Freethought & Rationalism Archive

never been there · 01-23-2003, 05:22 PM

Hey, it's no worse than today's newspaper.

I read both the news and bits and pieces of the Bible (Genesis and the gospels) at what age, I can't remember. Part of a child's education must be learning what others are up to.

And I turned out fine! <twitch, twitch>

Family Man · 01-23-2003, 06:28 PM

Moot point in my case. We once found a Gideon in a hotel room and I read the first chapter to my kids. They wouldn't touch it if you paid them.

nowhereman · 01-23-2003, 06:34 PM

If we dont' let kids read the bible, arent we guilty of close mindedness just like the fundamentalists?

philechat · 01-23-2003, 06:49 PM

I read it when I was 9, and actually made it to Joshua in three nights' stand. Then I had a severe hallucination event after the third night, and abandoned the book. As a 9-year-old I never bought into the stories, and considered it inferior to Greek or Chinese myths (less gods/mythical creatures and less interesting).

As for my opinion goes, as old as the child can read it, vocabulary-wise. I will most likely introduce it alongside the Iliad, the Chinese and Native American myths, and other world legends however, just for a decent comparison.

Amie · 01-23-2003, 06:57 PM

I voted I would let my child read the bible at any age

Godbert · 01-23-2003, 06:58 PM

I don't see why to forbid a child to read the bible. That's just silly. I'd let my children read 'Mein Kampf' if they absolutely want to. And anyway, enforcing a bible-ban is completely impossible, can't think of any book that's easier to get. But at a young age I don't think many children even have the stamina to read sth that long, boring and stupid.
Lets just hope that children still read at all by the time I have any.

Amie · 01-23-2003, 07:07 PM

speaking of the bible my 6 year old is in the first grade at a private Catholic school out here in LA county and she is already getting kicked out of church for laughing out loud. She and Sawyer her partner in crime...geesh. She has detention tomorrow for it.

oh but last night she asked me this "Mom if God created everything why did God make bad things?"

gulp

Hayden · 01-23-2003, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nowhereman
If we dont' let kids read the bible, arent we guilty of close mindedness just like the fundamentalists?

Likewise, if we don't let kids read Eric van Lustbader novels, are we closed-minded?

I suppose I'm kind of opposed to young children reading it because I don't like the content, and if they ask "Why did Yahweh drown everyone?" (and are upset) and I then say "It's just a story", then I'm precluding them making their own decisions about religion...

I don't know.

HR

seesaw · 01-23-2003, 07:49 PM

I voted for "any age"; I don't believe what the bible says, but I wouldn't care if my child (that I don't that yet) would want to read the bible, or the koran or any other religious text.

01-23-2003, 08:58 PM

I voted for any age but my kids never did read the bible nor did I when I was a kid. I first opened our 'sacred' St. Joseph edition when I was 38. We were never encouraged to read and in fact were mildly discouraged. In 'our' Catholicism it is believed that it is wrong to read the bible unless one is drawn to do so by the message told.

View Poll Results: Would you let your child read the Bible, and if so, at what age?
Yes, at any age	28	41.18%
Yes, at 5 years	1	1.47%
Yes, at 8 years	6	8.82%
Yes, at 10 years	6	8.82%
Yes, at 13 years	11	16.18%
Yes, at 15 years	7	10.29%
No	9	13.24%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

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01-23-2003, 05:22 PM	#11
never been there Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 2,144	Hey, it's no worse than today's newspaper. I read both the news and bits and pieces of the Bible (Genesis and the gospels) at what age, I can't remember. Part of a child's education must be learning what others are up to. And I turned out fine! <twitch, twitch>

01-23-2003, 06:28 PM	#12
Family Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Superior, CO USA Posts: 1,553	Moot point in my case. We once found a Gideon in a hotel room and I read the first chapter to my kids. They wouldn't touch it if you paid them.

01-23-2003, 06:34 PM	#13
nowhereman Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Nowhereland Posts: 24	If we dont' let kids read the bible, arent we guilty of close mindedness just like the fundamentalists?

01-23-2003, 06:49 PM	#14
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	I read it when I was 9, and actually made it to Joshua in three nights' stand. Then I had a severe hallucination event after the third night, and abandoned the book. As a 9-year-old I never bought into the stories, and considered it inferior to Greek or Chinese myths (less gods/mythical creatures and less interesting). As for my opinion goes, as old as the child can read it, vocabulary-wise. I will most likely introduce it alongside the Iliad, the Chinese and Native American myths, and other world legends however, just for a decent comparison.

01-23-2003, 06:57 PM	#15
Amie Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 1,626	I voted I would let my child read the bible at any age

01-23-2003, 06:58 PM	#16
Godbert Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 779	I don't see why to forbid a child to read the bible. That's just silly. I'd let my children read 'Mein Kampf' if they absolutely want to. And anyway, enforcing a bible-ban is completely impossible, can't think of any book that's easier to get. But at a young age I don't think many children even have the stamina to read sth that long, boring and stupid. Lets just hope that children still read at all by the time I have any.

01-23-2003, 07:07 PM	#17
Amie Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 1,626	speaking of the bible my 6 year old is in the first grade at a private Catholic school out here in LA county and she is already getting kicked out of church for laughing out loud. She and Sawyer her partner in crime...geesh. She has detention tomorrow for it. oh but last night she asked me this "Mom if God created everything why did God make bad things?" gulp

01-23-2003, 07:49 PM	#19
seesaw Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 136	I voted for "any age"; I don't believe what the bible says, but I wouldn't care if my child (that I don't that yet) would want to read the bible, or the koran or any other religious text.

01-23-2003, 08:58 PM	#20
Amos Guest Posts: n/a	I voted for any age but my kids never did read the bible nor did I when I was a kid. I first opened our 'sacred' St. Joseph edition when I was 38. We were never encouraged to read and in fact were mildly discouraged. In 'our' Catholicism it is believed that it is wrong to read the bible unless one is drawn to do so by the message told.

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