Is it just me, or does this sound a little...disturbing? Ethically questionable? Or even ethically deplorable? I'm talking about the notion of drawing neighborhood kids into a seemingly innocent "Easter Egg Hunt" with the agenda of "selling" the children the "Gospel Message."

More links:

http://www.familylife.com/eggs/downloads.asp
http://www.familylife.com/1-800-358-...il.asp?id=6929

Rhaedas · 03-14-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Resurrection Eggs® provide a fun, captivating way to share the gospel message with children of all ages.

(emphasis mine)

Ugh. I guess somewhere along the line Christians took Easter, but lost it to the pagan gods of commercialism, and are trying a more subversive way to get it back.

Crowley · 03-14-2005, 10:07 AM

The most effective means Christians have of spreading the "Good Word" is by manipulating the minds of children. Get 'em young and you have a better chance of keeping 'em for life. Children are very impressionable and the "magic" of a man (God) being able to rise from the dead and do other miracles can be very attractive. Add in the concept that you can call on Jesus to protect you from the monster in the closet and other night terrors and you have a Christian Fundie in the making.

Xulfer Cirtsag · 03-14-2005, 10:42 AM

Sometimes I wonder if some day, far in the future, aliens will actually traverse space and discover this planet that's etched the words "Jesus loves you!" across the continent of Asia.

Deacon Doubtmonger · 03-14-2005, 12:02 PM

I understand these are hollow plastic and contain what the ad site calls "meaningful objects," one of which is -- you guessed it -- a nail.

The sheer morbidity of xianity sickens me. Selling the faith to children via imagery even Edgar Allan Poe would turn up his nose at is as reprehensible as it gets.

Godless Wonder · 03-14-2005, 12:05 PM

Where is this easter egg hunt? *Idly imagines horde of infidels sneaking out there at midnight and "miraculously" replacing all the eggs' contents with Chinese fortune cookies*

We certainly live in interesting times.

southernhybrid · 03-14-2005, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Is it just me, or does this sound a little...disturbing? Ethically questionable? Or even ethically deplorable? I'm talking about the notion of drawing neighborhood kids into a seemingly innocent "Easter Egg Hunt" with the agenda of "selling" the children the "Gospel Message."

Yes. It's disturbing to us, but they don't see it the same way we do. They are so brainwashed themselves, they think they are doing something positive for those children.

Xulfer Cirtsag · 03-14-2005, 12:10 PM

I propose we put out the special IPU muffins for kids to find. :devil1:

Mageth · 03-14-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernhybrid

Yes. It's disturbing to us, but they don't see it the same way we do. They are so brainwashed themselves, they think they are doing something positive for those children.

Yet, when a PBS animated show simply portrays a rabbit visiting a lesbian couple, they all go hog-wild mad about how the "gay agenda" and Hollywood are trying to brainwash their children into tolerating homosexuality!

Vagus · 03-14-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Miss PattyCake, talks to Patricia Myers, a listener who used the Resurrection Eggs last year to teach the gospel to those who might never have heard it otherwise.

Thereby giving them a chance to reject the story & so burn in Hell for eternity - gee thanks.

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03-14-2005, 10:07 AM	#3
Crowley Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: GA Posts: 114	The most effective means Christians have of spreading the "Good Word" is by manipulating the minds of children. Get 'em young and you have a better chance of keeping 'em for life. Children are very impressionable and the "magic" of a man (God) being able to rise from the dead and do other miracles can be very attractive. Add in the concept that you can call on Jesus to protect you from the monster in the closet and other night terrors and you have a Christian Fundie in the making.

03-14-2005, 10:42 AM	#4
Xulfer Cirtsag Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no, not there, try again Posts: 1,752	Sometimes I wonder if some day, far in the future, aliens will actually traverse space and discover this planet that's etched the words "Jesus loves you!" across the continent of Asia.

03-14-2005, 12:02 PM	#5
Deacon Doubtmonger Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Level 6, Inside a Burning Tomb Posts: 1,494	I understand these are hollow plastic and contain what the ad site calls "meaningful objects," one of which is -- you guessed it -- a nail. The sheer morbidity of xianity sickens me. Selling the faith to children via imagery even Edgar Allan Poe would turn up his nose at is as reprehensible as it gets.

03-14-2005, 12:05 PM	#6
Godless Wonder Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,197	Where is this easter egg hunt? Idly imagines horde of infidels sneaking out there at midnight and "miraculously" replacing all the eggs' contents with Chinese fortune cookies We certainly live in interesting times.

03-14-2005, 12:10 PM	#8
Xulfer Cirtsag Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no, not there, try again Posts: 1,752	I propose we put out the special IPU muffins for kids to find. :devil1:

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