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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

My Ex's fiance doesn't believe in dinosaurs.

23 replies

ThatllDoPig · 01/02/2011 10:15

It's true.

We have dd, who has been brought up to have respect for other's beliefs.
But . . . . .!
The fiance believes that dino bones in museums have been constructed out of bits of giraffe and cow, by evil anti bible people to trick people away from God.
Any ideas of what to tell DD about this, without causing offence?!

OP posts:

marriednotdead · 01/02/2011 10:51

Seriously?!

How bizarre unusual.

Stick with your respect for others mantra.

Just explain that some people have different views about the world and how we all got here. No-one is right or wrong blah blah.

Then again, I'd have a word with the ex and get him to explain why his fiance is a fruitcake thinks that way.

Ooopsadaisy · 01/02/2011 10:56

You mean there isn't a place called Jurassic Park?

Shit - I wanted to go there on holiday (safer than Egypt this year I think).

Hullygully · 01/02/2011 10:56

That is fab. Bits of giraffe and cow.

Tell dd to widen her eyes and say "wow, I had no idea!"

While one need never be rude, I don't think one can entirely "respect" such "beliefs."

bubbleandsqueaks · 01/02/2011 10:57

She's a nutter - you will be doing your dd a favour by pointing this out to her.

jenroy29 · 01/02/2011 10:58

It's one thing to believe in something that can't be disproved but another to disbelieve something that is proved

MmeLindt · 01/02/2011 10:58

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Get your DD to have a chat with her about the Tooth Fairy. And Santa.

Checkmate · 01/02/2011 11:06

Just spat my coffee over my keyboard. Thanks for making me laugh out loud!

Don't know what I'd tell a child needing to have contact with an adult like that. Erm, probably just make this face everytime its brought up.

CaroBeaner · 01/02/2011 11:10

Tell your dd that this woman believes that because it is part of her religious beliefs - she's entitled to believe that, but you don't believe that AT ALL because of the overwhelming evidence that dinosaurs did exist.

Respect for other people's beliefs means you respect their right to believe it, not that you have to give any credence to what they actually believe.

And then take your dd on a fossil walk at Lyme Regis or in the IoW.

jenroy29 · 01/02/2011 11:33

And for balance you must visit the Garden of Eden Discovery Centre

alexpolismum · 02/02/2011 17:48

Is this serious? Or is it a joke?

I've never heard of anyone believing this before, it seems most odd.

Just tell your dd to be polite and say nothing if at all possible.

Original poster

ThatllDoPig · 02/02/2011 21:19

Honestly, it is serious. She is a fundamentalist christian, so she believes the bible word for word, literally.

The dinos is the only thing that has come up for dd so far, but of course it will include the entire creation story.
Luckily dd is 11, so has her own ideas about things, she is not as 'vulnerable' as some younger children. But it is a difficult situation as I don't want to cause friction by poopooing the fiance's beliefs, there as been a lot of upset about other stuff lately. On the other hand, I obviously don't want dd thinking that this is a truth, when as jenroy says it is a proven truth that they walked the earth.

OP posts:

Original poster

ThatllDoPig · 02/02/2011 21:20

Thanks for replies everyone BTW.

OP posts:

Scrumpet · 02/02/2011 21:23

I think if I were you, every time it came up in conversation with dd I would trot out the line about respecting other's belief and immediately follow it with raucous laughter. No need to explain why you're laughing, dd will figure it out soon enough

UnquietDad · 05/02/2011 11:21

Your ex's fiance (fiancee, assuming he hasn't tuned gay) sounds like an idiot.

Mssoul · 05/02/2011 11:27

My brother, a devout baptist with a degree in theology and a preacher at his church, says there is overwhelming evidence that dinosaurs (and anything else that predates chrisitian history) are all a huge conspiracy by non believers. Surely the opposite is more likely.

I don't think it's that unusual. If you can believe the outlandish stories in the bible, surely you can cut the poor old dinos a bit of slack ?

suwoo · 05/02/2011 12:13

IIRC, the ultra orthodox community believe this too don't they? My friend (Jewish) was a rep for Usborne books and the ones she took to the ultra orthodox schools were not to contain any reference to dinosaurs, pigs or any person showing any skin, so even cartoon children playing on the beach were out.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 05/02/2011 12:28

Surely 11 is old enough for a proper explanation?

That some Christians believe the bible is literally true, and some believe it was divinely inspired but influenced by the knowledge and culture of the people writing it down. (and the first position conflicts with all known evidence so they have to explain that away somehow..!)

CoteDAzur · 06/02/2011 12:39

Why do you need to explain? Give her some books to read & let her find out for herself that her future step-mom is not entirely rational.

CoteDAzur · 06/02/2011 12:46

re "respect others' beliefs" - I think you people have gone too far down the political correctness path. Truth is not relative and there is a right and wrong re history. Something either happened or it didn't. Dinosaurs either roamed the earth or they didn't.

There is an overwhelming body of evidence continuously verified by tens of thousands of people around the world that says dinosaurs existed and so did zillions of other types of organisms predating humans by millions of years.

It is unreasonable for anyone who denies this to expect respect for her nutty thoughts in what passes for a brain in such people.

Original poster

ThatllDoPig · 06/02/2011 14:30

I know Cote but this is a delicate time for all the family, lots of change, and there has been a lot of upset and tension around other things lately. I really don't want to stir the shit anymore. I don't want ex to think I have no 'respect' as it might potentially impact on these other things. If I said "there is a right and wrong re history" she would say there isn't when it comes to the bible. All a matter of faith. And nutterness.
I just hate feeling like I'm losing some kind of control over the influences around dd.

OP posts:

coldtits · 06/02/2011 14:35

You say "well, look at all the evidence you can find, and then you can make your own mind up. Evidence is important to the decisions you make. You're allowed to nod and smile when she talks to you about things you don't believe in, DD. You don't have to try to convince her otherwise."

CoteDAzur · 06/02/2011 15:08

What coldtits said. Give her a book on fossils that describes how and where they are found, carbon dating techniques etc.

JohannaM · 06/02/2011 16:58

Re your Ex's fiancee you can't rationalise with the irrational. However, your Ex may want to consider the impact of such views upon any children they are planning to have and the trauma that such upbringings can have upon kids. You only have to read some of the testimonials on Infidels to recognise the abuse many kids from such backgrounds suffer.

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