On Getting Christian Parenthood Totally Wrong

Russell D. Moore’s ideological rant, Why I’m Raising Violent 4 Year-Olds has generated a fair bit of discussion, most notably at Moral Contradictions, Howie Luvzus and Mainstream Baptist.

Moore is justifying taking his 4 year old sons to see the latest Star Wars film as a pretext to discussing the proper role of violence within a Christian worldview. Moore’s aim is to “raise up violent sons” who are familiar with ‘blessedly violent bedtime stories” (i.e., the scriptures). Moore’s action are informed by his theological cosmology,

“I want them to understand that the Christian life is not a Hallmark Channel version of baptized sentimentality. Instead, it is a cosmic battle between an evil dragon and the child of the woman, an ancient warfare that now includes all who belong to the Child of the Promise (Rev 12).”

Sorry Mr Moore, but the basic point of departure for my faith and faith I hope to pass onto my 4 year child has nothing to do with dragons or anthropomorhising religious poetry. Moreover, the basic posture of that faith is not violence, or warfare. Finally, I see it as quite dangerous to present faith to a young child as the stuff of fairytale and adventure, because in time they will grow up and grow out of that worldview. In time, fantasy will be relegated to it’s rightful place in the realm of fiction and with it, religious belief and impulse as well.

[tags] Parenting, Christian Ethics [/tags]