Captain Pedantic

This might not just be down to religion.

I've seen a couple of cases where parents have children who are clearly disturbed or disabled in some way, but who refuse to admit there's anything wrong with their child. There was a girl in my class in primary school who clearly had something wrong with her - we never did find out what - but her parents refused to believe it. Also, my mother tells me she had a cousin when she was younger who was clearly disabled, but his father refused to believe there was anything wrong with him and wouldn't take him to the hospital.

I don't have children, so I can't say what I'd do. Do these people simply refuse to go through the pain of accepting something like this about their child because it would be too much for them, or do they genuinely not see it?

Religion simply gives people who think like this a whole new set of things to do, and new ways of explaining dysfunctions and illnesses. One of the main functions of religion has traditionally been to explain the unexplainable. Of course, scientific research has eroded some mystery, but that doesn't stop some people. There are people about who still think every disease is caused by demonic possession.

Of course, childrearing is not barred to the stupid. Many people, with all kinds of stupid ideas, can become parents simply by forgetting to wear a comdom when they have sex. If you have really stupid ideas like "I think all gay people should be shot", they might not let you have a gun but they will let you have a child.

Bree

Again, back to the "butt-reaming assholes" theory.

Is there any chance that what these Fundie parents are doing to their children could be considered child abuse? The psychological damage done to these kids is just as dangerous as any physical damage.

Born Free

Reading between the lines I also think this child is behaving like this due to some kind of abuse. It's pretty desperate behaviour for a 7 year old.

Captain Pedantic

I think forcing your child into a religious position could be considered a form of abusive behaviour. I was slightly disturbed by the fact that this woman said her son had "accepted Christ into his heart" when he was four. It's a long time since I was four, but I'm pretty sure I didn't have the experience or the knowledge to make an informed decision like that.

The trouble is, if you believe something will help you get into heaven, you would surely want your child to follow the same rules, as you would want your child to go to heaven (the alternative being, in your mind, what it is). It's too tricky a situation to determine exactly whether the situation is abusive without actually being there and seeing what happens.

brighid

It is obvious that this child has been severely abused by someone he is supposed to trust, perhaps a father, an older sibling, or a member of the clergy. A 7 year old child does not grab another child’s private parts without having been exposed to such behavior. His violence and desire to harm others may be a sign of mental illness due to genetic or chemical defect, or it may simply be a loud cry for help or BOTH! None the less, this child needs medical attention and he needs to be psychologically evaluated before he is able to harm himself or someone else. This child is a disaster waiting to happen and if these parents neglect to give him the proper attention someone is going to eventually be harmed or killed. It doesn’t take a damned rocket scientist or a soothsayer to predict the future of this child. And if this child does go on to harm someone the parents should be held criminally negligent and responsible for the consequences of their poor parenting.

I get very frustrated with parents, especially those who so obviously teach their children by very poor example and then wonder, “Where did I go wrong?” Children are a constant work of art, they are ever growing and evolving and they learn directly from their parents and society at large. I am by no means a perfect parent, but I think I am better then most as evidenced by the good behavior and characteristics my child exhibits. His behavior, good and bad is directly reflected of our job as parents. When we slack off on keeping track of his homework, or don’t practice as much with him at home on his math it is reflected in his homework and the same when we are consistent! When I hear young children swearing at their parents or abusing their siblings I know it comes directly from the home. My sister asks me how do I get my son to behave so well and I tell her because that is what I teach and that is what we live. I can’t tell my child – don’t use foul language and then turn around and say “Fuck You” in his presence.

My heart goes out to this child and is infuriated by his despicable parents. Someone should report those people to DCFS, obviously someone is abusing that child! If there is anyway to determine what part of the country that person is from, a copy of the emails should be sent to the local authorities so someone can intervene on behalf of that child’s welfare, or sooner or later that child will have an interaction with the state – on the criminal side that is.

Brighid

Mecha_Dude

If I could I'd go over to that thread and just say to get psychological help for the kid, whether they'd listen or not, It'd be worth a shot...

[ April 08, 2002: Message edited by: Mecha_Dude ]</p>