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wondering
I think you will see
Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:07pm
108.16.118.198

lots of children under the age of three being exposed to religion, going to church with their parents. Some might call it "enriching"... others might call it brainwashing or child abuse. Some of those kids grow up with the threat of Hell always in the back of their mind, at the hands of a supposedly loving Father God, if they don't bow down, obey and beg forgiveness whenever they falter or do not please that Father.

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Your daily atheist — Moishe, Thu Oct 27 5:07am

"Why do we have to pray? Doesn't Jesus have a phone?" From Pharyngula as usual
Cute quote for a three year old... — Kevin, Thu Oct 27 6:53am

inaccurate assumptions about prayer, God, etc. Not good understanding of the topic. Extreme literalism and limited. But it is a three year old. We can let our hearts melt and smile and enjoy their... more
Are you not at least mildly intrigued — Moishe, Thu Oct 27 8:04am

by the fact that this was at least a partially atheist household discussing the concept of Jesus with their three year old. This looks like a job for... ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Sophisticated Apologetics... more
No. Not really interested at all.... — Kevin, Sat Oct 29 6:48am

I have no desire to convince anyone on here. I only wish to point out that the critiques that people use are not really touching on the real issues that are engaged in my faith. I just find it funny... more
Re: Are you not at least mildly intrigued — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 9:36am

I know that you directed your question at Kevin, so I hope you don't mind my jumping in here. Why would a person be intrigued if, within a partially atheist household, the concept of Jesus was being... more
Ah but parents have the right to determine — Christopher Blackwell , Thu Oct 27 7:50pm

Seeker, Parents have always been considered to have the right to determine what religion if any that a child is exposed to, and that includes no religion. I have never felt threatened by an Atheists, ... more
Re: Ah but parents have the right to determine — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 9:23pm

Well, yes, parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit. It is a legal and moral right. I have never been threatened by anyone from either camp (believers and non-believers). My... more
That though is the rare parent — Christopher Blackwell , Fri Oct 28 9:08pm

Seeker That requires a thoughtful and caring parent, truly dedicated to what might be good for each child. Most of our parents are not at that level. Most barely raise their children at all, they... more
I think you will see — wondering, Thu Oct 27 10:07pm
Re: I think you will see — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 11:11pm

I was a member of the RCA when I was a kid. Our pastor was a young fellow. He had just graduated from seminary training and was newly ordained. Maybe it was due to his youth, but he was never the... more
typo: that should be 'know' and not 'no' (nm) — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 9:25pm

I'm so clad that you have that problem too sometimes. ;o)) — Διός , Thu Oct 27 10:19pm

It is so easy done you k no w grin Διός
Re: I'm so clad that you have that problem too sometimes. ;o)) — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 10:54pm

My spelling and grammar skills are not the greatest to begin with. Text messaging has added to it. Sometimes what I text looks like a foreign language. And I am now so use to texting that I have to... more
It is always good to explore concepts contrary to one's own — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Thu Oct 27 6:54pm

Just very unusual to do with so young a child... But hey, can never begin too early teaching a child to have an open mind...
It could be as simple as having over some guest that prayed — Διός, Thu Oct 27 5:39pm

So that the little one had her first experience with praying and asked the questions. And then she dropped that little beauty "doesn't god has a phone". Διός :o))
Just Cute? Not perhaps Profound? — PureStevil, Thu Oct 27 7:03am

That mere humans can devise a more effective and reliable communication method than a god I think speaks volumes. Admittedly, I may have a particular bias. :-) Have a great day Kevin.
Re: Just Cute? Not perhaps Profound? — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 9:31am

Why do you consider the child's question profound? The question reminds me of a question that I was asked by a kid: Why does Santa Claus have to use the chimney? Can't he use the front door? I smile... more
Thank you Seeker. — Kevin, Sat Oct 29 6:52am

You summarize my point perfectly. (An aside, the Christian tradition considers meditation as part of the spectrum of prayer. In many Reformation Churches, this connection between prayer and... more
I would have asked why we NEED phones if thinking can — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Thu Oct 27 6:58pm

communicate betweenst folks... Cuz a 3 year old can't possibly fathom what was going on other than someone was talking to someone they couldn't see and expected the other to hear them... So, why have ... more
Re: I would have asked why we NEED phones if thinking can — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 9:50pm

If people were telepathic, they would not need phones, but it would not preclude them to having them and using them either. And yes, it would be rather strange (to address someone else's point) if... more
As do I... — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Fri Oct 28 9:18am

It was adorable in the way that us ADULTS viewed it... But, from the child's POV, (which is what I was trying to convey with my alternate question of why phones were even needed at all), they were... more
Re: As do I... — Seeker, Fri Oct 28 9:50am

Sometimes the answers adults give make no sense either! ;) On the topic of kids: you gotta luv 'em! They can take something that an adult regards as mundane and turn it into a playground, a fantasy.... more
Folks who allow themselves to think like children are — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Fri Oct 28 10:16am

considered naive but also like crazy folks... yet they are the ones MOST LIKELY to invent fantastic things that others never imagined until they came into existence and now can't imagine NOT... more
Could you live with telepathic abilities, can you imagine — Διός, Thu Oct 27 10:33pm

the entire info overload from all the stuff you would hear in your head from all around you and from others even from far away. But I do believe we have a limited telepathic ability with people very... more
So do I!! — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Fri Oct 28 9:32am

I have an amazing story of just that, but it's rather personal and not something I routinely share in public... Suffice it to say that something very strange (but without the slightest question as to ... more
I have had very sad experiences with somehow knowing. — Διός, Fri Oct 28 10:59pm

Three time it happen to me that I feel the urgent "I must go now” and see a sick friend, no waiting a hour or a day but right Now feeling. And three times that friend died within hours. What it is I... more
That is somewhat different than the one I referenced BUT — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Sat Oct 29 9:11am

I, too, have had weird experiences of thinking of long ago friends or acquaintances that I'd lost touch with, but suddenly thought about and felt a powerful concern for... only to learn later on had... more
Amazing. — Διός, Sat Oct 29 10:20am

That must have been a terrible experience especially that young. Does it still affect you it wouldn't surprise me if it did? My feeling didn't come that clear it was an unexplainable urge that I had... more
You're welcome... it was amazing to me... — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Sat Oct 29 2:06pm

It's not happened since in so dramatic a way... but it has happened that I could sense & feel a loved ones powerful emotions deeply enough that I just knew something had happened to them or that they ... more
Information overload! — Seeker, Thu Oct 27 10:49pm

There is no way that I would want to be bombarded by the thoughts of others. Sometimes I have enough trouble sorting out my own thoughts. :) I am not really a believer in telepathy. I do think that... more
Well, if you ever experience something contrary to that — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Fri Oct 28 9:34am

you'll NEVER forget it... (-; and never believe that ANYTHING is impossible again...
Re: Well, if you ever experience something contrary to that — Seeker, Fri Oct 28 9:45am

By that way of thinking, that "never believe that anything is impossible again", gods would be possible, yes? Any kind of god(s)? Just following and exploring a line of reasoning-
Sure, of course that is possible... — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Fri Oct 28 10:12am

Since we don't KNOW what "really is", then we can't disclude the possibilities that exist as NOT possible... I choose not to believe in the scripted Christian god of the bible, but that doesn't... more
Well somethings happen just to often for it to be a — Διός, Thu Oct 27 11:20pm

coincident when I want to ring a close friend and he just beat me to it doing the same. With a distance between us of a 50km. Διός
Ever SEE them doing it? — Siã☀© ◔~◔, Fri Oct 28 9:36am

from that far away?
Nah just a feeling I have to call them it has been a while, — Διός, Fri Oct 28 9:16pm

then when wanted to make the call the phone rings before I had the change to start dialling. And that didn't just happen once or twice and it did happen the other way around as well.... more
Wagenaar is a pure Dutch name — Διός, Thu Oct 27 6:41am

even if he is from S.A. And he has a smart three-year-old niece. Thanks for this post Moishe it is a classic.;o)) Διός
God can't afford the telephone company service plans — PureStevil, Thu Oct 27 6:40am

for an infinite contract. "Why do we have to pray? Doesn't Jesus have a phone?" That is a great quote!
Smart children out smart many adults. grin (nm) — Διός, Thu Oct 27 6:42am

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