MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin

> IIRC, you're a fellow atheist like myself. A lot of atheists don't want their kids
> beliving in things that don't exist like Santa in this case.

Yeah, some people need to get a grip.

> I on the other hand think it's a GOOD thing for my daughters to believe in Santa at
> least for now, so that as they get older they'll start to question the validity of
> the legend and they'll piece together why it doesn't make sense. This will be a
> springboard for them to think about other legends and fables and question things in a
> search for truth.

When it comes to fantasy and magical thinking I have no problem in my son believing some things that don't exist are real. Like you say most of us eventually work out what is real and what isn't based on evidence. However, that only works if you don't have someone telling you what to think from childhood regardless of any evidence and telling you if you don't believe it you are bad and will suffer the consequences. That shit is hard to ignore even when you are old enough to know its nonsense I know my wife has trouble with it after being raised in a strict Catholic family. Thankfuly I was raised much as I raise my son learning about religion but not forced to believe.

> Slightly off-topic: I've been reading Richard Dawkins newest book The Magic Of
> Reality - How We Know What's Really True and it's excellent. Dawkins will first
> present several myths and stories (not just Christian stories BTW) of how things are
> or came to be like rainbows, earthquakes, the sun, etc. and then details the
> scientific explanation for the same. The book is about finding the wonder and
> amazement in discovering seemingly everyday things scientifically instead of using
> myths and legends to explain it all.

I've seen it on the shelves, yet to read it. Contrary to popular belief I have only read two Dawkins books, it looks like a good book for someone with kids to help explain the world around us.

There is no sin except stupidity.