HaysooChreesto!

My 4 year old daughter and internet handle namesake has apparently killed off her longtime imaginary friends Prince and Witch. For the last two and a half years or so Prince and Witch have been her friends, enemies, and took all of the blame for stealing various items from her older sister's bedroom. She visited them in their castle by the river where they played with dolls and engaged in lively tea parties.

How does this apply to GRD? It seems that last weekend while babysitting for my wife and I, my mom thought it a good idea to show my daughter an Xtian kid video that explains how Jebus met his demise. So how did Prince and Witch check out of her imagination? By being crucified of course. Yes, my Lamma told me that she nailed Prince and Witch to crosses and they died.
There's been no word of a resurrection yet.

So here we have a stereotypical case of one the things that atheists bitch about regularly. The teachings of mystical hoodoo to toddlers who really can't comprehend what they're being told. The idea of a fatherly Sky Daddy who comes back from the dead. A superhero who will always be there for them. The beginnings of death worship where they learn that this [only] life is of secondary importance.

I don't wish to turn this into a problem solving thread for my personal issues. I would like it to be more of a discussion on how religion negatively impacts kids at such a young age. I have my own ideas on what I'm going to do but I would appreciate some emotionless critical analysis.

If this thread gets moved to SL&S to do die then so be it, but I hope I'm communicating effectively enough as to why I hope it doesn't. Thanks.

Heathen Dawn

I can tell you how atheism negatively impacted me at such a young age: precisely this teaching that this life is the only life. That teaching left me with a lifelong scar that only now, thanks to faith, is healing.

Demigawd

From my own experience, the Christian doctrine of Hell can play, well, "hell" on a child with a good imagination. In retrospect, I consider it a case of child abuse. Also, the doctrine of inherent sinfullness does wonders for a child's developing sense of self-worth. Nothing quite like growing up believing that you are a piece-of-shit in the eyes of the creator of this universe, and you deserve to fry forever and ever because of it.

Demigawd

Way to go in attempting to turn yet another thread into your fear-of-death hang-up, and how naturalists are the big, bad boogeymen. You're becoming more repetitious than Magus55.

Viti

My Christian friend's 4 year old was so terrified of going to hell he woke up screaming in the night begging his mom to tell him how to avoid it. She, of course, had him repeat the Sinner's Prayer and thought him being "saved" was a marvelous thing.

Giving kids nightmares...yeah...great.

Heathen Dawn

No, not naturalists, only naturalism.

LOL I take that as a compliment!

livius drusus

Refrain from personalizing this thread, please, or your posts will be removed.

Thank you,
livius drusus
Moderator, GRD

schu

Well, naturalism is the understanding that this is a natural universe and naturalists are the people who understand that fact. So you have said the same thing.

{flame deleted - wade-w}

seebs

I don't know enough to comment. Is she sad about the death of the imaginary friends, or was she about ready to ditch them, and this seemed like a fun way?

I can't tell whether she's religious or just morbid.

Starboy

Good point Lamma. Maybe someone should start Mothers Against Christianity - MAC.

Starboy