I hate environmentalists

"Peter Irwin" wrote in message
...
Dudley Hanks wrote:


Stories like the one where Jesus cast demons from the inflicted into a
herd
of swine which then commits hogacide?

Not at five years old, no. The story would be incomprehensible to
any young child.

Or, the one where Cain killed his brother and was marked for life?

Possible to tell someone somewhat older than five, perhaps nine or so.
One has to understand what killing is; very few five year olds in
peaceful societies do - they have almost certainly seen killings
depicted on TV, but the grim reality is usually not something they
comprehend. It's a good story for older children and adults who need
to know that crimes don't have to be avenged or punished.

Or, the one where God killed EVERYTHING, except Noah and his family,
because
they were the only good people left?

People do tell young children this story. I think it is mostly for
its story value. I think it was mostly told for the big boat, the animals,
the rain and flood, the raven, the dove and the rainbow. The bit about
everyone else dying was never really emphasized when I heard the story
as a kid.

Or, the one where he levelled Sodom and Gomorrah because gays lived
there?
(Forgetting the part about the rapists and murderers?)

That isn't actually what the story is about. A look at a good scholarly
commentary is in order. I sure didn't get told this story when I was
little.

Or, the one where David slew Goliath because God was on his side?

People do tell this story to children. It is a great story.

Or, the one about Jesus coming back with his angelic troops to cast
anyone
who doesn't believe into a Lake of Fire?

Not to children -no.


a
And, let's not forget all those Bible songs the kids learn, like the one
that goes:

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho.
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, and the walls came a tumbling
down...

A cheerful little ditty that says so much about God's love. Would you
not
agree?

This one also is popular because of its story value.

Yeah, they don't have much impact on the young, at all...

It certainly seems to me that the bible stories that do get told
to young children are told for they story value and aren't that
much different from Jack and the beanstalk, Cinderella or the
Big Bad Wolf.

Peter.
--



It would appear that you and I went to different churches when we were kids,
and probably know different christians at the present date.

You say it's "story value," and those stories just happen to have more
sinister elements that the kids don't pick up on. I think you understate
the impact...

Take Care,
Dudley