I Could Be Wrong, I've Been Wrong Before

Family, Politics, Poker, Technology, Atheism, Ice Cream. What else could a man need. Except a place to make an ass of himself. Oh wait, I have that now too.

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Location: Illinois, United States

So little to say, so much space to say it. Email: glintir-AT-mad.scientist.com

13 June 2006

Atheism vs. Critical Thinking

So, my 6 year old got me again. First, she utters a Greater Clausian prayer back in November. Now she's messing with my head on the God front.

About a month ago, she came to sit next to me while I was playing World of Warcraft. When she plopped down she set her copy of the "Precious Moments" bible on my desk. (I'm carefully ignoring the irony of using the phrase "Precious Moments" while referring the that bloody book.) I asked why she brought it in and she told me that she was reading it. I asked her what she thought, and while I don't recall the exact phrasing, I recall getting the impression that she "knew" she was supposed to believe it, but wasn't enjoying the story much. Typical of a child to assess the literary merits of a religious tract.

After hearing her comments, I said, quite simply. "I don't believe in that book." She tried to defend the idea of Jebus as high and mighty muckity muck, but she's six. She hasn't learned to ignore reality while arguing faith. She also hasn't learned to attack anyone who disagrees to deflect the discussion from actual thought. Thus, the conversation ended.

Fast forward 2 weeks. Out of the blue she comes up to me and says. "I don't believe in God." My thought was "Hooray, oh crap!" No, really.

Thing is, I wondered if she was simply mimicking me. So, now I have a crisis. Which do I choose. Do I choose the Atheist side of me and simply say... "That's right, dear! Good Job.", or do I choose Critical Thinking, and demand to know why? And if I ask why, do I correct her logical flaws and potentially make her a believer again? Atheism is easy, parenting is hard.

Ultimately, I chose to ask her why she believed this. Like any good kid, her response amazed me. "How could God be the King of Everything, before there was anything? That's just silly." Nearly broke my heart to point out that she'd misunderstood the script. I told her he was the "King of Everything" because he made it all, according to that book that I don't believe.

She said simply, "Oh."