Thursday, April 19, 2007

The Internet Monk on Raising Children

Michael Spencer a.k.a. the internet monk is always worth reading.

His posting on How Religious Parents Royally Screw Up Their Children is especially worth reading.

Michael raises 8 points;

(1) By trying to raise sinless childrem.

(2) By telling children they are specially called by God- from birth to ministry.

(3) By using religion as punishment.

(4) Saying 'God told us to' as your reason for parental decisions.

(5) By having a constant fear of what is normal.

(6) By lying and consistently making ignorant statements.

(7) By obsessing on Satan and demons.

(8) By ignoring culture and isolating your children from it.

Now read the whole article.

2 comments:

  1. By making their children memorise Bible verses which they then hold over their children's heads. Like using Colossians 3:23 to make the child study harder because everything must "be done unto the Lord and not for men".

    Uh-huh. Personal experience.

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  2. Hi sunflower,

    Yes, I have see it done in many Christian families.

    It is fascinating to see how parents in general motivate their children;threats, guilt, fear, bribery, acceptance, and the conditional giving or taking away of their love.

    Christian parents in addition has the additional armament of religiosity; God's love, Jesus' approval, Scriptural support, often taken out of context.

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