I asked this yesterday when Y/A had a "technical glitch" that caused the actual posting of all questions to be delayed by about half an hour, so I am asking again. I am prepared for some ridicule (hopefully I won't get too much)!
Here is the thought that I am currently wondering: Many Western parents (not I!) encourage their children to believe in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, etc. Do you suppose that continual let-down during childhood might lead to cynicism, which might lead to a lack of faith in God?
2007-01-12 13:35:46 · 17 answers · asked by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You may have a point.
A study last year in Cognitive Development showed that children know at a young age the difference between adults' claims that there are things like germs and adults' claims that there are things like gods. At a surprisingly young age children are aware that parents are making up fantasy stories when they insist that "god is real". The authors of the study suggest a "he doth protest too much" explanation, pointing out that adults make a lot of special effort to pretend to truly believe in gods, and those efforts simply aren't convincing enough to fool the children.
2007-01-12 13:39:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, I figured it out about the same time as I figured out about Santa. I was quite sure about both before anyone told me for sure. But I really don't think that one led to the other.
I am not a believer because the story sounded about as believable as Santa to me. I might have made the jumped a little sooner because I had a model to compare, but I am certain I would have arrived there anyhow. I read the Bible and all that after my decision but that only sealed it.
2007-01-12 13:47:26 · answer #2 · answered by Alex 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that that happens in some people.
I actually believed in Santa Claus, et al., even though I thought the god stuff was fairy stories, like the ones about the Three Little Pigs. I don't think I'm terribly cynical, though...
2007-01-12 13:39:16 · answer #3 · answered by N 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well a cognitive rational mind would deduce that God doesn't really exist but parents like the control so my answer would have to be yes a cynical mind would have to be concluded off the parents use of interpretations.
2007-01-12 13:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe in a few cases. But I think most people who have dropped Christianity have done so because of its merits (or lack thereof) not because of Santa and the Easter bunny.
EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT
Is there anybody who has answered yes to this question who actually left Christianity and speaks from personal experience? Or are you just projecting your opinions onto the actions of others?
2007-01-12 13:39:52 · answer #5 · answered by mullah robertson 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's been shown not to clinically. No matter how much you lie to a child, they will assume that the next thing you say is the truth. So finding out that there's no Santa doesn't immediatly make them think there's no god either. But it should.
2007-01-12 13:40:33 · answer #6 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on whether the child is raised to believe in God. A child raised in an unbelieving household will be more likely to equate religion with fantasy than a child who grows up attending religious services.
2007-01-12 13:42:45 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I stopped believing that God existed when I was six years old. I hung onto the rest of the fantasies a while longer, because they were more appealing. It isn't about disillusionment, it's about the way your mind works. A more skeptical thinker is less likely to believe in that which cannot be proven.
2007-01-12 13:40:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, and I support it all the way! Should a man truly care if god exists? No, because any real god would want his creations to live their life happily without fear of him. Scientists, when studying mice, want no interaction at all between the men and the mice.
2007-01-12 13:40:10 · answer #9 · answered by Ghost Wolf 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Um..... atheism isn't about cynicism.
I wasn't angry and disillusioned when I found out that the toothfairy wasn't real. I actually felt rather clever and lucky to know the truth. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was my parents so one day before we went into a restaurant, I asked my Dad. He took me aside so that my younger siblings wouldn't hear and told me that I'd figured it out.
I felt SO proud of myself. I wasn't disappointed. I mean, thinking about it NOW, I wish that they hadn't told me those silly worthless tales, but when I actually found out, I was so happy to know the truth.
I'm STILL happy to know the truth. Atheism isn't about anger, it's not about pessimism, it isn't about cynicism. It's about a simple recognition and acknowledgment of reality.
2007-01-12 13:42:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋