Now on Kickstarter: Christian Mythology for Kids

I think this is a great idea, and I’m really interested to see it come to fruition. You can learn more about it at the project’s Kickstarter page.

Project Page Excerpt

…We wanted to introduce our children to christianity in a way that doesn’t threaten them or coax them into thinking these stories are real. Children’s books about Greek and Roman Mythology are wonderful, exciting stories that inform and entertain. Christian Mythology for Kids follows this format, but with a religion that some people still view as true.

Exploring and discussing common Christian myths in a safe environment gives children an unbiased understanding before they encounter it in their daily lives. Christian Mythology for Kids also answers questions that children may have after hearing what their friends or relatives have to say. This book tells the story of each myth, followed by a brief logical or scientific explanation as to why it is mythology.

We can also learn from some of these stories that have an Aesop’s fables quality, like David and Goliath. We can take the lesson and leave the religion behind.

Details

I also had a brief private message exchange with Chrystine Trooien, the project’s creator. With her permission, I’m posting it here, for your info.

Hi Christine,

I’m interested in your project, but mildly concerned about indoctrinating kids in any direction. I’m in favor of teaching kids *how* to think (rationally, logically, critically, skeptically), not so much *what* to think (X religion is true/false).

To what extent will your book fall under either category?

Thanks,

ratamacue

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I completely agree with you. I am very familiar with Dale McGowan’s idea of educating children to use critical thinking skills to figure out all that they encounter in their lives. However, I have found that for families like my own who have relatives that strongly believe the christian story and are telling our kids that such ideas are true, this can be a struggle, especially at an age before reason. Grandma buys them a children’s bible and we want to be fair to the story, but it is full of dogma and indoctrination… Also, the christian story is all around us in pop culture, from playmates at school, from relatives… children are going to encounter it at some point. My view is that I would rather they have learned about the story line in an un-bias way so that the material is familiar and not new and inviting.

My book follows this format: a short introduction on the topic of the story (background, sometimes from a secular perspective). This is followed by the bulk of the chapter, which is the story (like Noah’s Ark) without a bias in either direction, written so that children can understand and enjoy reading the story just like Greek Mythology. Finally, a short paragraph explaining why the story is a myth from a logical or scientific angle. (We wouldn’t need to do this with a story about Apollo, because no one believes that stuff anymore).

I hope this book will give families (especially in the bible belt of america) a tool to learn about Christianity before someone they know tries to tell them these stories are true.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please let me know!

Chrystine

I Dig It

If you also want to see the finished product, or you just want to see it happen, consider adding your support, or spreading the word. (There’s just two weeks left.)

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P.S. I’m not the first blogger to post about this. Hat tips to Hemant Mehta who posted about it at Friendly Atheist, and Dan Finke at Camels with Hamers.

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