escaping the Mormons

[IamAwake]

I have often wondered about the best way to approach the subject with children. I don't have any of my own, but my six year old nephew did ask me while we were walking one day why God made the sky blue. I told him I didn't know that he did, and that I had never seen him and didn't think he was even real at all. I could just see the little wheels spinning in his mind as he thought that over. He told his mom, my sister, and she said "of course she believes in God! she was just playing with you!" and told me never to tell him that again. I told her that he deserved to know that people think different things, but she said to let her raise him her way.. blah blah blah... anyway, I still wouldn't lie. I have been afraid before that I'd have a kid that has a rebellious streak and turns religious! But seeing your happiness in seeing your kids come to their own conclusions makes me think differently about it. I guess independent thought is really the most valuable and satisfying thing you can teach. If only there were a way to make sure every kid could have that chance! I have yet to come up with a workable idea to protect kids from parents who will mold their poor little minds with religion as a heavy influence. The best idea I've had so far is a mandatory class about the history of the religions of the world. But it must include philosophy and all of the popular religions, at least. I know everyone would be in a big upset over how this one or that one is portrayed, and everyone would want to be able to opt out, so I don't consider it a really good possibility. Perhaps if the class was respected as a standard subject for high schoolers it would have some success.