Background
To see the list of subjects to be
discussed in this series see blog (Christianity – Is it a Faith Driven by
Fear?) in that blog is a reference and in that reference is a list which is the
springboard from which this subject will be discussed.
Another Failed
Attempt at Disproving the Veracity of Christianity
This argument against Christianity is
founded upon the notion that the education of children by Christians is in fact
preying upon young minds through terrorizing and fear-mongering. It
suggests that Christians actually enslave children with fear and thus control
and co-opt young minds before they are old enough to defend against being
manipulated by fear.
Preying People
Who can argue with the notion that
there are people who exhibit various forms of predatory behavior? Preying
on others for some people is a way of life. Certainly of late the media
has focused upon the predatory actions of those who are in positions of
trust. However, just as one cannot paint all clergy as sexual perverts
because of the behavior of a few, so too one cannot paint all people of faith
as seeking to prey on young minds.
In fact, to label all because of a few
or even many, is libelous, inaccurate, illogical, unfair, and without
merit. Such a position is not even defensible when viewed
historically. It is another failed attempt to discredit Christianity by
those of such agendas. The facts tell a much different story!
Low View of
Children
Too, such a position takes a very low
view of children. It suggests that children are divorced from their
parents. Of course while it may be true of some it is certainly not true
of the whole. After all, where do most children run with their fears and
concerns? Of course they run to the sheltering arms of a caring mother.
What is the
purpose?
Then comes the question of
purpose. Were one to look in the heart of hearts of those who have served
children over the last 2,000 years they would discover a trend or two.
Found would be compassionate
caring. These are those who heard Christ’s call, "Don't prohibit the
children from coming to Me..." These are those who were and are a reflection
of their leader, the Lord, Jesus Christ. They were and are nurturing and
continually seeking the well being of children in their tutelage and care.
Sacrificial Service
in Places of Great Peril
There are those who served and serve today, often at great
personal sacrifice and peril. Even now at risk of
their own lives, they sacrifice the luxuries and securities of home in order to go to dangerous places in order to rescue
children from sex trafficking. Such rescue involves training and that training is not limited to religious matters. Such suggestion as prompts this post
as much as says these heroes rescue a child from one bondage in order to enslave in another.
Incredible.
The Reality of
History
 |
| Deaf Education |
Those who seek to discredit the
veracity of Christianity with their wild accusations of darkening the early
years generation after generation do at least one thing. They demonstrate their own darkened ignorance
of history.
The truth is that Christians have done
more to educate the masses than any other movement. They gave to the
world equal education for both sexes, universal education, education for the
deaf, education for the blind, and yes, Sunday school.[1]
That all of these are for the purposes of preying on children’s minds is
ludicrous.
 |
| Painting of Robert Raikes in Sooty Alley |
An example is one Robert Raikes
(1735-1811) who started what is today the Sunday School movement. What
was it? Quite simply he gathered the children of the chimney sweeps in
Sooty Alley, Gloucester (opposite the city prison)…teaching the Bible and basic
skills.[2] Notice
that included in his training was basic skills and as any prudent person knows,
training opens the doors to freedom.
The Real
Abuser of Children
 |
| Hanoi Communist Soldier Kids |
Another inaccurate criticism is that
the education of children ranks as one of Christianities greatest crimes.
Of course to make such a statement steers the discussion away from the outcomes
of being raised with an amoral, secular view of life. The outcomes for
such a person are much more dire than being raised in the reality of decisions
and behaviors have consequences! Just because this is taught in the religious
realm does nothing to challenge the truth nor invalidate Christianity.
Were you
there?
As is typical of this kind of
criticism, it is all too easy to take great liberties in making assertions
instead of doing research to find out the truth of a particular question.
Such a person is colored by his biases and thus his scholarship is a bit on the
sleazy side.
The reality of the truth
weighed against one’s speculations will always leave speculations as
wanting. So too this argument against Christianity.
[1]
Schmidt, Alvin How Christianity
Changed the World
[2] http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-raikes.htm
