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"‘Tonight, in the city of David, a Savior is born, 'tis Christ the Lord.'"

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church, which is, of course, quite a different thing."
-Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Placating terrorists, meeting with dictators, compassion for murderers... but no humanity for the unborn... incredible.
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Lauchlin Profile
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Registered: 07-2006
Posts: 389
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Re: The Golden Compass


It would seem I am being labeled as the perpetual devil's advocate *laughs softly*.

In all reality, I totally agree with what is being said here, for the most part. I hope no one is disappointed by this. I think my standpoint has been misconstrued a bit...

quote:

And I don't think it is reasonable for someone to argue as Lauchlin did that it is stifling creativity or over-protecting our children when we choose to keep some of these books and movies from them on the basis that they will end up ill-prepared in the future. I don't think that argument holds water.



With the statements I made in these matters, I have made it fairly clear that I am against censorship. HOWEVER, it is very important to expand on this. Children are very impressionable, and are in need of strict guidance when it comes to many things, both literary and literal.

I think we can all agree, though, that there comes a time when children get to an age where these freedoms must be afforded them, in growing measure over the years. In doing this, they slowly begin to make decisions, hopefully the right ones, for themselves. The stages of this progression are open for debate, but I would qualify it to say that the Harry Potter books were designeed as a 'one a year' set, beginning at age 12 (?). I thought the progression of maturity of the books was actually well done.

This being said, I would like to strongly stress my view that the best way of guiding a budding adult (in my opinion 12-13 years old) is in just this fashion - progressively allowing them to explore on their own. The proviso to this would be maintaining active dialogue, being involved in their interests and encouraging open discussion, guiding them that way.

As for before that stage, with what I am seeing in the world now, these things should be VERY tightly monitored. After all, far too many people sit their children in front of the idiot box, and allow them to watch movies FAR before they are prepared for the impacts. I can remember watching Gremlins at the age of 3 or 4 (vaguely).

I find great value in ensuring a person has the widest spectrum of information possible so that they can make the decision for themselves, as I think God must have intended, having given us free will - but many do abuse that privilege so often...

After all, until we saw the world from a wider perspective we thought it was flat. We thought the sun revolved around the earth, and that we were the central piece in the universal orbiting system, for that matter. Before we understood, to a degree, the nature of air and travel, we thought it impossible to travel faster than the speed of sound.

I guess the real question is, when do we make the decision to give our growing children, whether they be our own, our extended family or students, more information? When do we give them greater freedom to explore?

And without this freedom, how can they truly make a decision? If they do not explore, how can one know that this is what they believe, how can they truly make a choice if there is no other option given?

Tony,

I can see why people would feel that way about TPOTC... in all reality, I think that is one of those films, because of its graphic nature, that should be saved until the child is verging on adulthood.

But I think you are forgetting something very important about the atheist dilemma - to an atheist there can be nothing wrong with the DaVinci Code, because they do not believe the story in the first place, so cannot be misguided in their faith. To them it is a harmless story. As hard as it is to divide the two, without a belief in Christ, there is no controversy there, wouldn't you agree?

And as for removing God from the pledge of allegiance, it was only added to it about 50 years ago... as well, as a nation, allegiance must apply to all its constituents. If one does not believe in God, can they truly swear allegiance in that case...? I think that that is a matter of inclusion - that is just my uneducated opinion, though.

As well, beliefs that are different from ours are still beliefs. I know many atheists (some of them only professed atheists, one in particular that was converted through simple debate, back to Christ) and they do have strong views, strong beliefs on what is right and wrong. It is a strong system that, through study, I have broken down to community and interdependence. Again, uneducated study, but an interesting point nevertheless.

Either way, it is their choice to make, no matter how bad they are at making their points, and describing the true why as to their actions.

Phew... long winded one :P

Hope everyone is doing well,
Lauchlin
Dec/14/2007, 2:26 pm Link to this post Send Email to Lauchlin   Send PM to Lauchlin
 
Michael D Profile
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Registered: 09-2005
Posts: 2111
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Re: The Golden Compass


I do have to disagree with the atheist perspective on The DaVinci Code. The DaVinci Code is not just anti-Catholic or anti-Christian, it is anti-history. It's claims are so egregious that even an atheist who has studied history can be offended by it. If you don't believe me, follow this link.


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Nothing by force, but everything by charity.

Ss. Thomas Aquinas and Augustine, pray for us.
Dec/14/2007, 3:31 pm Link to this post Send Email to Michael D   Send PM to Michael D
 
nattyjk Profile
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Registered: 09-2005
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Re: The Golden Compass


Lauchlin, thank you for further explaining your point of view. I certainly did not get all of that from the post I initially responded to. At any rate, I think we also have to recognize that today, children are being afforded this freedom to choose and make decisions about certain things at an earlier and earlier age all the time. Sex education begins in kindergarten! Of course, ultimately it is the parents that are responsible for what their child knows and when s/he knows it, but this is what is going on today. Have you seen the clothing available in stores even for itty bitty girls??? Backless tops and short skirts, bikinis....it is madness!

One has to wonder what real "choice" some of these kids have when they get to the age where these decisions are handed over to them. By that time, their sense of morality is already warped. That's why I said you have to be aware that this desensitization happens over time and you have to pay attention BEFORE they get to that stage. As you suggested, tightly monitoring these things is what will help ensure that they are given the foundation we believe they should have to help them make good decisions later.

quote:

I guess the real question is, when do we make the decision to give our growing children, whether they be our own, our extended family or students, more information? When do we give them greater freedom to explore?


Well, from the parenting experience I have so far, I would say that it is going to depend on the individual child. I have 4 children, all come from the same two parents (that's good, huh? emoticon), and they are all different. They are all similar in some ways, and it has been really interesting to see each of them go through most of the same developmental milestones (like playing in my Tupperware cabinet at the same age emoticon), but some things just have to be dealt with in a different way. There will be differences between boys and girls as well.

For example, my oldest son, Joey, is more of a sensitive and contemplative child. When my grandfather died a few months ago, Joey had only seen him maybe a few times in his 8 years. He didn't really know him. But on the way home from the visitation, Joey started crying. Hard. "What's wrong, Joey?" I asked. He said, "I just wish he didn't die!" This went on for several minutes and I began to feel bad that I had taken him along. But after a little prodding, I got to the heart of the matter, which was that it made him think about the mortality of people that he really was close to. He's more like me. I think Alec is a little more matter-of-fact about things. Though he's only 4 1/2, I can imagine him dealing with a similar situation more like his dad would. Alec can be emotional, too, but not in the same way as Joey is. I think he will get upset and move on quite quickly without thinking too much about the bigger picture. After my grandpa's death, he asked me, "When will he come back alive?" Of course, this was the question of a 4-year-old that doesn't really understand the concept of death, but he asked it in such a matter-of-fact way and accepted the answer and moved right along. When I was his age and my great-grandmother died, my mom said that I woke up crying in the night for months afterwards. We'll see how he is in a few years, but I know that each of my children will need to be nurtured in different ways to get them all to the same place. We just have to be attentive to their individual abilities and needs and do the best that we can. As a Catholic, I will also look to the Church's teaching on certain matters and seek the advice of a priest if I get really stuck about something. And pray.

~ Natalie


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Holy cow, it's a girl!!!
Dec/15/2007, 11:58 am Link to this post Send Email to nattyjk   Send PM to nattyjk
 


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