Re: We didn't start the fire? was Re: Alignment and 4E

On Jun 18, 11:02 pm, "Malachias Invictus" <invictuse...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
"David Klassen" <klas...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

Some of us don't mind questioning and examination.

Sure, and that is a damned good thing. However, I do not see very many
religions that encourage the base assumptions of their faith (e.g., the
existence of God). I see *individuals* doing so, and that fills me with
some hope.

Well, OK, at that level I guess you're right---encouragement
would probably not happen much, But the the act of the
questioning is classic. Although we tend to call it a "crisis
of faith" rather than just a "questioning" and the community
nature of Church is a great place to explore. At least that's
our line. And, sure, you'll get more "encouragement" in one
direction rather than the other but from the folks I've seen
involved in this sort of ministry in my Church, they are
genuine in their discussions and not just trying to make
sure those folks stay "in the fold".

By "Sunday school" I'm going to assume you mean grade
school level---at least in my Church, that's what it means.

Yes, younger kid stuff is mainly what I was referring to.

And at that age, most, if not all, teaching is usually just
rote memory that one could call indoctrination. I mean
just look at all the mythic history kids are "taught"! And
you know, according to three historians I know, that kind
of stuff is really NOT all that bad. As long as those kids
get *real* history in, say, high school where they can
learn that those stories were really mythic.

So, for Church school you teach them some of the
easy-to-talk-about bible stories, you teach them cute
little songs to reinforce the stories, and you give them
all the "Jesus loves you" stuff. Then later on, they'll
have a background of stuff at hand to draw from when
they get into the deeper stuff. Just like math. :)

For middle/high school we have Youth Group (combo of
some kind of fun activity, music practice and Bible study;
I lead the last)

Yes. I have participated in such. By the time kids are that age, they have
developed at least a modicum of critical thinking faculties. Youth groups
are fine in my book, provided they are not forced.

Yeah, and a great deal of overall cynicism and "can't I just
sleep in on Sunday's?!" attitude. I'm not sure I think parents
insisting their kids go to Church and youth group (forcing,
to use your word) is really a Bad Thing. Kids that age NEED
a bit of "forcing" to do a whole host of things.
.

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