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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

there is no god, as pronounced by ten year old ds.

69 replies

stitch · 30/04/2008 18:22

how to answer that?
he is too young for scientific arguments
too old for baby reasoning.
and the only reason he is saying this it to wind me up. fortunately i did not fall into the trap this time, but i have done so previously, when i was found to be uttering incredibly stupid things like, 'stop blaspheming' or words to that effect.

OP posts:
onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:48

do you Iklboo? With great respect to your Gran, whom I'm absolutely positive was speaking from a position of great love, isn't it theologically presumptious? The mind of God being unknowable and all?

(genuinely don't wish to offend you re your gran, apologies if I've gone too far)

Original poster
stitch · 01/05/2008 13:50

i like the resoponse suggested.
He believes in you.

fantastic.

OP posts:
RosaLuxembourg · 01/05/2008 13:51

OBM, I reckon the only possible response to 'He believes in you' is 'How do you know?'

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:52

" unfrotunately atm he does not have enough information about this to carry out a reasoned discussion with someone."

I agree Stitch that this is something you should try and change.

Can you not do so from a position of neutrality perhaps? "Islam teaches that ..." (or rather, this branch of Islam teaches that..)

You need not talk about it in terms of your faith or lack of, but you could teach him as part of his wider religious education.

All children try and shock their parents. He's found your button, but it needn't mean that he loses out in knowledge terms.

Iklboo · 01/05/2008 13:52

Onebat, not at all. I have no religion and agree with you. But it was nicer than having a rant at me for being atheist (and very much a 'gran' statement)

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:53

precisely Rosa. you put it so succinctly.

Iklboo · 01/05/2008 13:55

It is a good response Rosa. Ah, esprit d'escalier (sp?). Wish I'd have thought of saying that to her at the time. But I think she had a plate of pink wafers out at the time

Swedes · 01/05/2008 15:54

My MIL on Sunday started a bit of a rant about us (me and DP) not being practising Chrisitans. She then said she would like her gc to be church-going believers. I was incandescent with rage (which manifested itself into 'Would you like another cup of tea?'). I politely asked her about her faith - which is decidedly confused and patchy imo - and asked her how she managed to decide which bits of the bible to believe in and which bits to discount. She said 'I'm not prepared to go into it' I'm still cross about it DP thinks I'm over-reacting.

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 17:55

That's infuriating Swedes - "im not prepared to go into it' - but is probably its own punishment iyswim, in that it is an admission that she is certainly under-informed re her own religion.

pointydog · 01/05/2008 18:09

yup. The more a parent goes on about God (his existence or non-existence) the more likely a child is to rebel. You must stop forcing your own opinions on him, show him you are open to all schools of thought and that his different opinion does not shock or upset you.

pointydog · 01/05/2008 18:11

If he's 10, haven't you already taught him about your faith? Does the teaching ever come to an end? Are you really teaching or making him conform?

pointydog · 01/05/2008 18:15

He will probably make you scream again if you answer 'he believes in you'. Patronising

Original poster
stitch · 01/05/2008 19:44

swedes, smile, nod, smile nod again, and then dont visit her so often. its not healthy to be so angry. she says what she wants to happen. doesnt mean it will.

not quite the same, but i had to stop interacting with sil when she kept going on and on about a fecking tutor.

OP posts:
Swedes · 01/05/2008 20:44

stitch - she comes every sunday and stays about 6 hours

onebatmother · 02/05/2008 13:52

((((())))) Swedes

wtf is that all about? 6 hours every week?

Swedes · 02/05/2008 15:44

Every week. And if we cancel she comes on a Monday for six hours instead. I might have to start a thread about MIL visits.

onebatmother · 02/05/2008 16:21

Is this DH's doing? or did it somehow just .. happen?

Original poster
stitch · 03/05/2008 18:16

omg. that would drive me potty.
cancel sunday. and make sure you are out all day monday. and tuesday if you have to.

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 03/05/2008 18:27

I think at age 10 it is the right thing to do to teach the MORALITY that your belief system operates with, and insist that this is conformed to, eg:
no swearing
no lying

etc

whatever else your religion teaches

I do not think it is acceptable to insist that a 10 year old believes in the deity or in the whole concept of the faith, however. Personal beliefs are just that - personal

You are as a parent within your rights to insist that a child under your roof follows your ethics, though

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