My 8 year old sister

[AdamTheAntithetic]

My sister attends a Catholic primary school. Having gone to a secular primary school myself, I have no idea what sort of things they do in class. I suspect it would be pretty much the same, except for the religious classes.

Every now and then she comes home with a bits of paper and work bearing various religious symbols and pictures and phrases like "JESUS IS LOVE" and "PRAISE THE LORD" and all manner of religishit.

The thing is, I don't want her to be fed this stuff. Luckily my parents didn't have the idea of sending me to a religious primary school (however they did send me to a Catholic secondary school), so I wasn't really indoctrinated and I guess that's why I was able to break away from religion. I fear that it won't be so easy for her if she's fed religishit at a young age.

Aiming for a life of science, I'd like her to grow up to be a science type, but who am I to try to direct her life. I can only try to impose some sort of critical thinking and reason on her, in the hope that she starts to think for herself.

Then again, she is only 8.

[Atheos]

My sister attends a Catholic primary school. Having gone to a secular primary school myself, I have no idea what sort of things they do in class. I suspect it would be pretty much the same, except for the religious classes.

Every now and then she comes home with a bits of paper and work bearing various religious symbols and pictures and phrases like "JESUS IS LOVE" and "PRAISE THE LORD" and all manner of religishit.

The thing is, I don't want her to be fed this stuff. Luckily my parents didn't have the idea of sending me to a religious primary school (however they did send me to a Catholic secondary school), so I wasn't really indoctrinated and I guess that's why I was able to break away from religion. I fear that it won't be so easy for her if she's fed religishit at a young age.

Aiming for a life of science, I'd like her to grow up to be a science type, but who am I to try to direct her life. I can only try to impose some sort of critical thinking and reason on her, in the hope that she starts to think for herself.

Then again, she is only 8.

I don't think it's right to "impose" any kind of doctrine of thought on anyone, all you can do is encourage her to seek knowledge based on fact and not to blindly accept anything as "truth", her being 8 matters not, encouraging critical thought (especially critical thought in regards to theistic beliefs) should start from the time children enter the education system, if not before. I also think you should take up these concerns with your parents, if that is possible.

oops

[loubert]

When i was young i wanted to be priest.... and that was from going initially to a "secular" (public) school...........

Cut to 5 years later(year 10) and i am having my arse kicked ( or asked not to come back) out of a catlick school for reading Thomas Paine and bringing it to school.( also other things, but i think that was the straw that broke the camels back)

Now i am studying mathematics (and hopefully physics at the end of completing my masters) at uni and have become a "devout" (:p) atheist.

There is hope. she is only 8. show her some cool experiments etc.

[Darwinsbulldog]

From birth to at least puberty, religious exposure is at it's most dangerous. Children do not have the adult ability to reason [at least, fully-formed]. This makes them cannon-fodder to the religionists.

The Jesuits are smart when they say: "Give me the boy, and I will give you the man". This applies equally to your eight year old sister. IMHO, she is in grave danger. Teach her what you can to counter the mind-pus she is being exposed to, or better yet, try to get her transferred to a secular school.

[66 vegie]

Hi ATA.

I went to a catholic school for a short time in 1979-80...as an young child who is very inquisitive....it wasn't a good blend. In the end the headmaster of the school asked my Mum to find another school for me to go to ( because of my questions " How was the virgin Mary a virgin if she had a child"..and so on.)

With your help...maybe you can answer any questions she has...and set her on the right path with the right information. You sound like a bright person and a great influence to have around.

Good luck, and you have come to the right place if you need any help.

[AdamTheAntithetic]

I don't think it's right to "impose" any kind of doctrine of thought on anyone
Poor choice of words with "impose", I really meant encourage, or something along those lines.

I'm thinking of introducing her to evolution, and small aspects of biology and physics that should make her question what she's being taught. Nothing too big as she is only 8, but if I gradually ease it in she should be able to understand a lot of scientific concepts by the time she starts high school.

I think she's already learned a bit about physics in school, which took me by complete surprise, being introduced to the concept of forces at only grade 3; I don't recall ever being taught that until at least year 8. Nevertheless, I extremely doubt that they would teach them about evolution and the big bang (although because she's small, she would probably think that god caused the big bang), and I hope this would be enough to give her some cognitive dissonance and make her question things. And since my parents are quite science illiterate, she should turn to me for answers to questions.

[Seamus]

When i was young i wanted to be priest.... and that was from going initially to a "secular" (public) school.........

At 12 I announced I was going to be Jesuit. (I thought their uniform was really cool)

My mother said something like "How nice dear.You'll make a terrific priest! However, first you will finish high school and then work for 2 years."

At 14 the meaning of the word 'celibacy' finally sunk in and being a Jesuit lost its appeal. I quietly dropped the idea.:p

[Atheos]

Poor choice of words with "impose", I really meant encourage, or something along those lines.

I'm thinking of introducing her to evolution, and small aspects of biology and physics that should make her question what she's being taught. Nothing too big as she is only 8, but if I gradually ease it in she should be able to understand a lot of scientific concepts by the time she starts high school.

I think she's already learned a bit about physics in school, which took me by complete surprise, being introduced to the concept of forces at only grade 3; I don't recall ever being taught that until at least year 8. Nevertheless, I extremely doubt that they would teach them about evolution and the big bang (although because she's small, she would probably think that god caused the big bang), and I hope this would be enough to give her some cognitive dissonance and make her question things. And since my parents are quite science illiterate, she should turn to me for answers to questions.

Something like this may interest your sister, possibly
http://www.csiro.au/resources/ScientrifficMain.html

[Worldslaziestbusker]

Hello Adam
I think if you share your enthusiasm for science with her she'll have the mental framework to spot the bullshit and ask the questions that keep a young mind open.
A museum visit with her big brother might be all it takes.
WLB


I tend to recommend museum visits for all maladies.
I like museums.


Dinosaurs.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Be warned that it will require patience to get her to think. I'm still trying to get my friend to think - life isn't just about some 2000 year old book full of garbage.

Also, ask her "Do you really believe that stuff?" too. If she says Yes, let the questioning begin.

It also depends on her type: is she normally very intelligent and quicker than a quad-core Itanium processor, or is she a vegetable who just says "yes" to everything?

Having been to two Christian schools before, I can assure you they love bringing religion into every subject. That being said, I would proceed with caution.

[Spud Henley]

Adam mate, I speak from the heart when I beg you to do your best to teach her the truth. I was indoctrinated and went to catholic primary and secondary school. I was also raised by my god-bothering granny and by the age of 12 was able to step back and say religion is bullshit and there is no god so don't give up hope with your sister.

I remember when my 8 year old sister starting spewing religious bullcrap to me. I regret deeply not standing up for my values and speaking the truth. Things have changed all these years later and I can do nothing about it. Don't spend your life regreting to tell her the truth.

[Chasly]

I send my kids to the local state school, even though I suspect the local catholic school may offer a slightly better education. However I think primary-aged kids are generally too impressionable and the religious garbage that the catholic schools feed them would have a negative effect.
I am not sure how many 5 and 6yo can think critically. They just believe what they are told. So if they have athiest parents telling them god is bullshit, yet teachers saying things like "god is Love, god is everywhere", I think it brings unnecessary confusion into a kid's life.

I will have no probs sending my kids to a cathoilc secondary school if I feel it offers a better education, as I think by then they will be in a better position to just ignore the religious crap and concentrate on the real education stuff.

[Brother Nelson]

I will have no probs sending my kids to a cathoilc secondary school if I feel it offers a better education, as I think by then they will be in a better position to just ignore the religious crap and concentrate on the real education stuff.

I wish I wasn't given a catholic education. I expect things have changed a bit in the last 30 odd years but what I remember is it was an extremely unhappy period. They could take enjoyment out of anything.

I see kids today who learn music at school and enjoy it. Where I went we sang hyms with the constant fear of getting the strap for not looking to the front of the class at all times. If you didn't get a good enough score in the spelling test then up the front of the class and put your hand out.

But of course they weren't all like that. There was one priest who was proud of the fact that he didn't need the strap. "son, I can strip you down with just my tongue and you will be crying on the floor, you prawn".

Apart from the violence, fear and general unhappiness I don't believe I came away as enlightened as I would of had I gone to a state school. I wish I had have been taught metal work and wood work, I would love to have had more science. I wish I could have been given some direction to follow. I wish I was encouraged to question and learn new things and not to just shut up and take what I was given.