Comment by Heather Spoonheim on March 31, 2011 at 3:39pm

Spooky.  I remember being in a youth group that coupled athletic activities with reciting verse and answering trivia - to promote a healthy body, mind, and soul.  It was a big deal to get a new badge for completing a level.  Sad.

Comment by Arcus on March 31, 2011 at 5:33pm

This is so f*cked up I have serious problems relating... I'm sorry, but to me this seems completely unnatural and it feels as if I'm watching a North Korean movie about how awful Americans are. I'm mortified that in a modern society this is not shunned. Children don't even understand the concept of contamination (try putting a bug in a glass of water and then remove it) until they are older than about 4, and valid critizisms and logical thought does not emerge until at least the onset of puberty. 

I know a fair share of Americans (from college) and none of these state anything similar. It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that I'm struggling to understand how a society does not rear completly against such blatant indoctrination. Even my quasi-religious parents would never allow anything of the sort in their presence.

Comment by Heather Spoonheim on March 31, 2011 at 5:37pm

There are small towns (population 500 to 5000) here in Canada where children who are not raised this way are made to feel like outcasts and shunned for all of their years growing up.

Comment by Heather Spoonheim on March 31, 2011 at 5:52pm

Yes, well I had a young fellow working for me in the sort of small town I mentioned above.  He was gay and that really forced him to struggle with his Catholic faith.  There wasn't much I could do for him other than be supportive, but in the end he wound up being cut off from every single person he grew up with, and every single family member, being told he would be beaten to death if he ever came back to town.  The internet wasn't much of a consolation for him.

 

His story actually takes up a few chapters in my only complete novel.  As a shameless plug, I offer this chapter describing a romantic dinner that I arranged for him and his boyfriend in the privacy of the restaurant after hours:

 

http://humbugbistro.blogspot.com/2009/11/date.html

Comment by Scarlette Blues on March 31, 2011 at 7:07pm

Yeah, this is very common in the southern United States. Being Christian is a very big deal around here.

 

I have noticed since both him and my daughter were growing in their first few years that my daughter always seemed to be ahead [talking, crawling, walking ect]. I know that correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation but I'd like to think a freethinking household has something to do with my baby's genius! lol 

 

@Arcus- To give you an idea of what my town is like, check out BJU. My aunt (grandmother's daughter) is a teacher here. Although this isn't as prominent of a cult as it used to be, it still has a strong hold in a small section of town.

Comment by Scarlette Blues on March 31, 2011 at 7:14pm

By the way, Fred Phelps went to school there for a year of college.

Comment by James on March 31, 2011 at 7:53pm

Stories like this is a big part of why I'm determined to combat the indoctrination my nephew is sure the receive. He can expect fun science gifts aplenty though the years. And you know I'm getting him Richard Dawkins' children's book on evolution when it comes out.

Comment by Scarlette Blues on March 31, 2011 at 8:12pm

That's a great idea James. I may just have to do the same with him. I hope one day he gets to see the facts.

Comment