My son is really starting to think for himself, which is good. But one of the things that I have a hard time addressing is when he says things like "The Jonas Brothers are Christians" because they say they are. I realize it's not for us to determine where people's hearts are, but when they sing secular, ungodly songs and tour with bands I would NEVER listen to, I have a hard time accepting it. Heck, even Oprah would tell you she's a Christian!!
He also told me that Barack Obama said he's a Christian, and I gave him the evidence of why I don't believe it, but he said "you're not perfect, and you're not God, so who are you to say who's a Christian and who's not?"
How should I answer him?
103 comments
How should I answer him?
Um, you just praised independent thought, and then followed it by asking other people to do your thinking for you. Aside from the hypocrisy fail, since your son didn't need to similarly ask for ready made thoughts he clearly intellectually outclasses you and you should admit defeat as graciously as you can manage. Since this is RR, however, I'd say the odds of you doing that are nil.
Heck, even Oprah would tell you she's a Christian!! He also told me that Barack Obama said he's a Christian
And they're black, so it should be obvious that they're not Christians!!
Answer him by saying "You're right! I'm not perfect, nor am I God. I am ,in fact, a hypocritical, judgemental, control freak with a bizarre belief in a completely non- biblical 'get out' clause that says that I will not die. Thank you for opening my eyes. I will try to be a better human being from this day forth. Want some ice cream?"
I think the true Biblical response would be to take him outside the city walls get the elders of the city to stone him to death
Leviticus 20:9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
Answer him with a good old fashioned stoning. That's the only thing that will make him see sense.
Shit, Lucretius beat me to it.
But it's nice to hear about one person who seems to be strong enough to resist the brainwashing. Maybe someday he'll post here.
There's a reply in the thread that just might be the most lucid thing I have ever read on RR:
"What is the "acid test"?
Quote:
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
I think you should learn from your child."
The Jonas Brothers?!!!
Slayer, Judas Priest, Metallica, Deicide, GWAR...
With all the fodder out there for fundies to blow a gasket on, you're ragging on some Tiger Beat boyband?
We seriously need to throw a parade for this kid overcoming a RR-fundie parent.
Well, as soon as the closet door with the scary Jesus shrine is unlocked and and he has "repented".
How should I answer him?
Wherefore hast thou not smote the heathen with stones already? Not the Rolling Stones.
Private Cowboy, why are you not stomping Private Fatbody's guts out of him?
You should immediately destroy his free thinking, because it will lead away from god...
Edit
From My Abba's Child
"The word "Christian" means like Christ. If they're not striving toward being like Christ, then obviously they're not Christians."
Irony award, HO!
I just posted this reply to the thread on RR. I guess I will be banned shortly...
"you're not perfect, and you're not God, so who are you to say who's a Christian and who's not?"
He's got a good point. Listen, unless you are teaching your children to think for themselves, and allowing them to question and discover the world around them you are setting them up to fail in life. If you just keep cramming bible verses down his throat every time he has a question about something you can bet he will reject you and your religious beliefs.
If you're worried about outside influences (you mentioned Disney channel etc.) then why dont you sit down and watch it together and have a discussion about different behaviours, the motivation of those behaviours etc and how your son feels about it. Shielding him from it is only going to make it that much more desirable to him.
He probably would appreciate having an honest and open talk with his mother, which is next to impossible with your nose stuck in the bible every time he asks a question.
P.S. who cares what religion Obama is?? Bush claimed to be of your faith, and in his 8 years as president nearly destroyed the entire country. He tanks the economy, starts two simultanious wars, robs certain Americans of their rights and freedoms, pisses off the entire world, and he gets a pass because he said he was a christian? You people are diseased.
Just thought I'd throw that in there before my account gets banned.
Oh no, I have a critical-thinking son! What do I do?! Surely, you must know what your Bible says to do with a stubborn and rebellious child...? May I refer you to Deuteronomy 21:18-21. This is the only option left for you really. You still want to remain in God's favor, right?
Think first because your son is right. Your answer, however, will determine what your son thinks of you. If you're very lucky, he may, at some point in the future, forgive you.
""you're not perfect, and you're not God, so who are you to say who's a Christian and who's not?"
probably beaten to it by now, but you AREN'T perfect and you AREN'T God, so who ARE you to say who's a Christian and who's not?
also, someone should kick this boy's ass for listening to Jonas Brothers, at least upgrade to good pop like ABBA or the Scissor Sisters
The bitch should tell her kid, "look son, I am not God and I am not perfect and I am nobody to say who is or who isn't a Christian. In fact, son, I should be worrying about the plank in my own fucking eye instead of specks of dust in the yes of crappy musicians".
Hey, you kids!
GET OFF MY LAWN!
Look, it's easy to tell who's a real christian and who isn't.
"These signs will accompany those who believe; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all" (Mark 16:17-18)
So just demonstrate to him that you are a real christian by juggling a couple of pit vipers and downing a quart of weedkiller, then point out that as a "true christian", you know the fake kind when you see them.
How should you answer him? Well, maybe try listening to him. As he said, you're not perfect, you're not God. Totally pwn'd.
In other words, "I like for my kid to think for himself, but only if he agrees with me. How do a squash this free thinking that questions me and my religious views??"
Hopefully the kid will figure out how douchey his mom is and be a decent person instead of a crazy fundie.
Beat his ass for being a sinner, that's what you do!
@JR - She's black, female, influential, filthy rich, spiritually inclusive, liberal-minded, and independent. What's GOOD about Oprah? LOL
"He also told me that Barack Obama said he's a Christian, and I gave him the evidence of why I don't believe it, but he said "you're not perfect, and you're not God, so who are you to say who's a Christian and who's not?""
Your kid deserves 10 Internetz for that nugget alone.
Huh...so you actually pushing your kid TOWARDS conformity...good job, sport!
And this quote from 'He_Had_Mercy' about her now 13 year-old kid saddened me immensely:
"As soon as my daughter began to exert her independence (11) and little personality, that’s when Mommy tightened up the reigns."
Well the bibilical answer is to haul him to the town square and stone him to death for his disobedience.
In reality though, you're kid has more on the ball than you do.
It's good to know that fundies aren't able to completely brainwash their kids.
And Jonas Brothers? seriusly, they are as agressive as a melted marshmellow.
Repeat these words to him:
"Well son, ya got me. Truth is, all anyone has to do to be a Christian is believe that some fella named Jesus was the son of an invisible superhero we have no evidence ever existed, aside from his "biography"'s assertion that he did, and that said Jesus died so an invisible magical poison that somehow infects all of humanity because some chick ate some fruit off a tree even though she was told not to by an all-knowing gawd, which baffles the mind when you think about it....wow, say it out loud and it sound batshit tiger-tickling insane, doesn't it?"
Your fuckin' screwed on your dogma. He's got you on every claim of moral superiority.
The Jonas Brothers are a product of Christian morals marketing. The best I've seen for twenty years (I'm 54 and a media fan). They're talented and their Disney shows is one of Disney tvs best efforts, due to the writing and skills of the Jonas brothers.
Now this whole "VIRGIN" and "PURE" shit is product and would ONLY work in America, Where many of you have yet to get their first clue on NORMAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR
You've managed to raise an independent and intelligent child. Good for you!
He's absolutely right, who are you to say who's a Christian and who's not?
[
] How should I answer him?
Hehe, I am just imagining them saying to their son in the middle of the discussion: “Hold that thought, I just need to ask the people at RR what I should think about that!” and then fleeing away to the computer
Way to be less mature than your own offspring!
"He also told me that Barack Obama said he's a Christian, and I gave him the evidence of why I don't believe it, but he said "you're not perfect, and you're not God, so who are you to say who's a Christian and who's not?"
I like him already.
"How should I answer him?"
Considering how he's completely broken any & all of your previous fundie programming (and, a la 'E.D.I.', post-lightning strike affecting it's Quantum CPU & thus it's AI, thus becoming sentient in the film "Stealth"), he's becoming a fully realised, and therefore a self -thinking individual & citizen of Planet Reality, I'd say that he'd ignore you from now on, then when he's old enough, get all his stuff together, and leave; not even looking back, with just one last message to you & your inferior Raptard ilk; his answer: giving you the finger .
Should I ever meet him, I'd buy him a pint.
Oprah is a Christian you fool. And as Christians go she is accepting, a bit into that New Age stuff which is fine, a great person to talk to, and a good Christian all round. And all that without any or at least very little literal interpretation of the Bible. Fundamentalists: 0. Everyone else: 1.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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