Quote:
Originally Posted by mbovenka
And this is bad exactly how? (I know, you're just the messenger and all, so not meant personally) 
I know, being an outspoken atheist in (most of) the US is still a career-limiting move...  |
Yes, but more importantly, in this specific case, I expressly mentioned that the parents are rather devoutly Christian, and wouldn't look kindly on me giving their 11-y.o. any reading material that defied that view. Not at this time--perhaps not ever, but I assume that when he's older, I'll be able to give him more broadening material. Managing to cut myself off from the boy now, by alienating his folks by giving him something that (arguably) promotes an atheistic view, wouldn't help him.
As I recall GC, it wasn't so much atheistic as it was anti-formal-religion, in that the major religious institution was trying to stifle independent thought. Nonetheless, I want the first 10-20 books/series to go smoothly. I can introduce more even-handed themes later, if the boy seems interested. In my own family, that sort of exploratory reading would be lauded (in virtually any category/direction/philosophy, not merely religious or political or...?), but this is NOT my (side of the) family, (and not even that close to DH, on his side) so...better safe than sorry at this particular point. After all--as near as I can tell, he has no other voracious readers in his immediate family. One eccentric and like-minded aunt might be his sole co-conspirator in being a book junkie.
Hitch