Every baby born seems to have a giant helping of fairy stories, talking animals, outrageous exaggerations parading as "fact" and an endless stream of cartoons, science fiction and make-believe. The laws of nature and physics are violated every few seconds in film and tv! Is it surprising that children are not only ignorant of HOW THINGS REALLY WORK-but, they don't have patience and an appetite for fact when they get to the schoolroom. This certainly affects how they will react when they meet a religious salesman out to land a convert!
People don't seem to mind starting out with the premise that has already smuggled God into the picture! After all, how many children get to begin life without being exposed to every kind of fantastic story? We pour fiction into a child's mind and they develop the sweet taste of it. Is it any wonder the concept of God is so readily grasped and held deep inside?
When a Jehovah's Witness comes peddling a "better" fantasy that avoids Hell and provides a Paradise Solution to all life's problems---well, who wouldn't buy such a tale?
I assert that by filling little children full of fantasy and fiction from their very start we are poisoning their capacity to tolerate REALITY. Fantasy tastes better. It is a sugar-coated world.
Make your best arguments pro and con.
What do YOU think?
I started the above topic 2 years ago and was hit with an avalanche of nasty opposition that rained fire and brimstone upon my widdle head.
I'm wondering if I pull out the provocative wording and replace it with more neutral framing if that wouldn't produce a less violent reaction.
Let me try.
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FANTASY IS A GOOD THING! Having a great imagination is wonderful too! And, the joy of watching a child develop both the imagination and a fun sense of fantasy is one of the best parts of being a parent.
For one thing it stimulates an appetite for learning and makes taking in information less of an uphill battle.
Naturally, we as prudent and cautious caretaker's of our child's learning process, we never want to blur the edges between what is actually true and what is merely make-believe. Of course not!
Perhaps it would be wise to reflect on a question of "How much is too much" where make-believe is concerned. Can too much of a good thing be possible? Can it have unwanted side-effects?
If we fast forward to adolescence and look at the average teenager in our society today do we detect anything excessive about the indulgence in fantasy and pure make-believe?
We'd be fooling ourselves if we didn't see a strong tendency toward several behaviors which crowd out the more rational pursuits.
Among these excesses I'd put these few forward for discussion:
1.Video Gaming
2.Pop Music
3.Fan Fiction
4.Manga/Anime
I'll stop there. Nothing wrong per se with any of the above. But, I'd like to take a look at why there may be an over-indulgence timewise on the part of many. This leaves little time for real world progress in personal responsibility to develop an education, develop social skills, earn a living and provide for everyday needs like food, shelter and clothing.
Can there be any link between excessive (i.e. too much time spent) fantasy in childhood and a seeming addiction to the above four pursuits?
The plunge into superstitious belief systems such as Wicca, Goth, religious mania, etc.; could these be symptoms as well? A failure or inability to separate the imaginary from the actual can reduce one's skillset in keeping the mind clear on what is real (and important) and what isn't.
I'm not saying DEFINITIVELY that this is the case, mind you. I'm just ASKING your opinion.
What do YOU think?