'Why have you got a bible?' I asked Xavier.
'The religious ed teacher gave it to us,' he replied. We didn't pull him out of religious ed, because we thought he might as well learn that some people are religious, including his extended family.
I examined the bible closer. It was brand new. The cover had little cartoon pictures of bible stories - Jesus on a donkey with people waving palm leaves, a big green fish spewing Jonah onto land, Goliath aiming a spear at boy David, a big fireball from heaven barbecuing a stone altar, armies with chariots, swords and spears.
Xavier might have been familiar with some stories from religious ed. I didn't go out of my way to tell him details of bible mythology.
The front pages of the bible was several colour pages with cartoons appealing to kids. It was promoted as a big adventure story where God saves the day. There were glossy pages of brightly coloured cartoons dispersed at intervals. A big step up from the black and white cartoons on the thin pages of a Good New's Bible I had as a child. The rest of the bible was typical small, dense black text on white paper.
Leo got home from work. 'Why has Xavier got a bible?' he asked. 'Sell it on eBay' he said.
'No, I'd rather not be responsible for indoctrinating someone else's children,' I said.
Apparently the bible was to be returned the following week.
'Oh, so you don't get to keep it?' said Leo.
'Just as well it didn't end up in the rubbish,' I added. 'Would you like me to highlight the bits where they kill each other and eat children?' I asked. 'Then you can ask what's up with those bits.'
'Nope. Don't bother,' said Xavier. Awww!
Things like this REALLY bug me ... that religions will do whatever it takes to "get" to the children; comics, cartoons, video games, TV shows and movies, all have been tainted by faith in order to shove their own message into a kid's head via the path of least resistance.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, most of these attempts turn out to be amazingly lame on pretty much every level - as long as you can raise a child to appreciate really good TV, movies, games, and books, the religious stuff won't make a dent because it's always so cheap and pitiful.
Rant - yeah, that's what irritates me about it too - they try and dress it up to appeal to kids. The bible is still at home. Apparently X has to take it in on day they have religious class. He got removed from religion last year because of his black and white thinking (being Asperger's) - he stood up and announced "God's not real. We can't see God, so God's not real!". He didn't want to go this year. We said it might be good for him to go to learn to tolerate having to be in same room as something he disagrees with - even so he can learn what it is what they believe so he can figure out what's so illogical about it (not hard for him being so logical). They have very little chance converting him - his 'religion' is Star Wars.
ReplyDeleteWow, they removed him from class for voicing an opinion? That's really pathetic. They couldn't handle a challenge from a young boy? Good on him though!
ReplyDeleteThe handing out of cartoon bibles and stuff is also pathetic, but predictable.
Jayel - yes, ridiculous, aye? My son and I have Asperger's and we get in trouble for 'speaking our mind.' The special needs teacher phoned and told me what happened and asked if he could be removed from religious class because disrupting class. When she told me the details, I laughed. So did his father. We actually encouraged him to attend this year, because we thought it would be good for his black and white rigid thinking style to have to hear something he doesn't like and to learn to react in an 'appropriate manner'. Also, he needs to know what they say, so that he can argue effectively against it. Funny thing is, he opened the bible and saw a cartoon picture with a verse along the lines of 'The lord sent an angel to kill the newborn babies.' - there you go. I said he can ask why god kills so many people if he likes. Also can tell me what they say so we can discuss what's wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteHi again Xanthe. Actually, it really disturbs me now that they removed him from the class, and I assume it was a permanent measure. If so, they could never get away with that for regular classes. Do you think they thought it was acceptable because it's only voluntary participation anyway? Sounds like an opportunity to point out to them they were censoring free thought. Oh, wait...that's the whole point...Gee, the things these people do make my blood boil - and they see nothing wrong with it. facepalm
ReplyDeleteIt really shouldn't surprise me, but somehow the religious always find a new way to make my jaw drop - in disbelief of course!!
Jayel - that's what religious people do - remove anyone that has questions or try to gag them. I read a memoir by a woman that left the megachurch Hillsong - she was physically removed by body guards because her questioning was seen as disruptive.
ReplyDeleteMy son was seen as disruptive. He's attending again. I'm half expecting them to request he is removed again (he's bound to ask sticky questions).
My biological family don't want to know me because I don't believe in god anymore and I write about it.
It's something that I think is common to both the religious, and the conservative, mindsets; I'm not saying everyone on the right is utterly intractable, but they tend to be way more so than those on the ideological left. When an initial idea is institutionalised it becomes dogma, and challenges are not allowed, dissent must be quoshed, opposing viewpoints are not tolerated.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, I don't want to tar all conservatives with the same brush, I'm sure some are pretty reasonable people - but my experience tells me different; the most immovable opinions, the most ardent dismissals of contrary views have, for me, always come from the religious and the political right. It's sad that they don't have confidence that their ideas can withstand scrutiny ...
Except when it comes to your son's religious class; that's just pathetic (and funny) - "agh! a small boy is asking awkward questions! shut it down, get it out, send it away!!!!"
Rant - yeah, pathetic and funny sums up our reaction too
ReplyDelete