Posted on 06/06/2014 3:33:04 AM PDT by markomalley
Fairy tales and believing in Father Christmas could cause children harm.
This is according to controversial biologist Richard Dawkins who warned an audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival about the dangers of make-believe.
In typically incendiary style, Dawkins suggested it was 'pernicious to instil in a child the view that the world is shaped by supernaturalism.'
The 73-year-old acknowledged that the appeal of fairytales lay in their magic but believes they may be causing more harm than we think.
He also questioned whether we should let children believe in the myth of Father Christmas at all.
'Is it a good thing to go along with the fantasy of childhood?,' he said. 'Or should we be fostering a spirit of scepticism?.'
Speaking about his autobiography ‘An Appetite for Wonder’, childhood formed a large part of the talk as he recalled his first eight years growing up in Africa.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Easter is being replaced by Earth Day. Christmas is being replaced by the Winter Solstice. Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday was replaced by Presidents Day. Other outrages are being perpetrated—reader discretion advised.
History shows santas helpers? Where?
No
wouldn’t we love to see the ghost of Christmas past and see what little Dick Hawkins did on Christmas morning when he was 6 years old?
Sorry, I meant to ban stupid people who are bothered by anything Christian. Anyone with speck of intelligence knows that Jesus was sent to save us, we even calculate our calendar based on His birth Anno Domine - 2014 AD.
I will always remember my family home as a place where as a child, I went to bed on Christmas Eve believing that magic would occur. I was never disappointed. It is a good memory. Of course I wanted my kids to have the same.
This guy obviously does not have children, as little children play make believe all the time. To quash this would stunt their growth and creativity.
Just always ready for flames when I talk about Catholics’ beliefs.
And here it is June 6th. Go watch some old film of men bravely storming the beaches of Normandy to free people of other nations. I bet every one of those men was told “the myth” of Santa Claus as a child.
I’m just stating the catholic belief. Many people interpret that to be bossy and lecturing. I’m just stating facts as facts and beliefs as beliefs. No one is saying you have to believe the the same beliefs.
Santa is a saint, that’s what ‘santa’ means. He was a catholic bishop
Some people hate hearing about saints so I always expect to get flamed
Just talking about the origin of Saint Nick that’s all
I don’t care if you believe it or if you don’t. But it’s strange how people feel so free to put down Catholicism. No other belief system comes upon such flamery here. I don’t know why people care so much that they need to put it down. But they do it
This wouldn’t be worth posting except for the fact that there are plenty of folks who would take this nut-case seriously.
We can agree on an age 12,15, 20 or 30, 40 when we should let these children know that there is no one going to come down the chimney to bring them every thing their hearts desire.
We should also awaken them to the fact that the story of David and Goliath was something that happened in Biblical history and is not just another : Alice in wonderland : fairy tale.
Of all the holidays that Christians observe, xmas is by far the easiest to prove is utterly false and unscriptural. In fact hardly a year goes by without some article or program on a network about the pagan origins of the day.
I think most older folks knew where their presents came from, at least every one I know did.
But I guess we think our kids are so stupid that we can lie to them, lies are of the devil, the devil is an ugly little guy with big ears and a tail.
I think most older folks knew where their presents came from, at least every one I know did.
But I guess we think our kids are so stupid that we can lie to them, lies are of the devil, the devil is an ugly little guy with big ears and a tail.
Christianity gets flamed more I’d say. As for saints, I’m a saint. Every born again Christian is a saint, and that’s biblical.
The reason I talk about Christmas like this, is because it takes away from what it really is.
In this day and age we are bombarded by so many things, and more and more becomes acceptable, but the way is narrow.
The reason I talk about santa like this is because the culture tries to take away what Christmas is
To be clear, historical fact is that Saint Nick lived and he was a bishop. He was a holy man and after he died he was canonized a saint in the Catholic Church, as defined by Catholicism, which also states that no one is a saint until after they’re dead; that people can be holy while alive but are not saints until after they’re done here.
Your idea of sainthood is a belief, and I don’t say you cannot believe that. I don’t even say you’re wrong I’m just saying what the Catholic Church states.
If you have a difference with that and you want to tell us what to believe, you are free to take it up with a priest. But I cannot help you
Don’t tell me what to believe as I won’t tell you what to believe,
My bride and I chose not to tell our oldest daughter about the myth of Santa Claus but to tell her the story of St. Nick of Smyrna.
She still likes to “pretend” about Santa Claus, but always tells her friends about the Real st Nick
I simply believe God’s word, it tells us what to believe.
A man made religion cannot dictate what to believe, and to do that is against God’s word.
I for one will stick with God’s word above all else.
Another item for my gratitude list: I am grateful Dawkins was not my father.
What a dark world we’re heading into.
No argument here
If you want to spread the notion that the Catholic Church ones not go by the word of God I’ll take issue and again refer you to a priest, as until you get informed about it you don’t know what you’re talking about so stop spreading falsehood about the church please
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