Real-life dialogue with a 3-year-old
Wednesday March 7, 2007
As reported by my correspondent, calling from the minivan:"Why you got married?""Because I love Daddy and wanted to be with him forever.""Why I wasn't there?" -- gets teary -- "Why I wasn't invited.""Because you weren't here yet.""Was I staying with...
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About Crunchy Con
Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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I guess one could always take the tack of telling the child he *was* there, he just doesn't remember. :)
Telling an innocent child he was with God in heaven before he was born! That's the heresy of Origenism, which taught the pre-existence of souls! I say "Burn her at the stake!" (Sorry. Too much caffeine.) Cute story. :)
"I say "Burn her at the stake!"" But Mark! That would be intrinsically evil! (Unless, of course, you're a lawful authority carrying out a just sentence of death, in which case it's fine.) :) And Rod, I think the "twinkle in your father's eye" line not only avoids the heresy of Origenism, but will also either appeal sufficiently to the child's imagination, or completely confuse him. Either of these are the only ways I know of to stop a three-year-old on a "Why?" bender.
Our answer to this frequent line of questioning is, "Honey, you were in God's imagination then."
It works for them (and us, end of questioning!). Luci
I will inform my correspondent that she must repent of Origenism. Something tells me that she was not conscious of it, but rather had to come up with a good story very quickly.
"Telling an innocent child he was with God in heaven before he was born! That's the heresy of Origenism, which taught the pre-existence of souls!" Or perfectly legitimate Mormon doctrine. (As is the fairly literal "be with him forever" bit.) Tell your wife, Rod, that if she's curious I can contact a couple of people who'd be happy to drop off some reading material for her...
My son asked my wife the same thing and she had the same answer (she also wasn't a religion major and the answer seemed better than throwing a 3-year-old into an existential crisis.)
My son, however, then said, "Did God give me lots of hugs?"
Easing a child's mind by proclaiming heresy can have only a deleterious effect. Ideas have consequences. WWWS? (what would Weaver say?) ;-)
What ever happened to the truth? Are kids not deemed worthy to hear it anymore?
Sense of humor, please.
From the likes of YOU Rod? We'll appreciate it when we see one.
Lord, did C&C get a degree in eternal ankle biting?
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