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I love my three nieces very much. I am somewhere between agnostic and atheist on religious views. Their Mom, who is soon to be my ex SIL, is Christian. So my niece runs up and says let's read a book on Jesus. What do you do with that?
I figured be congruent and stick with what she is teaching. How can I say no to my lovely little nieces?
Read the book. The book has nothing to do with your religious beliefs, it's just a book for you, and time with your neice. End of story. Just like people don't want to be badgered with a ton of religious rhetoric they also don't want to be badgered with a ton of anti-religious rhetoric. Just read the book. No big deal.
I love my three nieces very much. I am somewhere between agnostic and atheist on religious views. Their Mom, who is soon to be my ex SIL, is Christian. So my niece runs up and says let's read a book on Jesus. What do you do with that?
I figured be congruent and stick with what she is teaching. How can I say no to my lovely little nieces?
Your thoughts?
I think that unless you believe her teachings are harmful, there is no problem with reading any type of story. Most mainstream, religious stories for children are not harmful. If it makes you uncomfortable, I don't see anything wrong with suggesting something else either. What you don't want to do, if you value the time spent with your nieces, is say anything derogatory regarding her faith or how she's raising her children.
Thanks good advice. One more thing. At one point while reading, my oldest niece asked me about Jesus. I am think oh boy here we go. I have never raised kids so I figured go with what I have heard " what does your Mom think about Jesus " boy that was a 10 minute discussion. I just let her talk, she is super cute and a bit precocious. After the 10 minutes I switched to a discussion of sponge Bob LOL and that seemed to work.
Thanks good advice. One more thing. At one point while reading, my oldest niece asked me about Jesus. I am think oh boy here we go. I have never raised kids so I figured go with what I have heard " what does your Mom think about Jesus " boy that was a 10 minute discussion. I just let her talk, she is super cute and a bit precocious. After the 10 minutes I switched to a discussion of sponge Bob LOL and that seemed to work.
I think that unless you believe her teachings are harmful, there is no problem with reading any type of story. Most mainstream, religious stories for children are not harmful. If it makes you uncomfortable, I don't see anything wrong with suggesting something else either. What you don't want to do, if you value the time spent with your nieces, is say anything derogatory regarding her faith or how she's raising her children.
You've gotten great advice already. I would just add - don't over think it. Kids don't have any agendas. They just want to spend time with you and reading books together is a great way to do that.
I think changing the subject when asked questions you aren't comfortable with answering is a great way to handle things.
I love my three nieces very much. I am somewhere between agnostic and atheist on religious views. Their Mom, who is soon to be my ex SIL, is Christian. So my niece runs up and says let's read a book on Jesus. What do you do with that?
I figured be congruent and stick with what she is teaching. How can I say no to my lovely little nieces?
Your thoughts?
I'd avoid it and try to change the subject to something more like "Let's read a book on [some science topic that is appropriate for her age]".
Do something athletic like shooting hoops or kicking a soccer ball.
"I don't feel like it right now but check this out, tonight at 8:43 PM we will be able to see the Space Station orbiting by from the northeast to the southwest. Let's check it out on the internet and get ready to look up into the sky tonight."
(By the way, you can check out visible satellites using the Heavens Above website. Very cool, especially Iridium Flares. Heavens-Above Home Page)
Show her something using a microscope.
Show her some fun math riddles (Two boys who each weigh 100 pounds and their dad who weighs 200 pounds must cross a river using a boat which only holds 200 pounds. Nobody can get wet. How do they do it?)
Interface with her. Ask her about her friends. Anything, anything but religion. Anything.
I'd rather have kids watch soft core porn than go to church.
It is a big deal to the extent that by reading it with her it would probably help validate the book in her mind.
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