1. Colouring book warns kids of pedophile priests

Comment #95222 by Rosemary on December 7, 2007 at 3:52 pm

As so often happens, the sensationalist headline does not accurately reflect the content of the colouring book.

The colouring book is at http://www.adnyfiles.org/English.pdf (and in Spanish at http://www.adnyfiles.org/Spanish.pdf). There is also a comic book aimed at older children: http://www.adnyfiles.org/ArchangelComic.pdf

A lot of the colouring book is useless religious stuff like: "When we need it, we can ask [God] for help. And he will help."

Some of the nonreligioius advice in the book is also inadequate:

"You are *always* safer in a group you know, like your *family*, *friends* or *class*." What if your parents are abusive, or your friends try to get you involved in dangerous things, or...?

"You should never keep secrets from your parents." This assumes that the parents are trustworthy. What about if your *parents* are the abusers asking you to keep secrets?

"For safety's sake, a child and an adult *shouldn't* be *alone* in a closed room together. If a child and an adult happen to be alone, someone should *know* where they are and the door should be *open* or have a big window in it." This rule is obviously impossible to abide by; most children will be alone with an adult on many occasions. Kids will probably assume that this rule does not apply to trusted adults like parents, teachers, and priests.

"Only *certain*people* like *parents*and*doctors* get to see [the parts of the body covered by a bathing suit]. If anyone tries to touch you where your bathing suit would be, say '*Stop*!' and *tell* a trusted adult *right*away*." Again, this assumes the parents are not abusers. It also doesn't mention other things that adults shouldn't be doing: asking to look at a child's private parts (except in cases of medical necessity), asking a child to look at or touch someone else's private parts, etc.

I know of a case where a Catholic girl was being sexually abused by her father. Unfortunately when the mother found out she called a priest rather than the police. The priest just told the father not to do it again. Useless!

The comic book for older kids is very vague about what sexual abuse is, and when a kid tries to report the abuse to teachers at the school, none of the teachers believe him at first. Gee, that kind of story will really make kids feel confident about reporting abuse.

2. Jesus Camp: A scary movie that should frighten us all

Comment #86006 by Rosemary on November 7, 2007 at 7:56 pm

Although Becky Fischer's organization had to stop running the camp at that particular site due to vandalism, her ministry is still active. See http://www.kidsinministry.org/closingdowncamp.php.

Alas.

3. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #57282 by Rosemary on July 18, 2007 at 6:32 pm

I find it amusing that a number of posters (Americans?) were upset by Lewis's "anti-Americanism" (pointing out a few well known problems in the U.S.). What struck me most was Hirsi Ali's idealization of the United States, as though there aren't many other countries with as much or more freedom.

4. Is there an Artificial God?

Comment #57275 by Rosemary on July 18, 2007 at 6:09 pm

I love Douglas Adams' work in general, but I was surprised and disappointed by all the sexist language in his discussion of "early man".

Around here (Canada), using "man" as a generic word to refer to people is really archaic and nowadays it seems like it is hardly ever used this way except by those wanting to make an anti-feminist point, which I don't think is Adams' intention here.

Is using "man" as Adams used it here still common usage in the UK?

5. Believing the Unbelievable: The Clash Between Faith and Reason in the Modern World

Comment #56816 by Rosemary on July 17, 2007 at 11:50 am

This is the first time I have seen Harris talk. I am grateful that this talk was posted.

6. Praying to a milk jug

Comment #55413 by Rosemary on July 11, 2007 at 3:37 am

I think the video would be much more effective if he gave citations for the studies showing that prayer does not work. Studies allegedly showing that prayer *does* work have been widely publicized and need to be more thoroughly debunked than this.

7. Police plea on genital mutilation

Comment #55408 by Rosemary on July 11, 2007 at 3:26 am

I hope these efforts are effective in preventing girls from being subjected to this nauseating mutilation.

8. A force for evil?

Comment #55407 by Rosemary on July 11, 2007 at 3:15 am

I too found the article well-written (except for that one ugly sentence), clear, and engaging.

9. U.S. circumcision rate drops

Comment #50876 by Rosemary on June 20, 2007 at 9:31 am

Some have commented on what women might prefer.

Speaking only for myself, I have had both intact and circumcised partners, and I find the intact penis much easier to play with.

10. U.S. circumcision rate drops

Comment #50554 by Rosemary on June 18, 2007 at 6:15 pm

"The edict to have your son circumcised was the first covenant with God -- the first challenge to being Jewish," said Katz, pursuing a master's degree in business administration. "I am a progressive person and think a lot about human rights issues, but I have never questioned this."

Yet another example of religion making otherwise good people do bad things. It floors me that millions of people go along with this horrible painful tradition of cutting off parts of babies' genitals without their consent.

My son's father is from a Jewish background but luckily not religious and we never considered circumcising our precious son.

I think if circumcision is to be performed at all, it should only be done to consenting adults who have the facts needed to make an informed decision.