Comments on: The Berenstain Bears are Christian http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/ by Hemant Mehta Mon, 28 May 2012 02:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Carol http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-835770 Carol Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:39:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-835770 I agree, I noticed quite some comments here that are hostile to the books, for "indoctrinating" children.  Those are just books, the books know it aims for young Christians, and the other Bears (secular) books knows that it aims for everyone.  No, non-religious may be more tolerant, but many of the secular users here somehow use "rationallity and intellectual" to be a mask to for hostility. I agree, I noticed quite some comments here that are hostile to the books, for “indoctrinating” children.  Those are just books, the books know it aims for young Christians, and the other Bears (secular) books knows that it aims for everyone. 

No, non-religious may be more tolerant, but many of the secular users here somehow use “rationallity and intellectual” to be a mask to for hostility.

]]> By: CarolC http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-835769 CarolC Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:35:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-835769 "cut out Non-Christians" Ummm, it's just some books, if you don't like the subjects, don't read, just enjoy their other books for everyone. “cut out Non-Christians”

Ummm, it’s just some books, if you don’t like the subjects, don’t read, just enjoy their other books for everyone.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-835726 Anonymous Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:47:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-835726 I'd like to point out that the "Platinum Rule" has two immediate problems. 1) People who follow it will end up being servants to those who don't. 2) People can claim that they wouldn't want to be offended, and it is your job to not say things that offend them. An example would be muslim fundamentalists saying that your speaking of the "prophet" Muhammad in less than worshipful terms would constitute offense, and you should therefore hold your tongue. I’d like to point out that the “Platinum Rule” has two immediate problems.
1) People who follow it will end up being servants to those who don’t.
2) People can claim that they wouldn’t want to be offended, and it is your job to not say things that offend them. An example would be muslim fundamentalists saying that your speaking of the “prophet” Muhammad in less than worshipful terms would constitute offense, and you should therefore hold your tongue.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-827259 Anonymous Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:12:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-827259 I remember seeing this at a bookstore and thought "they're getting them while they're young," That's some messed up Orwellian stuff right there. O.0 I remember seeing this at a bookstore and thought “they’re getting them while they’re young,” That’s some messed up Orwellian stuff right there. O.0

]]> By: Serena Jones http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-801731 Serena Jones Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:26:00 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-801731 This is, indeed, a surprise. This is, indeed, a surprise.

]]> By: Audrey http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-745367 Audrey Sat, 28 May 2011 01:51:06 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-745367 Susan B. Says: November 26th, 2008 at 10:43 am How is the Golden Rule Christian? Or even religious? The Golden Rule is Christian, because the bible says "Do unto others as you would have them done to you. It's the way Christ's love should be shown. That's where it comes from :) Also, i agree with Tiana, So what if the author connects his books with what he believes in? Children don't think about that. They love his books, that's what matters. It's a bonus that they're learning good morals coming from the bible. Susan B. Says:
November 26th, 2008 at 10:43 am
How is the Golden Rule Christian? Or even religious?

The Golden Rule is Christian, because the bible says “Do unto others as you would have them done to you. It’s the way Christ’s love should be shown. That’s where it comes from :)

Also, i agree with Tiana, So what if the author connects his books with what he believes in? Children don’t think about that. They love his books, that’s what matters. It’s a bonus that they’re learning good morals coming from the bible.

]]> By: Steve http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-727346 Steve Fri, 06 May 2011 04:46:14 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-727346 The problem is that they are indoctrinating children. Or at least helping parents to do so. Targeting religious books at adults is one thing. Filling the minds of impressionable kids with this crap is a whole different matter. They'll just eat it up without reflecting on it properly. You can teach your kids good behavior and morals without resorting to religion The problem is that they are indoctrinating children. Or at least helping parents to do so.

Targeting religious books at adults is one thing. Filling the minds of impressionable kids with this crap is a whole different matter. They’ll just eat it up without reflecting on it properly.

You can teach your kids good behavior and morals without resorting to religion

]]> By: Tiana http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-727332 Tiana Fri, 06 May 2011 03:45:30 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-727332 Everyone seems to be hating that the authors paralleled <b>their</b> own beliefs in <b>their</b> books. Wouldn't you? The authors are distributing books with a positive message. Why all the negative response? Not all Christians are the hateful lynch-mob that you all enjoy stereotyping to bolster your own bias. How would you like tasteless stereotypes depicting amoral atheists? Also, there is nothing wrong with homeschooling. The brief time I spent in public school was a depressing nightmare of mediocre education and half-hearted teaching. I know my kid will go either to a charter school or be home schooled. It's sad that so many people seem to think that folks of faith (which is a personal choice, as is one to be an atheist or Buddhist or Sufi or Sikh) are all picketers and warmongers and judgmental pricks. My family is made up of atheists, nondenominational Christians, Buddhists, and agnostics. We all love each other, as should all humans love one another. Maybe my parents just taught me to be more open-minded. Everyone seems to be hating that the authors paralleled their own beliefs in their books. Wouldn’t you? The authors are distributing books with a positive message. Why all the negative response?

Not all Christians are the hateful lynch-mob that you all enjoy stereotyping to bolster your own bias. How would you like tasteless stereotypes depicting amoral atheists?

Also, there is nothing wrong with homeschooling. The brief time I spent in public school was a depressing nightmare of mediocre education and half-hearted teaching. I know my kid will go either to a charter school or be home schooled.

It’s sad that so many people seem to think that folks of faith (which is a personal choice, as is one to be an atheist or Buddhist or Sufi or Sikh) are all picketers and warmongers and judgmental pricks. My family is made up of atheists, nondenominational Christians, Buddhists, and agnostics. We all love each other, as should all humans love one another.

Maybe my parents just taught me to be more open-minded.

]]> By: Maggie http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-601260 Maggie Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:09:14 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-601260 How about a few atheist versions of the books to balance things out? Like "The Berenstain Bears Kill Millions Through Marxist Social Engineering" or "The Berenstain Bears and the Agrarian Revolution: Death to the Intellectual Class." How about a few atheist versions of the books to balance things out? Like “The Berenstain Bears Kill Millions Through Marxist Social Engineering” or “The Berenstain Bears and the Agrarian Revolution: Death to the Intellectual Class.”

]]> By: Lomgi http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/11/26/the-berenstain-bears-are-christian/#comment-544100 Lomgi Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:26:32 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=6075#comment-544100 "I thought atheists were supposed to be more intellectual. And yet here they are crying because some children’s books show a different point of view than theirs. I thought it was religious people who can’t tolerate other views. After you’re done lamenting your sad childhoods and how it was all wrecked, maybe you should have an old fashioned book burning to make yourselves feel better. I see stupidity, intolerance, and most of all hypocrisy is not exclusive to the religious. Must just be a human condition." Sorry, but atheists don't publish books for children titled "God doesn't exist". “I thought atheists were supposed to be more intellectual. And yet here they are crying because some children’s books show a different point of view than theirs. I thought it was religious people who can’t tolerate other views. After you’re done lamenting your sad childhoods and how it was all wrecked, maybe you should have an old fashioned book burning to make yourselves feel better.

I see stupidity, intolerance, and most of all hypocrisy is not exclusive to the religious. Must just be a human condition.”

Sorry, but atheists don’t publish books for children titled “God doesn’t exist”.

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