I read your conversation with the mother of the 15 year old daughter, and I can say as an 18 year old former christian that the quickest way to get your daughter to "turn away from the lord" is to try to repress her free thought and questions about religion.I agree with you that questioning seems like the right way to go no matter what side of the discussion you are on. Unfortunately, there are many religious people who would disagree.
The thing about questioning is that it can never be wrong: either it turns out that she learns the truth (good) or she gets strengthened in her current beliefs (also good). Either way, attempting to put up a shield is only going to backfire when she begins resenting you not treating her as an individual who can think for self.
Some of them would say that true faith means not questioning, but to me that sounds like a recipe greatly increasing your risk of being drawn into a cult.
1 comment:
Hi
I've read your blog with great interest and not a little admiration. I too am amused by the hate mail, although concerned for the wellbeing of the girl whose mother is going to effectively make her suffer for asking pertinent questions, and those who suffer the same fate but whom we don't know of. I run a general blog (not an advert) and have placed a link to your blog there.
I was brought up in a split family (one atheist, one believer) and turned to Christianity in my late 20's. I studied with the Anglican Church (and by the way, you're not an Anglican just because you were born in England as one flamer has stated!) and gained a licence to practise as a Lay Reader, a sort of preacher able to take funerals, Evensong and the like. However, my post-graduation studies, like yours I believe, drove me further from the faith. I too have a library of Christian books, mainly theological dicussions and expositions, and nine different translations of the Bible.
I have no point to this post other than to congratulate you for not falling in the trap that I often fall into, that of abusing people who share different ideals to mine. Your arguments are reasoned and your presentation calm. I will review my own behaviour as a result.
Which I suppose does raise a point in itself. I have been inspired by a fellow athiest to moderate my behaviour in order to be kinder to people, thus leading a better life, whereas Christianity often brought me into conflict with non-believers as I tried to impose my views upon them.
Ironic eh?
Please keep it all up, and hopefully inspire others to moderate their views at the very least.
Cheers.
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