Proud of my 8 year old son.

[wandererfromtx]

My family went to a Texas Rangers Baseball game last night, :rolleyes: I know I know the Rangers are not great, but we were given tickets to the one of the suites at the Ballpark from my place of business. Nice suites, TVs to watch the replays, great food layout, and of course BEER. Anyhow, one of my co-workers invited a few of his friends as we had a few extra tickets. These friends, just out of college, came into the suite wearing T-shirts spouting the typical x-ian slogans, and quickly proceeded, without saying hello, to gorge on the food.
Now, both my boys and another co-worker’s three children were also getting some food before these so call people of compassion came into the suite. They just reached over the kids got what they wanted and went to sit down, of course in the best spots. The rest of us just shrugged our shoulders, finished helping the kids get some snacks and sat down to watch the game.

Now here comes the part of why I am so proud. My 8 year old, was talking with one of my co-worker’s boys about dinosaurs, his favorite subject. Oh yes, I just have to tell you al this, he just received a scholarship to a private school for gifted kids. < Ok bragging off now> As he was telling this boy about how he believed the dinosaurs died out, one of these x-ians turned and told him that what he was saying was not true.

He said, “The Dinosaurs were made the sixth day with the rest of the animals, and Noah took them on the ark. They have always lived with man. After the flood many died from the climate changes and from man's hunting”.

Sounds like Hovind right? :banghead:

My son look right back at him and said, “ Dinosaurs lived millions of years before man, and most likely died from a meteor strike on the earth.” “Where did you get your information?”

The guy said “The Bible.”

My son looked right into his eyes and said “I have never seen that book on any science bookshelves, the person who wrote it must not be that smart”.

A silent pause and a jaw drop from this x-ain

My son continued to talk to his friend, and this guy never said another word rest of the night.

“and a little child will lead them” is all I keep thinking, as I laughed the rest of the night away.
:D

[Mister Impossible]

:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

What a corker!!

Your kid sounds like he's going to change the world some day.

Have fun.

[beejay]

Originally posted by wandererfromtx
My son looked right into his eyes and said “I have never seen that book on any science bookshelves, the person who wrote it must not be that smart”.


Wonderful. :notworthy

[Primordial Groove]

One question: How? Did you have anything to do with his pov? If so, what can I do to help my children get there.

A :notworthy for your son. Good show mate!

[Rhaedas]

Simply brilliant. :notworthy

My 8 year old would have the same opinion, but yours handled that so well, no wonder the guy's jaw dropped. What could he possibly have said back? :D

[Postcard73]

Originally posted by wandererfromtx
My son looked right into his eyes and said “I have never seen that book on any science bookshelves, the person who wrote it must not be that smart”. :D

Oh- what a smackdown!:notworthy I think it says a lot about where xians are coming from when an 8 year old (gifted yes, but still eight) can shut 'em up like that...

[Mediancat]

I think what makes this so perfect is that the Christian in question couldn't have said anything back without coming off like a vindictive bully. Bravo to your son!

Rob aka Mediancat

[wandererfromtx]

Originally posted by Primordial Groove
One question: How? Did you have anything to do with his pov? If so, what can I do to help my children get there.

This is a hard question to answer. I will give you some information on my wife and my background and beliefs. My wife is Hispanic, an Engineer for the Department of Transportation, believes in a type of God but is very anti-religious, so much so that she refers to most x-ians as hypocrites. (Bet you thought I was going to say she was a hard core Catholic.) I am a Quality professional with a Department of Defense contractor, practice Daoism and some Buddhist Meditation, Mala rituals for internal development. I also am a Shirfu (20+ years) in internal martial arts.

We have never lied or told stories to either of our boys about anything they ask us. Never talked down to them, always did our best to find out the answers to their questions if we did not know the answers to those questions. We always encourage them to learn, to respect this planet as a whole and all its life forms.

We do talk to them about the religious differences there are, but try not to sway them one way or the other. Both have never seen or heard of the bible, but I think after last night I may have to approach this topic.

That is about all I can think of right now, but I will talk to my wife and see if there are other things we do.

[callmejay]

That's an awesome story. I can see something like that having the potential to maybe someday change that Christian's mind. It was so clear, to the point, and from an 8 year old! Sometimes kids are better at telling the truth. We adults sometimes get too used to sparing people's feelings. :)

[redwards]

http://www.southcircledesigns.com/images/stuff/owned.jpg

[BadBadBad]

The funny thing about this is that it doesn't take a brilliant child to shoot down Christianity. Just one that hasn't been brainwashed into not thinking. This child was particularly brilliant in how he did it, but kids ask challenging questions about God all the time. The same kind of questions they eventually ask about Santa Claus. "How is Santa going to deliver the presents when we don't have a chimney?" How could God walk on water or feed the masses with a few fish? What is God? Why doesn't God answer prayers?

That's the sad part. I child that's allowed to think for himself has no problem getting it. Why can't adults ask the same kind of Santa Claus questions?

[Hopeful Monsters]

:D

Your son hit one muddle-headed Xian right between the eyes with simple fact.

Like brettc says - he hadn't been taught not to think. His mind was unclouded by dogma.

And why was the Xian struck dumb? - because he knew he'd been caught out lying to an 8 year old.

I wish him and his brother success.

:notworthy

[dimpledop]

Oh yeah, you should be proud of your son. He handled himself well just by being honest. You should also give yourself and your wife a pat on the back for encouraging his critical thinking skills. Bravo to you both, and all the best to your boys.

And for the record: :notworthy

[Belle]

Oh that is just so darn righteous!

BTW I'm up here in Denton with my 3 little skeptics.

[athee]

Bravo, I have a similar story. My 5 year old (when he was 4) was having a bad day around last years winter holiday. One of the little girls in his class told him to be on his best behavior because Santa was watching. He immediately turned to her and said that Santa was make-believe. Her mom was right there and pulled him aside and requested that he not spoil it for her, and he went along with the mom.

The good part about this story is that I'm sucessfully (sofar) raising a kid with some good critical thinking skills. At that point in his life, my wife and I had never even uttered the word Santa to him. He heard the stories from the other kids at school, read the books and then concluded it was BS. The only thing I did with him to help him with his skills was to ask him questions when we read books or watch TV. Is this real? Is this make-believe?

We have pretty much given him, the "lots of people believe in lots of stories" line. But ultimately, he must read and ask questions and demand evidence.

I don't know if this matters one bit, but like wandererfromtx above, we also have a gifted child. He's at a 3rd grade reading level at age 5, so we had him skip kindergarten. I hate to start something about intelligence and belief, as I like to think that anyone that hasn't been polluted as a child and that has one scrap of reasoning would reject religion outright.

[Arken]

It is simultaneously wonderous and frightening that an 8-year-old at a Rangers game said something off the cuff smarter than anything the former manager of that team ever said.

[Hot Karl]

oh that's hilarious. /me pats wanderer on the back.

[catalyst]

Wow. That makes me wish I had kids.

[Shake]

Let's hear it for the next generation! http://www.freethinkersforum.com/forum/images/smiles/eusa_clap.gif

Well, my dad taught me to think for myself too (and it's kinda backfired on him, 'cause he and mom aren't the happiest that I've "lost faith"), so I just hope I can do the same for my son!

[Rhea]

LOL That's great! He really did support his comment very nicely. Although, I can see where he gets it... "and a little child shall lead them" indeed!

[mecca777]

Originally posted by wandererfromtx
“Where did you get your information?”

The guy said “The Bible.”

My son looked right into his eyes and said “I have never seen that book on any science bookshelves, the person who wrote it must not be that smart”.And a little child shall SPANK them...

I'll echo the congratulations on your little freethinker's quick wit and intellectual honesty. I'm impressed that he wasn't intimidated by an adult who was disagreeing with him, and stood firm to what he knows is the truth.

[braces_for_impact]

Well done by your little boy!

I have a similar story as well. My son used to go on a school bus every day, and every day certain religious kids would sing religious hymns and say prayers on the way to school, especially on Monday. I suppose they were still wound up from church on Sunday.

One of these days the children asked my son to join them, and he replied "no thanks." The children of course, asked him why. He replied that he didn't believe in Jesus. The children (being children) began to make fun of him and taunt him. My son asked them "Doesn't Jesus say you should love everyone?" When they replied yes, he asked "Then why are you treating me this way?"

Despite my son's protestations, they continued to tease him, but his exposure of their hypocrisy was wonderful, and maybe it made a few of them think.

That's my boy! :D

[wandererfromtx]

exposure of their hypocrisy was wonderful

I absolutely agree.

My niece, a lovely and caring young lady, went to a x-ian Middle and High school. Despite being immersed in the overbearing rhetoric of god/jesus-speak in the school, it never really took. She did tell me about the hypocrisy that took place, it was worst that the clicks that are in public schools. Beliefs like, my parents are more affluent than yours, so my god/jesus must be better, and the despicable attitudes towards any public or private school kids, as they are less than human.

[Roland98]

Just awesome. Hope my kids can put the smack-down on some nutty beliefs like that someday. :D Thanks for sharing.

[bellylard]

Thats great! Sounds like you have a really smart kid there.