If you observe even just a little and split through all the talk, things are rarely what you’ve been told. Most of our children begin their lives being deceived at every turn, hidden from realities while imaginations of santa, tooth fairies, Easter bunnies, birds and bees, and religious superstition are ingrained from birth. At what age are they supposed to think for themselves? But no, they carry it forward to their own children who are extremely trusting creatures and raise them in deception—Why?
Tom–”Yes, just about all of us were raised by deception, through deception. It is so very tragic, really. I had, in high school, one wonderful teacher who had us study Walt Whitman’s poems in depth. That one teacher was the exception. I am so very glad for it!
Tom had one teacher he remembers that cut through the crap and helped him see things for what they were. Exposure to a great author that thought for himself changed his life from superstition to reality and fulfillment.
TheCommonAtheist 
We raised our kids with Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy on purpose, as a first exercise in critical thinking. Whenever our kids would ask “Is Santa real?” instead of telling the kids “yes, of course he is,” we’d respond with “Well, what do you think the answer is?” and then after they had given an answer, we then followed up with “And why do you think that?” At that young age, talking about the thought process was more important than the conclusions they reached. They both figured out the deception, of course, but then applied the thinking skills they had developed to religion and other woo-woo claims. They are both solid atheists now, but they came to that conclusion for themselves.
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I’ve heard you mention this in the last. Great exercise. Unfortunately most people play the game and brush it off as fun. Not sure why that is customary. Reality is much more interesting. Thanks Ubi.
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I think Ubi’s method is marvelous.
My folks let me believe in Santa until I left home and they sent me a note a week before Christmas. How mean was that, I ask you?
I was thirty-seven and still put my teeth under my pillow.
( I think this was likely because if I didn’t the wife would borrow them). These days, however, it’s my memory I am worried about as I’m buggered if I can remember where I left it.
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I’m a firm believer in making your kids think about things in life — especially those things that don’t have ready answers, but also to counteract the “pat answers” common to believers. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to put this into practice with my own family because I was a true and dedicated “believer: during their most formative years.
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And critical thinking could abolish religious spirit… just saying
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As it should
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It could and it would but most of us are ingrained religious spirit before we get to know anything about critical thinking
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Great writers can really make a huge difference. I’m so glad I was a voracious reader and was not censored in my choices by anyone.
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That is a huge advantage. My home was censored heavily and my parents were very vocal about staying away from propaganda that conflicted the church.
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Too bad children don’t usually know to be suspicious of that sort of behavior. Especially difficult when it’s your parents!!
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Traditions… morals… these two tools alone could just fuel our legacies.
Right now, all I can think about is the “Forest Gump” film… ‘I may not be a smart man… but I know that religion is a load of schiester, Jenni!
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Yes, and this particular brand of scam is the greatest, longest running one in history. When you see the scam and can see the magical thinking of believers …Wow. This supernaturalism is the greatest “schiestering”, EVER
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Jim, this is off subject, but I thought it might interest you being an ex Mormon. And people think churches are t all about the $$$
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2018/05/31/documents-reveal-the-mormon-church-has-investments-worth-at-least-32-billion/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nonreligious&utm_content=44
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Raised in deception….. There is even a book out on how to con your kids. By David Borgenicht, How to Con Your Kid: Simple Scams for Mealtime, Bedtime, Bathtime–Anytime!
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