So one of my My Mother-In-Law's friends gave my wife a children's book called "God Loves YOU" for our 9 month old girl. (That's How Much God Loves You!" Chris Shea (HarperFestival April 29, 2008)). My wife never mentioned it, but instead, just put it into my 9 month old's book shelf.

I happened to be playing on the floor with her last week and "GOD" jumped out at me from the book shelf. What the fuck is that?" So, to make a long story short, our very long conversation went something like this:

Me: "i DON"T want that in her room!"
Her: "Why not? Do you think its going to make her believe in god?"
Me: "Seriously? You want this shit in her room?"
Her: "Well, its part of the world she will soon be in, I don't think censoring her little library is the way to go there; but rather, when she's old enough and asks 'whats this' we can explain that some people believe......?"

Now, I was pretty heated about the whole thing and probably could have handled it better, because in retrospect I think that she makes a point at least worth thinking on. Now, I've thought on it and I have to agree, banning books is probably not the best thing.

YOUR THOUGHTS?? Should I leave it for her to find when she is older and ask about? Or, does she get enough exposure (I live in the USA; Kentucky of all places) and pressure from society as it is? (Or some other point, please.)

I wouldn't worry my arse about it. Just make sure that there are plenty of more interesting books around for her when she can read.

No, don't ban it, but for balance you should have "Allah loves YOU" next to it...
...and "Vishnu loves YOU"...
...and "Zeus loves YOU"...
...and "Thor loves YOU"...
Etc.
Edit: and... "There's no god, but Mummy and Daddy loves YOU."

Just put a note on it that says "God is a ficitonal character that most of the world believes is real despite the zero evidence there is" and also get many dinosaur children's books.

I wouldn't worry about it either. Given the choice she'd more likely read How to Train Your Dragon or A Bit Lost than God Loves You. Dragons and lost owls are cooler than God.

I think "banning" books on religion / religious topics would eventually, when she views it in retrospect once old enough to reflect on it, make her question that very strict line and see it as a peculiar and controlling and even insecure practice.
Better to let her read whatever and form a reflected opinion for herself when that time comes IMO.

campermon wrote:I wouldn't worry my arse about it. Just make sure that there are plenty of more interesting books around for her when she can read.

I hear ya. It does worry me, I think of it as a shit stain on a perfectly sterile white carpet!

BlackBart wrote:No, don't ban it, but for balance you should have "Allah loves YOU" next to it...
...and "Vishnu loves YOU"...
...and "Zeus loves YOU"...
...and "Thor loves YOU"...
Etc.
Edit: and... "There's no god, but Mummy and Daddy loves YOU."

Funny, my 2 yr old has a book n his room that was my wife's when she was young "The Little Book of Prayers." I thought about this book when he was first born, it didn't bother me cause it was more a secular type book of sayings. It encompassed just about all religions, even some Native AMerican sayings. But this book we are talking about is completely different, it isn't a book of sayings. It is nonsense claims that God exists and that He loves you.

dalv8409 wrote:Just put a note on it that says "God is a ficitonal character that most of the world believes is real despite the zero evidence there is" and also get many dinosaur children's books.

Yea all about the dino books and stuff, my two year old loves his planetarium and astronomy books! As to the note, it makes me think of the Evolution disclaimers in Texas and the like...Ha! But I don't think I would do that, instead I think I would approach it in conversation. THanks!

John P. M. wrote:I think "banning" books on religion / religious topics would eventually, when she views it in retrospect once old enough to reflect on it, make her question that very strict line and see it as a peculiar and controlling and even insecure practice.
Better to let her read whatever and form a reflected opinion for herself when that time comes IMO.

Damn! You sound like my wife! No no, seriously, I think its a good point. It is her point in fact and I tend to agree now that I have cooled off.....You know what that means.....I have to admit I was wrong and agree with her, that sucks!

Just file it under fiction.

HughMcB wrote:Just file it under fiction.

Well, interesting you say that. As I noted the conversation between my wife and I was hours longer than the short snip I provided to get the point across. This was in fact another point she made:

"Its no different than a book on fairies or dragons."

It is though, its more than just fiction. Maybe to you and I its obvious fiction, but this god concept, at least in Kentucky, is not "just fiction" its what everyone around here believes in. So I can liken it to Harry Potter, but thats not what it is...it is more.

FRAP38 wrote:

HughMcB wrote:Just file it under fiction.

Well, interesting you say that. As I noted the conversation between my wife and I was hours longer than the short snip I provided to get the point across. This was in fact another point she made:

"Its no different than a book on fairies or dragons."

It is though, its more than just fiction. Maybe to you and I its obvious fiction, but this god concept, at least in Kentucky, is not "just fiction" its what everyone around here believes in. So I can liken it to Harry Potter, but thats not what it is...it is more.

It's no different in that god, fairies and dragons are all fictional.

It is different in that it's probably written in the second person, whereas storybooks about dragons, fairies, et al, tend to be in the third person. That makes it a significantly different reading experience. Harold the dragon loves his pal Fred. But this book tells the reader - you, the reader - that god loves you.

I have a 4 year old who has never been introduced to religion of any kind, I like it that way. Hopefully when she does start to hear about it it'll confuse her which will force her to question us, as she does. At that point she'll be told the old "well some people believe", and she'll see how unnecessary it is.

orpheus wrote:

FRAP38 wrote:

HughMcB wrote:Just file it under fiction.

Well, interesting you say that. As I noted the conversation between my wife and I was hours longer than the short snip I provided to get the point across. This was in fact another point she made:

"Its no different than a book on fairies or dragons."

It is though, its more than just fiction. Maybe to you and I its obvious fiction, but this god concept, at least in Kentucky, is not "just fiction" its what everyone around here believes in. So I can liken it to Harry Potter, but thats not what it is...it is more.

It's no different in that god, fairies and dragons are all fictional.

It is different in that it's probably written in the second person, whereas storybooks about dragons, fairies, et al, tend to be in the third person. That makes it a significantly different reading experience. Harold the dragon loves his pal Fred. But this book tells the reader - you, the reader - that god loves you.

Great POint!

Paula wrote:I have a 4 year old who has never been introduced to religion of any kind, I like it that way. Hopefully when she does start to hear about it it'll confuse her which will force her to question us, as she does. At that point she'll be told the old "well some people believe", and she'll see how unnecessary it is.

So Paula, if I may? Would you say you would take it out of her room? If you were in my situation.

FRAP38 wrote:

Paula wrote:I have a 4 year old who has never been introduced to religion of any kind, I like it that way. Hopefully when she does start to hear about it it'll confuse her which will force her to question us, as she does. At that point she'll be told the old "well some people believe", and she'll see how unnecessary it is.

So Paula, if I may? Would you say you would take it out of her room? If you were in my situation.

Yes I would, Orpheus makes a great point above about this book being directed at your child. Also, while I understand that your partner has a point about religion being a big part of the world, I don't want to exaggerate it's importance, I want it to be an irrelevance in her life. Something others believe but of no real importance. Obviously as she grows we'll give her information as she requests it but that's not necessary just now.

Her: "Well, its part of the world she will soon be in, I don't think censoring her little library is the way to go there; but rather, when she's old enough and asks 'whats this' we can explain that some people believe......?"

It sounds like her argument could be used to justify placing amateur porn on the shelf as well.

It should of course be okay to have books about other religions as well. I imagine this book is based on Christianity. Put some in there about other religions even those contrary to Christianity. Maybe even a book that explains that god loves her so much that he is willing to torture her in agonizing fire for all eternity for simply not believing that a savior two thousand years ago died for all of humanity's sins. Or another that tells her that another god loves her so much that he is willing to torture her in agonizing fire for all eternity for simply not accepting the divine word given to Mohammed (so I've heard some Muslims branches of Islam believe).

How does the book read anyway? Give us a few lines and let's see what dross it brings up.

Ahhh maybe this one eh?