teaching religion to children is wrong
From Digg, a Christian school principal is interviewed by a former student, part of the documentary called The God Who Wasn't There.
Sometimes I feel bad about picking on religious people, who are obviously ill-equipped when it comes to arguing about this stuff, or even just thinking critically in general, but then I remember that they push this crap onto children; undeveloped young minds which don't know any better.
Update:
Steph and I had a chance to watch the whole documentary last night, which is available via Google Video. It's not quite what I expected. I've seen a number of atheist/anti-religion documentaries now, and this is the first one that I felt wasn't created specifically with me, the already atheist, in mind. It's basically about this guy's personal journey out of fundamental christianity. He traces out his own reasoning for abandoning the bible; and wow, does this guy ever know his stuff. There are so many references to specific passages and stories in the bible that I never knew existed, having never really paid attention to the stuff during my own catholic upbringing. He was a hardcore fundament who really studdied and new this stuff inside and out.
Most of the time while watching it I felt like "Ok, so the bible is wrong, big fucking deal. I already knew that". I also don't think this is going to convert any fence sitters; the sort of "I say I'm christian because my parents were christian and I go to church on Easter & Christmas, but I don't really believe in most of the crap in the bible" type deists. Those people never cared enough about the answers to think about it much before, so this certainly isn't going to change their mind.
This movie is squarely aimed at true believers. It's meant to make them question exactly what it is that they do believe, and then shows them that no matter what they believe, the bible, and christianity, are wrong.
One thing about that interview with the principal - it takes place near the end of the film, and it's the only time he does anything like that. All other interviews he just poses some questions to find out what people believe, and then lets them talk. He never questions their beliefs. I think the interview with the principal was his attempt to deal with his own personal issues about the situation he was put in as a child.
4 comments:
that yahoo gave the impression of being a fairly calm and thoughtful, albeit religious, guy - until he brought up the point that kids who don't believe have to prove there is no god even after he stated that he can't prove there is one. it was that moment when i started to picture what else goes on at that place (not otherwise knowing where they were and what the background is). repellant.
I had a similar reaction as Jim. I thought his position was relatively reasonable until he said students had to prove something to the principle that he couldn't prove to the kids.
I was somewhat sympathetic largely because it was a private school (I googled it). Parents know what they're getting into and if they want religious indoctrination, as much as I don't like the kids are being taught, that's the parents' choice.
But I thought it was exceedingly unfair (and therefore revealing) that students had to meet a burden that the principle refused to meet.
A_B
I have to agree that it was disturbing to see that he puts the burden of proof on the students, but at the same time, like A_B said, it is a private school and people send their children there because that is what they believe in.
I agree that it's a bit unfair that children are exposed to one and only one "truth" from such a young age, but that's one of the freedoms we have.
On the flip side, if what the principle said was true at the end of the interview, I have as much contempt for the interviewer as the guy who interviewed Clinton under false pretenses.
Okay this guy is a joke! How can you teach 1800 students a basic principle and not be a able to hold your own a simple interview... I mean, if you believe in something, argue for it. But do it smartly don't chicken out just because the going gets tough!
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