(February 16, 2016 at 6:37 pm)TrueChristian Wrote: This is an interesting philosophical quesition. Atheists/secularists pride themselves on being tolerant/openminded. This question may challenge that presumption.
Let's say you and your atheist spouse/signficant other raise a child. One day, when he/she is about 10-12 (or whatever age I guess) one day he/she comes to you and says "Mom/Dad, I know what I want to be. I want to be a Catholic priest/monk/nun. Im really sure it's what I want. Well?"
In some crazy hypothetical future, if your child expressed an interest in taking Catholic holy orders.. how would you respond?
Would you affirm atheist jr.'s calling, or try to talk them out of it, for their own prosperity/safety?
I would respond with laugh. Also being priest or monk does not require faith, it easily could be a job for those without decency or in second case for people who long for soltitude, or some measure of it in any case.
Seriously though. Why should I care? I get that this would be my child, but who I am to choose for him/her? Freedom of choice is something that I value, so it would be hypocritical of me to deny it to my own progeny.
The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.
Mikhail Bakunin.
Mikhail Bakunin.
