Separate but Equal
Secular parents get no love when it comes to summer camp. Normal camps aren’t cash cows which means it’s usually churches that take on the grimy task of running them. Since free-thinkers want to make sure their offspring follow in their free-thinking tradition, it’s important not to expose them to some ideas. If exposure is necessary, make sure those ideas are presented in a condescending way:
“We would encourage them to read, to go to church,” said Chuck Wolber, one of Camp Quest Northwest’s founders. “The best way to become an atheist is to study the Bible, and I definitely recommend the kids do that.”
The secular sleepaway camp rents the area from a Christian camp, so camp officials cover any signs saying “Lord” or “God” with masking tape, and replace those words with fantasy-like words, such as “Flying Spaghetti Monster,” which they use to emphasize the imaginary nature of God.
. . .
“We wanted to raise our kids to make their own decisions,” Karen Garry said. “If our children decided they wanted to be Jewish, fine, not a problem. We would love them just as much as if they were atheist or whatever, Buddhist. We just wanted them to be good, happy people.”
They want their kids to make their own decisions, but spaghetti monster forbid they expose them to anything but a limited range of choices. Free-thinking isn’t free; you have to set limits on that shit. Otherwise, it might move in incorrect directions.
I wish they’d just come out and say, they want to raise their children according to their own faith tradition, since that of course is surely the case.
I also note, in that quote, that Karen Garry didn’t say “If our children decided they wanted to be Christian, fine, not a problem” or ” We would love them just as much if they were atheist or whatever, Christian.” I imagine they wouldn’t love them as much if they made that choice, as adults, as they would to become Jewish, Buddhist or ‘whatever’, or would at least be more dismayed at their choice…
That Jewish and Buddhist are the only choices besides atheism is telling.
Exactly.
Their own ‘faith tradition’ being their own religion, because what is atheism, after all, but a faith that God does not exist?