Do you believe in God? - Page 5

wendybeth · 09-05-2006, 10:57 PM

Tori has a book that explains why kids sometimes see someone they love putting money under their pillow instead of the tooth fairy. The answer is that the tooth fairy takes on a guise most familiar and loved to the child, so the child isn't afraid if they see them.

Maybe that is God's M.O. as well.

Alex · 09-06-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Tori has a book that explains why kids sometimes see someone they love putting money under their pillow instead of the tooth fairy. The answer is that the tooth fairy takes on a guise most familiar and loved to the child, so the child isn't afraid if they see them.

Maybe that is God's M.O. as well.

And when the kid learns that the whole thing about the tooth fairy was an elaborate lie, wouldn't that tend to suggest the same thing for god as well?

Frogberto · 09-06-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I believe in my version of God but feel that all other versions are simply views of the same God. This also reminds me that I don't put absolutes on my beliefs - like others have said here, I could be wrong. But I feel like I'm close...

I think there's a well intentioned belief that we're all speaking about the same God. But since most religions in world history have been poly-deistic, with more than one equal God, and since there are major conflicts between the religions as to the qualities of "God", or the practice of worshipping God, or even the role of women, or majorly, the direction of the human race, I think this notion falls apart at some point, unfortunately.

lashbear · 09-05-2006, 07:34 PM

I believe in God, and I have the feeling God believes in me.

Gemini Cricket · 09-05-2006, 09:31 PM

My answer: I don't know. But I don't feel lost not knowing. It's just something I'm not sure of and that's fine with me.

LSPoorEeyorick · 09-06-2006, 09:23 AM

But it isn't a lie, per se. The tooth fairy does take the guise of the most familiar and loved to the child. The parent IS the tooth fairy.

And I find God mostly in the people around me.

LSPoorEeyorick · 09-06-2006, 09:31 AM

I was sad momentarily. I cried. But then I was grateful and sort of shocked by how my whole family had rallied around to create magic for me.

katiesue · 09-06-2006, 10:22 AM

I don't remember being crushed when I found out the tooth fairy/Santa wern't real. In fact at our house if you didn't "believe" then they didn't come. So it was kind of a game to keep up showing that you didn't know the truth, otherwise no gifties for you.

Back to the topic. I do belive there is something greater out there. I'm not particuarlly religious though. I do go to church, but only because my daughter is in Chorristers. I like the ceremony, it's kind of comforting. Although more so if people wouldn't chat, turn off their cell phones, and quit writing checks during quiet moments. And if you can't keep your kid quiet put them in the nursery, that's what it's there for. Geeze.

My family was kind of eclectic with religion. My Dad who knows what he belived but only went to church under duress. His family all went to a more fundamental church, "holy rollers" as he called them. My Mom's family were always Episcopalian. So we went to the Episcopal church. But they had no Sunday school so we went to First Babtist for that. My parents wern't pushy with religion. They taught us that religious beliefs were personal and exposed us to many different churches. We could make up our own minds what worked for us.

wendybeth · 09-06-2006, 10:32 AM

I was devastated when I found out the truth about the tooth fairy. It ruined my life. That's when I started smoking and drinking and attending monster truck rallies. It's the reason I became a hairdresser instead of a brain surgeon.

Thank goodness there really is a Santa Claus. I love my Santa gifts!*

*Actually, what Katiesue said-in our family, those who express disbelief stop getting the really cool presents.

Alex · 09-06-2006, 11:16 AM

Wow. I don't really understand the desire parents have to create fictions and trick their children into believing them (and then say it is all about creating "magic") but I don't really care that they do and don't think it is harmful.

But to punish the children for figuring out the reality of the situation. That just seems mean.

I don't really remember learning that Santa Claus wasn't real (I don't believe my family put any effort into maintaining the reality of the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny). But I do know that the year I was six I helped my mom fill the stockings and put out the presents while my sisters slept so I must have figured it out before then.

And then we took up with the Jehovah's Witnesses before my sisters were old enough to figure it out on their own. I have no idea how that was handled, or if it even was explicitly.

09-05-2006, 10:57 PM	#1
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Tori has a book that explains why kids sometimes see someone they love putting money under their pillow instead of the tooth fairy. The answer is that the tooth fairy takes on a guise most familiar and loved to the child, so the child isn't afraid if they see them. Maybe that is God's M.O. as well. __________________
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09-05-2006, 07:34 PM	#4
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	I believe in God, and I have the feeling God believes in me. __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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09-05-2006, 09:31 PM	#5
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	My answer: I don't know. But I don't feel lost not knowing. It's just something I'm not sure of and that's fine with me.
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09-06-2006, 09:23 AM	#6
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	But it isn't a lie, per se. The tooth fairy does take the guise of the most familiar and loved to the child. The parent IS the tooth fairy. And I find God mostly in the people around me.
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09-06-2006, 09:31 AM	#7
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	I was sad momentarily. I cried. But then I was grateful and sort of shocked by how my whole family had rallied around to create magic for me.
	Submit to Quotes

09-06-2006, 10:22 AM	#8
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	I don't remember being crushed when I found out the tooth fairy/Santa wern't real. In fact at our house if you didn't "believe" then they didn't come. So it was kind of a game to keep up showing that you didn't know the truth, otherwise no gifties for you. Back to the topic. I do belive there is something greater out there. I'm not particuarlly religious though. I do go to church, but only because my daughter is in Chorristers. I like the ceremony, it's kind of comforting. Although more so if people wouldn't chat, turn off their cell phones, and quit writing checks during quiet moments. And if you can't keep your kid quiet put them in the nursery, that's what it's there for. Geeze. My family was kind of eclectic with religion. My Dad who knows what he belived but only went to church under duress. His family all went to a more fundamental church, "holy rollers" as he called them. My Mom's family were always Episcopalian. So we went to the Episcopal church. But they had no Sunday school so we went to First Babtist for that. My parents wern't pushy with religion. They taught us that religious beliefs were personal and exposed us to many different churches. We could make up our own minds what worked for us. __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
	Submit to Quotes

09-06-2006, 10:32 AM	#9
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	I was devastated when I found out the truth about the tooth fairy. It ruined my life. That's when I started smoking and drinking and attending monster truck rallies. It's the reason I became a hairdresser instead of a brain surgeon. Thank goodness there really is a Santa Claus. I love my Santa gifts!* *Actually, what Katiesue said-in our family, those who express disbelief stop getting the really cool presents. __________________
	Submit to Quotes

09-06-2006, 11:16 AM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Wow. I don't really understand the desire parents have to create fictions and trick their children into believing them (and then say it is all about creating "magic") but I don't really care that they do and don't think it is harmful. But to punish the children for figuring out the reality of the situation. That just seems mean. I don't really remember learning that Santa Claus wasn't real (I don't believe my family put any effort into maintaining the reality of the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny). But I do know that the year I was six I helped my mom fill the stockings and put out the presents while my sisters slept so I must have figured it out before then. And then we took up with the Jehovah's Witnesses before my sisters were old enough to figure it out on their own. I have no idea how that was handled, or if it even was explicitly.
	Submit to Quotes