Ok. I can’t wait to see the comments on this one. Some people are going to laugh at it, some are going to be angry, and some will be preachy. I hope we don’t get into a debate about whether God exists. We’ve already done that here.
I can only guess that some kid’s brother filmed his mom cursing him out after he announced he was an atheist. It’s obvious that the camera was placed on a table and then quickly taken away when it appeared the parents might see it.
I can imagine that the two brothers took a look at the video, then the one that got lambasted decided to post it to get back at his mom. And it does look really, really bad for her… Imagine when her friends, co-workers and relatives see this.
Someone needs to answer the question whether it’s right to force religion on a child or not. I’m sure many people will argue “yes” because we are “saving their eternal soul” and that is in their best interests. But if there is a God, did he not give each person the freedom to choose?
Besides, there are much more effective ways of dealing with disbelief than getting up in a kid’s face and cursing them out. Force does not change minds – even if it silences dissent.
Of course, here is letter from Dr. Richard Dawkins to his daughter as an example of another way to examine the concept of God’s existence.
Funny, this is remarkably similar to my father chewing me out for looking at Wiccan sites back in middle school. They took me out of Catholic Primary after 2 years, partially because I was hauled to the principal’s office (see: nun with a hobby) for colouring the virgin Mary’s face brown in kindegarten. You see, my parents’ first mistake was to let me watch the Discovery Channel while in attendance to a religious school. I’ve always used thought as my first line of defense against… well… pretty much anything, and blind faith apparently wasn’t on my menu.
People over re-act to things all the time, I’m not making excusing I’m just saying, that if everyone put a video up every time a parent over re-acted, there would not me much disk space for other videos. I am sure we have all been guilty of opening our mouth before thinking things through but YouTube just shows our “mistakes” to the rest of the world.
We should remember that religion is a way to force control over people (individuals and society). One may argue that may not be religions’ main purpose, and it should not be a part of religion, but we cannot deny that it IS a part of religion. It gives people power..and we know the adage about absolute power.
It is also a prime example of “road to hell paved with good intentions”. As a parent myself, I want to pass on my values (the good ones at least), on to my children. Though I suspect my methodology is different. We also have to accept that people will choose their own beliefs and values as they get older and we can only hope to give them “good start”
I might also assert that force (properly implemented) can very well change minds, if you consider things like brainwashing, terror tactics, and similar social control as “force”. Consider George Orwell’s book 1984 and 2 + 2 = 5
I have 2 young boys right now (under 2) who are being raised with my religion and values right now and as much as I want them to grow up and continue what I have taught them , I cannot force that and I would never cuss them out for choosing a different path.
Although I don’t think I particularly agree with the son posting the video either. Parents do make mistakes.
If my kids decide to believe things that are contrary to my beliefs, I gotta think that I would calm enough to sit down and talk with them about it. Get their side of things. Understand where they’re coming from.
Of course, if we had to get to that point, I probably had been doing some terrible parenting along the way.
I think we should start a Christmas Fund for this kid, there are enough Agnostics out there to buy him a new roof to live under.
It is sorta sickening that she uses christmas as a bribe (and now a threat). I feel for this kid because unfortunately with parents like that god comes first before their kids.
He looks around to be at least 15, surely at that age they are smart enough to choose their own path.
I am very familiar with Catholicism and find for most people it’s a close but no cigar branch of Christianity. I think that mom is probably a good mom and has the right concern but she has an incomplete relation with Christ and is dealing very emotionally with a teenager. I don’t use that kind of language with anyone but my own teenager is one that can push me to having those words almost on my tongue.
The kids were wrong on a number of levels, we all should honor our mothers and fathers. They will live to regret posting that on line.
That’s funny Becca. :-) I’ll have to remember that one.
John
Brad,
I agree that we all make mistakes, and sometimes say things without thinking that we later regret. It would be a shame if this was an isolated knee-jerk reaction and it was posted to the web.
On the other hand, that lady seemed waaay to comfortable getting up in her kid’s face and screaming and cursing at him. It makes me think it was her modus operandi – and I’m guessing the kid finally had enough and hence the video posting.
John
Alexia,
I believe you have the right attitude. Teach your children, but in the end realize they have choice.
Personally, no matter how badly I was treated I would not have posted video of my family. I fear they are going to regret that for a long, long time.
John