I have a cousin; four years old. Last time I said the word "God" in front of her, she hid under the table, crying. I know several young children that have excercized fear when confronted with the subject of "God." And quite frankly, that's what they're teaching, anymore. I used to hear countless students admit to be "afraid" of God, while discussing religions in school. Now, after thinking about my cousin's reaction; hiding under the table, I'm wondering:
If God's so good, and God's so great, then why does "God" make kids afraid??
2007-10-04 15:07:25 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I made my cousin afraid?? A friend asked me whether another friend of ours has been having any luck in a bit of a spiritual crisis, and asked me what she believed in; I replied "God." How on earth did *I* scare my cousin??
2007-10-04 15:15:44 · update #1
Three reasons come to mind:
- Church for kids can be boring and, yes, scary. Especially at age four, if you are brought to a church where the minister's lecture puts you to sleep (and your parents berate you for it and tell you to be GOOD)...or is very scary because the God in that religion is a vengeful God...or the minister used a lot of big, important words a child found difficult to understand...or talked about many areas of the Old Testament that were "violent" like Cain and Abel...etc....it would be very reasonable for a child to be scared of God. Not because God is scary, not because that's what they've been taught, but because that's what their only exposure to God has been.
- The second is how people around them act about God. This can be anything from "Yes, your dad died, but he went to heaven to be with God, so it's okay" (scary 'cause God might want to take me too)....to "Be good now. I won't be there, but God is always watching you." (scary 'cause hello, peeping? and I might be in trouble even if Mom doesn't see it?)....innocuous or mostly so things that people don't realize at the time scared the child.
- There are also those people out there, ones who believe in God and ones who don't, that will deliberately scare a child about God, or not care if they realize they have. I'd like to think they are very, very few in number, and that most of the reasons children are afraid of God, if they are, have to do with misunderstandings, ignorance, etc.
2007-10-04 16:47:09 · answer #1 · answered by Hoosier Mom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God has created, is running, and will destroy the Universe. God is the Origin and Destination of the Universe. God was, is, will be everywhere, God was never Created and will never die / be destroyed. God is beyond Life and Death. All religions of world teach human way to get close to God. You give your Best, God will give thy Best. Ask God for help and forgive, God will help and forgive you. Pray; Worship and Thank God for everything. Remember wherever there is Happiness in Life, there will be Sorrow. To get Happiness, you must master Sorrow. For Success in Life; Believe in Self and God, Learn from Past, Concentrate in Present, Plan for Future. Have control on, be the master of, not the slave of your body, senses, and mind. Purpose of this Life is to Gain and Share utmost Knowledge and Experience to differentiate and choose Right, Good, God against Wrong, Bad, Devil. Set your Desire level perfect or OK to be brave, no low to be coward, no high to be cruel. You have rights of Survival, Self Defence, and Freedom.
2007-10-05 08:28:14 · answer #2 · answered by Ravi Lohia 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God is good and great, the thing is that some people go about it the wrong way when explain God to children....Children should be taught that God is there to help them and protect them not harm them!
2007-10-07 12:26:12 · answer #3 · answered by renee_0102 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's NOT GOD that makes kids afraid, it's people teaching kids wrong information ABOUT GOD.
Mark 10:13 Â And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 Â But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Â Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 Â And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
JESUS loves children!!! We are to be LIKE children in order to enter the Kingdom of GOD!
GOD bless
2007-10-04 22:16:31 · answer #4 · answered by Exodus 20:1-17 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that it is not God making kids afraid. It is probably the way it is taught to them. Sometimes for example they may take "God-fearing" literally. So, I don't think it is really God but the education. (sorry if I was kind of redundant)
2007-10-04 22:13:26 · answer #5 · answered by a nonny mouse 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe it the places that they are learning about GOD!
Most (90%) of the churches are so worried about the end times that they have forgotten that Jesus was about love and forgiveness and that GOD dosn't want to destroy us but for us to love and worship him and to humble ourselves before him.
If you ask anyone thats a christian on this forum they will tell you that they are living to die. That when they choose Jesus as there saviour that all fun stoped for them.Those are the christians that go to a church that has a F***ED up docturine. I choose living to live and I know of Jesus' good news that as long as i have him in my heart and have confessed my sins i will be counted with his sheep on the day of judgement. you need to tell your aunt or uncle that they really need to explain GOD and JESUS to your cousin
GOD is LOVE and JESUS SAVES
2007-10-04 22:26:08 · answer #6 · answered by R B 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God doesn't. Dimwitted adult humans do by presenting a perversion of God to the children.
2007-10-04 22:19:36 · answer #7 · answered by Hoosier Daddy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God does not make children afraid.
Evil people who don't know God, lie to children and make them afraid.
One the earliest songs I can remember goes like this:
Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak but He is Strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Pastor Art
2007-10-04 22:16:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That level of fear is taught. Question is, what reasonable thinking person would do that?
2007-10-04 22:12:42 · answer #9 · answered by Green is my Favorite Color 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
GOD doesn't make kids afraid.
It sounds to me like you were the one who scared your cousin.
Since you don't believe in HIM, why blame HIM for something you did?
Quite illogical, wouldn't you agree?
2007-10-04 22:13:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋