Today for Show and Tell, I've brought a tiny marvel of nature: a single snowflake. I think we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary, boring molecule of water, just like every other one, when you bring it in the classroom. And now, while the analogy sinks in, I'll be leaving you drips and going outside." ~ Calvin, from Calvin & Hobbes
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Any takers?
Jared asked me if God created himself.
I told him that I really don't know the answer to that.
Did you ask him what he thinks? And maybe ask him how people would know whether God made himself or not.
There's a traditional question about whether God can create a rock so big he can't lift it. I mentioned that one day, and Holly or Marty said "Or a burrito so hot he can't eat it." They got that one from The Simpsons.
If you have any Mormon friends, they have a different answer about God than some others do. He might be more ready for the burrito or the rock than for higher-level LDS belief.
Sometimes the right answer is that we don't know. I think that a lot of kids are given the security of authoritative parents who have all the right answers when they are growing up only to realize later that they didn't - and then every foundation for trust is shaken. It is like playing a round of roulette.
Here is the thing - trying to find an answer would be an attempt to indoctrinate him. I am not scared any more of not giving my kids the right answers.
I love it when they ask stuff like this. It means they are always thinking. One of my friend's sons asked this question once while on a road trip - How many miles is it from Massachusetts to Hell? And what if you're in a hurry?
When Kirby asked who was the first person on this planet, I said "some people believe..." and told him about Adam, and then said "other people believe..." and told him about evolution. He listened and then said "What do you believe?" or some such direct and good question.
I told him I used to believe the first one, and why, and now I believe the second one, but that I also am not worried about which is right, and that other religions and cultures have other stories, because nobody has any real way to know.
Maybe whether God made himself is related to the objection to people saying kids taught themselves. :-) First there has to be a position, but the position didn't exist before the being.
I have done the same thing with my son in saying these people believe this and these believe this and others this and he would ask what I thought and I would tell him my thoughts and we would discuss it- Personally I am more of a EVERYTHING created itself from the same source we usually call god-
Taliesin has been asking a lot of questions like that here lately. One was "Is there a map to get to Heaven?" After trying to explain, I finally just said, "I guess the Bible is our map to Heaven." He was satisfied with that. Today when he prayed before we ate, he said, "Dear God, thank you for our food. Thank you for day. Thank you for night. Amen." I think kids like things that they can figure out. God, of course, they cannot figure out. God is infinite. We are finite. But try explaining that to a child. LOL. I think my answer to your son's question would be that God has always been. God was never created. We do not understand it now, but when we get to Heaven maybe we can ask God for ourselves. :^)
These are the questions that keep me up at night and through me into panic attacks. I can't wrap my mind around the idea of something "always being". Out of nothingness came something? I know we are supposed to believe God has "always been", but it just drives my mind crazy! I'm getting short of breath just thinking about this now, LOL!
It is a very theological issue, but I think most kids have those theological questions. Some of us (like me) never outgrow them and end up studying theology. LOL. Donna, you might try reading some books by Elmer Towns. He's one of my professors in college and one of my favorite theologians. His works are very readable and understandable. :^)
9 comments:
Did you ask him what he thinks? And maybe ask him how people would know whether God made himself or not.
There's a traditional question about whether God can create a rock so big he can't lift it. I mentioned that one day, and Holly or Marty said "Or a burrito so hot he can't eat it." They got that one from The Simpsons.
If you have any Mormon friends, they have a different answer about God than some others do. He might be more ready for the burrito or the rock than for higher-level LDS belief.
Sounds like the right answer to me! Xxx
Sometimes the right answer is that we don't know. I think that a lot of kids are given the security of authoritative parents who have all the right answers when they are growing up only to realize later that they didn't - and then every foundation for trust is shaken. It is like playing a round of roulette.
Here is the thing - trying to find an answer would be an attempt to indoctrinate him. I am not scared any more of not giving my kids the right answers.
I love it when they ask stuff like this. It means they are always thinking. One of my friend's sons asked this question once while on a road trip - How many miles is it from Massachusetts to Hell? And what if you're in a hurry?
When Kirby asked who was the first person on this planet, I said "some people believe..." and told him about Adam, and then said "other people believe..." and told him about evolution. He listened and then said "What do you believe?" or some such direct and good question.
I told him I used to believe the first one, and why, and now I believe the second one, but that I also am not worried about which is right, and that other religions and cultures have other stories, because nobody has any real way to know.
Maybe whether God made himself is related to the objection to people saying kids taught themselves. :-) First there has to be a position, but the position didn't exist before the being.
I have done the same thing with my son in saying these people believe this and these believe this and others this and he would ask what I thought and I would tell him my thoughts and we would discuss it- Personally I am more of a EVERYTHING created itself from the same source we usually call god-
Taliesin has been asking a lot of questions like that here lately. One was "Is there a map to get to Heaven?" After trying to explain, I finally just said, "I guess the Bible is our map to Heaven." He was satisfied with that. Today when he prayed before we ate, he said, "Dear God, thank you for our food. Thank you for day. Thank you for night. Amen." I think kids like things that they can figure out. God, of course, they cannot figure out. God is infinite. We are finite. But try explaining that to a child. LOL. I think my answer to your son's question would be that God has always been. God was never created. We do not understand it now, but when we get to Heaven maybe we can ask God for ourselves. :^)
Kandy
Steph,
I don't have any suggestions. I'm so trying to keep my head above water these days. Just letting you know I'm all caught up on your blog and home now.
Missed reading you.
These are the questions that keep me up at night and through me into panic attacks. I can't wrap my mind around the idea of something "always being". Out of nothingness came something? I know we are supposed to believe God has "always been", but it just drives my mind crazy! I'm getting short of breath just thinking about this now, LOL!
Kids just ask the darnedest questions don't they?
It is a very theological issue, but I think most kids have those theological questions. Some of us (like me) never outgrow them and end up studying theology. LOL. Donna, you might try reading some books by Elmer Towns. He's one of my professors in college and one of my favorite theologians. His works are very readable and understandable. :^)
Kandy
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