tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post4227590926686522228..comments2023-10-21T06:18:41.537-05:00Comments on Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords: God can wait a little longerRobert Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-16567823518481702142009-01-13T08:22:00.000-06:002009-01-13T08:22:00.000-06:00I think you are battling with the reality of a fat...I think you are battling with the reality of a father image.<BR/>I say this in this context;<BR/>You seem to be super protective that no harm comes to your daughter. You dont want her to be hurt by any evil like sickness, poverty or becoming a thief or prostitute for that matter. I am sure that you want no harm to come to her at all especially none of the above. You will instruct,prevent and keep her from all harm. I am sure as well that you never wished or put any of the above on her<BR/>Now God is just the same. <BR/>If we are going to blame God for everything then maybe we should look at our own lives first. God said He set before us life and death we choose.<BR/>Cause and eefect <BR/>Now GoBrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12953873471286454872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-23919714611456652732009-01-12T06:46:00.000-06:002009-01-12T06:46:00.000-06:00Gotcha. It's funny, though, how your God sounds a...Gotcha. It's funny, though, how your God sounds a lot more like the Devil. "Believe in me or else." I think we'll pass.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-16761528118192037602009-01-12T06:28:00.000-06:002009-01-12T06:28:00.000-06:00My real prayer is that she does get introduced to ...My real prayer is that she does get introduced to God through Christ and does not take on your unbelief or belief in the boogeyman (the devil).<BR/>Do you actually know that we are made up of more than the body and the mind. And that there is a real after life or continuance of life if you wish.<BR/>God does not go around punishing us by the way. Most of the time it is ourselves for lack of faith in God. Other times it is the devil running mankind in circles. <BR/>God really does love you but righteousness (God) and unrighteousness (us) cannot live together in one place unless redeemedBrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12953873471286454872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-53582290209765338002009-01-12T06:06:00.000-06:002009-01-12T06:06:00.000-06:00Now off course the reply will probably be that the...<I>Now off course the reply will probably be that there is no hell.</I><BR/><BR/>Am I supposed to be frightened into forcing my child to worship your god, just to be on the safe side? Is that really the spiritual basis of your belief system? And am I really supposed to believe in a god who would punish a little girl (beyond the shitty treatment he has already given her) because of the beliefs of her parents?<BR/><BR/>You can keep that god, Paster Brian. In my world, we call him the Boogeyman.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-62053076949049673292009-01-12T05:54:00.000-06:002009-01-12T05:54:00.000-06:00Interesting reading. So if mom and dad do not beli...Interesting reading. So if mom and dad do not believe in God and ultimately going to hell due to there belief system are they prepared to allow there child to face the same fate due to there lack of belief in God. Now off course the reply will probably be that there is no hell. Well what if there was would you take the chance of sending her thereBrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12953873471286454872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-32491054495449181312008-11-07T14:16:00.000-06:002008-11-07T14:16:00.000-06:00I just finished reading your book and decided for ...I just finished reading your book and decided for the first time ever to go on a blog. I was fascinated by your story and am full of admiration for your daughter. I know, too, that your love for her has been the foundation of her being able to have her wonderful sense of self - that, and your and your wife's determination that you know her best and can be her best advocates.<BR/><BR/>I have also been fascinated by the responses to this particular talking point. Never having seen a blog before. I am both interested and frustrated by people's (and your)responses.<BR/><BR/>Since I've ended up here, I thought I'd contribute a response, too! In reading your book, I've been struck by what a complex person you are and would like to hazard a guess that your complicated reaction to God, whom you definitely seem to believe in, might be related to your very complicated feelings for your father.(Since even those of us who try very hard not to, persist in having an anthropomorphic concept of God!) There is a definite difference in my mind between what God causes to happen and what God allows to happen for His own purposes. I think you and your family are one of the best examples I have seen of how God has brought an infinite amount of good out of something that appeared to be evil. It thrills me to know how not only your daughter but many others will see much more abundant lives because of the circumstances brought together when your daughter was formed in the womb. The thing that makes your daughter the wonderful person she is, is her disability interacting with the unique personality God gave her. She wouldn't be your Schuyler without both things. I believe this with all my heart, but that doesn't in any way minimize the difficulty of the road you're traveling. God has never said this life would be easy, and His people have been promised suffering. After all, no-one can claim that this world is Paradise!! We tend to see it in a different way if we are Christians, but that doesn't take away the human pain!<BR/><BR/>I certainly will be praying for the three of you whenever I think of you that the very best God has for you will come to be! I understand that the reason the angel sticker caused you to make this entry is that you are serious about a dilemma.<BR/><BR/>AliceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-66226119219995610582008-11-04T11:50:00.000-06:002008-11-04T11:50:00.000-06:00Rob - I'm sure that Schuyler has some understandin...Rob - <BR/><BR/>I'm sure that Schuyler has some understanding of what some people refer to as "god." We all did at her age - maybe even earlier. Early on - we see things growing and living and we see things dying. We feel love and we see/feel(unfortunately) hatred. As humans, it's hard to avoid the "divinity" in our everyday existence. She may have already started to wonder and think about what she will or will not believe. But then you add the lines that we humans draw around and between us based on what language we use to talk about/define what we believe. And it gets ugly. Complicated. <BR/><BR/>You're right on, understanding the complexities of multiple belief systems - whether it's atheism, agnosticism, christianity, any number of eastern theologies/philosophies. Most of us, as adults, can't get our heads around it - how can we possibly expect our children to grasp it? <BR/><BR/>Before any one attacks me - I am by no means suggesting that children can't understand "god." I am saying that children, before a certain age, can't differentiate between the countless belief systems that exist in our world. Anyone who thinks their child "gets" why they're at mass every Sunday or why they're sitting in temple or why they're standing outside of a grocery store handing out pamphlets that say "Jesus Saves" is fooling themself. Children may understand that there is "good" and there is "bad" and there is a queasy feeling in their stomach when certain things happen and there is beauty around us in everything that lives and there may even be beauty in something that's still and lifeless. But children often don't - and shouldn't be expected to - understand and practice ritual and rite based solely on their parents choices and beliefs.<BR/><BR/>I am thankful to have had parents who, when I got sent home from Catholic School, on more than one occasion for asking the "wrong questions," (ie: Where were the dinosaurs on Noah's Ark? Why even put that tree in the Garden of Eden if no one could eat from it?) never scolded me for it. They let me feel my way through their religion. And when I made a choice of my own (I'm agnostic too), there was no judgment - there was no anger. What they had was the knowledge that they'd taught me to be a good, upright, loving person with an understanding of the world that belongs to me. And that was enough - for them - AND for me. <BR/><BR/>That's what I think you'll give Schuyler. And it will most certainly be enough.Nicole Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847231791131970750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-91482216785430655902008-11-03T12:29:00.000-06:002008-11-03T12:29:00.000-06:00mommytoalot said...Wow.. a little touchy then aren...<I>mommytoalot said...<BR/>Wow.. a little touchy then aren't you. <BR/>sorry to have missed that part.</I><BR/><BR/>Right. Clearly the issue here is that I'm "touchy".Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-11890394527251466822008-11-03T11:35:00.000-06:002008-11-03T11:35:00.000-06:00Wow.. a little touchy then aren't you. sorry to h...Wow.. a little touchy then aren't you. <BR/>sorry to have missed that part.mommytoalothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08389938416950823534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-8662861633914283622008-11-03T08:15:00.000-06:002008-11-03T08:15:00.000-06:00And that's exactly what we want to happen for Schu...And that's exactly what we want to happen for Schuyler. When she's ready, we're going to be the ones to lead her through that process. Could we be wrong about whether or not she's ready now? Well, of course we could.<BR/><BR/>But I'm going to be a little arrogant for a moment and point out that we've been pretty good judges of Schuyler's capabilities in the past. We're going to continue to trust our instincts in this.<BR/><BR/>When she's ready, though, I think she's going to thrive on the kind of self-determination you're talking about. And I suspect that day is coming, sooner than later.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-10612333876742773942008-11-03T08:09:00.000-06:002008-11-03T08:09:00.000-06:00Many children are able to think critically long be...Many children are able to think critically long before we give them the opportunity to. I taught at an international school in London last year and one of our units of inquiry (it is a student-centered, inquiry based curriculum) was Cultures around the World and within this came the opportunity for students to share things important to them with the class while learning about their own cultural identity (which is a HUGE concept, even for an adult who has lived overseas for over 8 years). This included their belief systems, traditions, family trees. Basically where the students took the lesson it went. This was a grade 2 class.<BR/><BR/>Towards the end of the unit, I was walking behind three of my students and overhearing their conversation I was amazed at what they were gaining from the unit. They were all from different backgrounds and discussing what would happen after they died. They decided to meet at each others graves and have a party. This was coming from one kid unsure of his belief system, one kid who was Christian and one atheist. Although they are essentially following their parents belief systems, their ability to have this conversation demonstrated how they think critically about such subjects and apply it to their own level of understanding. This unit would set them up to take a unit in grade 4 about Beliefs (this is not a religious based unit but covers things from religion to environment, etc). <BR/><BR/>The thing that amazed me about the three boys discussing their after death party was that one of the boys was a 'Christian' in the beginning of the unit but now was unsure. This was based on the fact that he was learning about the world around him and discussing it with his peers and the adults in his life.Kara Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02890986548073869928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-72353809228508982512008-11-03T07:54:00.000-06:002008-11-03T07:54:00.000-06:00mommytoalot said...I really dont' see how the inno...<I>mommytoalot said...<BR/>I really dont' see how the innocence of putting an angel sticker on her device is such a big deal. For someone who is agnostic you seem to over react quite abit over something so small.</I><BR/><BR/>You know what? I give up. I already quoted the part where I specifically said that we didn't make an issue out of the fucking sticker. It was a gateway to a larger conversation.<BR/><BR/>If you'd like to continue to pretend this is all about some crazy Jesus-hater hysterically overreacting about a sweet, innocent little angel sticker, knock your idiotic self out. <BR/><BR/>Setting up a strawman argument is a time-honored technique of avoiding larger issues, but the thing about that kind of approach is, it doesn't actually win your argument. It simply ends the conversation.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-2662768052878024992008-11-03T07:38:00.000-06:002008-11-03T07:38:00.000-06:00I really dont' see how the innocence of putting an...I really dont' see how the innocence of putting an angel sticker on her device is such a big deal. For someone who is agnostic you seem to over react quite abit over something so small.mommytoalothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08389938416950823534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-33718052239757805462008-11-02T14:27:00.000-06:002008-11-02T14:27:00.000-06:00Hey Rob,As an atheist who hopes to be a dad some d...Hey Rob,<BR/><BR/>As an atheist who hopes to be a dad some day, I think that you have the right idea on how to handle this. It's slightly different than my own attitude, but not enough to make anything out of it. The bottom line is that we both believe in allowing the child to ultimately make the right decision.Lance Christian Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14662783824480475026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-64615774948952071242008-11-01T05:49:00.000-05:002008-11-01T05:49:00.000-05:00I'm one who *has* gotten worked up over a little s...I'm one who *has* gotten worked up over a little sticker when my kid came home from the county fair with a smiling teddy bear that said "My Mom Chose Life!" No bible verse, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume it was not an athiest who put it there...<BR/><BR/>I am a Christian and I was deeply offended by that one. Even Christians come in many shapes and forms and do not all have the same belief system. I don't want anyone sticking ANY of their religious views on my children thankyouverymuch.<BR/><BR/>Love your blog, but possibly love the comment section even more this time.Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213111266442544228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-3523760316440559942008-10-31T17:17:00.000-05:002008-10-31T17:17:00.000-05:00You might enjoy reading the Screwtape Letters by C...You might enjoy reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Don't get your hopes up, though; it's not a dirty book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-44804394172530894622008-10-31T06:39:00.000-05:002008-10-31T06:39:00.000-05:00I heartily agree with you. I think religion is wro...I heartily agree with you. I think religion is wrongly pushed onto young people. I think kids will start asking questions about spirituality when they are ready to know. People don't give kids enough credit: they know things. They set their own timelines. They can and will start to wonder about "more than this" stuff in due course. She's got plenty of time to wonder, investigate and decide, or not decide, how and IF she wants to be affiliated. <BR/><BR/>Hope you all have a fantastic Halloween!! Happy Hauntings ;)Loves Pickleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09265109812385130053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-81159310090334190602008-10-31T05:10:00.000-05:002008-10-31T05:10:00.000-05:00"Say no to Jesus and drugs!" That is brilliant.Sch..."Say no to Jesus and drugs!" That is brilliant.<BR/><BR/>Schyuler's devil costume reminds me of an answer I have given to Johovah's Witnesses (after hearing it on the radio)<BR/><BR/>JW: Do you believe in god?<BR/>Me: Of course!<BR/>JW: (Relieved look, about to say someting)<BR/>Me: Without god I wouldn't exsist.<BR/>JW: (Nodding empatically)<BR/><BR/>Me: For I am the Devil!Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18101092105052176177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-38888525510172261352008-10-30T22:24:00.000-05:002008-10-30T22:24:00.000-05:00I skimmed the comments, so if I'm repeating someon...I skimmed the comments, so if I'm repeating someone, I apologize. I think you're doing the right thing. Religion and faith are hard subjects to discuss when you can communicate all your questions and concerns easily. Considering Schuyler's situation, waiting makes a lot of sense. <BR/><BR/>I'm a Christian, but even so I have chosen not to indoctrinate my kids. I tell them that my beliefs are just that, beliefs. In any other major decision, a child Schuyler's age would not be encouraged to make a lifetime commitment. She's not mature enough to smoke, drink, vote, drive, or marry. So why do we push kids to join churches, be saved, and make a life long, eternal-life long commitments? If it were anything other than God (or Allah, or Whomever), there would be no question that she's too young.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-70167841341927186822008-10-30T19:19:00.000-05:002008-10-30T19:19:00.000-05:00My husband says to tell you, Rob, we agree with yo...My husband says to tell you, Rob, we agree with you and you are doing the lord's work. If it didn't look cheesy for me to put a winking emoticon I would (because I am trying, really, to be ironic).Jill393https://www.blogger.com/profile/10513342949653511673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-5430986796218344252008-10-30T15:03:00.000-05:002008-10-30T15:03:00.000-05:00To make the Baby Jesus cry.To make the Baby Jesus cry.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-77268545007412780442008-10-30T15:00:00.000-05:002008-10-30T15:00:00.000-05:00Since you are so pissed off at God all the time, h...Since you are so pissed off at God all the time, how do you justify celebrating Christmas?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-37116189023385578782008-10-30T14:39:00.000-05:002008-10-30T14:39:00.000-05:00I'd like to comment, Rob, on your remark that God ...I'd like to comment, Rob, on your remark that God has some explaining to do.<BR/><BR/>Although this is a novel, not a work of fiction, I'd like to recommend the book THE SHACK by Wm. P. Young. This book has God doing some explaining. And it's quite interesting. I am a Christian and found this very thought provoking.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully, you and your readers will, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-66494323060597559582008-10-30T13:40:00.000-05:002008-10-30T13:40:00.000-05:00Honestly... aren't you really making a bigger deal...<I>Honestly... aren't you really making a bigger deal out of this than is necessary? It was just a sticker of an angel.</I><BR/><BR/>And I quote:<BR/><BR/><B>We didn't get too worked up about it, partly because we try not to be THOSE earnest, humorless Whole Foods liberals. I'm sure that whoever gave it to her didn't even think about it, much less set out to somehow evangelize to our daughter. Also, Schuyler thought it was a fairy anyway, so we even got to dodge the explanation.<BR/><BR/>It did start a larger discussion with Schuyler, though, about religion and what to say to anyone who decides to take it upon themselves to save our kid's immortal soul.</B><BR/><BR/>My whole point was that we weren't making a big deal out of the sticker, other than as the beginning of a larger discussion that has been ongoing for years anyway. I never intended for anyone to fixate on the sticker. But since we are, one more point:<BR/><BR/><I>Unless I mis-read this somewhere, and they stuck a bible verse underneath the sticker, I really don't see why the sticker would give you pause or make you concerned that people are trying to shove religion down your daughter's throat.</I><BR/><BR/>Schuyler attends a public school. The separation of church and state, no matter how "innocent", always gives me pause.Robert Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462451435441751837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22878815.post-31824799925552075742008-10-30T13:10:00.000-05:002008-10-30T13:10:00.000-05:00I didn't see the Postrel article as really adding ...I didn't see the Postrel article as really adding to your point, Rob. If anything, it adds to Erica's: Plano might be a lot of things, but the one thing above all else that is respected and valued is <I>doing what's best for children and families</I>. That's why nobody would pick on a kid's Halloween costume -- Jesus has nothing to do with it.<BR/><BR/>Wanna be a Democrat or a Republican on your own time? Fine, just keep your political opinions out of the schools. Wanna be gay, or evangelical Christian, or both? Fine, just don't force that discussion onto our family before we decide we're ready for it.<BR/><BR/>And your suggestion that Frisco and Allen are somehow even more conservative... all I can say is, you don't spend enough time in those towns. Ideologically, culturally, socially, they are <I>exactly</I> like Plano -- throw in McKinney for the hat trick, and the whole area is one indistinguishable exurban mass.<BR/><BR/>Still, whether or not the angel sticker thing was truly significant or a total overreaction, it's yours to have, either way. Your kid = your inalienable right to get up in arms over whatever cause du jour affects her. Everyone has their entitlement. <I>That's</I> the true more of North Dallas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com