Letters to the Editor
-
This movie review got me thinking as did the two articles on it over at Slate ....
Dealing with outside influences and preparing your kids for the other people's ideas in all sorts of areas is part of parenting -- no different than dealing with the allure of drugs, alcohol, soul-less sex and dangerous driving practices.
I am an atheist. I think christian fundamentalism is a negative, intolerant social force. In my life time "Jesus Freaks" began evangelizing in great numbers in the late 1960's and -- though their sales tactics have changed and become more "mainstream" in appearance -- they've never let up.
Anyway, I can understand horror at the prospect of waking up to find your child has turned into a bible quoting, apocalypse anticipating fundie ... but some of you will ... and it's doubtful that a movie will trigger this conversions. Thankfully, for most it will be a phase (although vestiges may linger).
America has grown more outwardly "religious" and it is easy to feel assaulted, but I think the insidious influence of the evagelicals is -- in reality -- similar to that of other less than desirable social forces. Rather than movies, the biggest threat is likely to come from peers, relatives and neighbors. It requires very much the same parental awareness and "sane" informed parental response. Barring the doors and windows only increases the perception that these ideas have the power to scare the shit out of YOU ... maybe they do, but try not to over-react. Seriously.