it's all about God

[chadtm80]

THIS ONE IS FABULOUS!!!

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to "explain God." I wonder if any of us could have done as well?
[ ... and he had such an assignment, in California, and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen ! .. ]


EXPLANATION OF GOD:
"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."


"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off."


"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."


"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church."

"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."


"His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."


"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."

"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!


Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."


"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."


"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.


And...that's why I believe in God."

[Yarrah]

He's a good writer, especially for his age. Wouldn't be surpsrised if he becomes a best-selling author

It saddens me to see that an 8-year old already thinks like this though.

[GalvestonDuck]

It saddens you?

He must go to a Catholic school or some other religion-based school. Otherwise, I'm surprise there wasn't an uproar about such an assignment. Public schools wouldn't be allowed to assign something like that these days, would they?

[vbhoutex]

He's a good writer, especially for his age. Wouldn't be surpsrised if he becomes a best-selling author

It saddens me to see that an 8-year old already thinks like this though.

Why would it sadden you that a well writen 8 yr. old is expressing his opinion? He is still highly "susceptible" to a "change of heart" or "maturing" of his thoughts, however you care to characterize the growing and learning process. Is it because you don't agree with him? After all we are about freedom of speech and thought aren't we?

Duckie, you are so right about where he had to be as this would never happen in a public school.

[gtalum]

What's sad is that at 8 years old, kids are already thusly indoctrinated. He's certainly free to express his opinion, of course.

My own dissertation explaining God would be much shorter and more concise.

[Yarrah]

Why would it sadden you that a well writen 8 yr. old is expressing his opinion? He is still highly "susceptible" to a "change of heart" or "maturing" of his thoughts, however you care to characterize the growing and learning process. Is it because you don't agree with him? After all we are about freedom of speech and thought aren't we?

I think it's great that this school allowed him to write down his opinion and that they didn't make a fuss about it because it was a religious opinion (a good public school should be ashamed if they did). This is not what saddens me; I find it even wonderful. My problem is more with the way this kid thinks. IMHO, children of this age and younger shouldn't be confronted with religion (except 'religions' such as Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, etc.). Right now, it sounds to me like he was indoctrinated. I'm quite sure a lot of people don't agree with me on this subject though

[JonathanBelles]

What's sad is that at 8 years old, kids are already thusly indoctrinated. He's certainly free to express his opinion, of course.

My own dissertation explaining God would be much shorter and more concise.

I think that is good that kids are growing up faster and smarter, they should be more involved.

[chadtm80]

You guys I posted this cause I thougt it was cute and very mature for an 8 year old.. Gessh..

[j]

I liked it Chad. Hey...are you sure you didn't write this??

[tropicana]

he said in his letter what ive thought all my life.

well done! well written.

justin

[chadtm80]

I liked it Chad. Hey...are you sure you didn't write this??

Nope.. He be to good a spelter to compear to mee

[brunota2003]

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

Nothing is truer. That kid certainly has his path set, and he looks to be on the right path. I especially agree with that statement above.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." - PSALM 23:4

[Bobbie Lee]

I'm happy to see the opening post on this message board.

[Stephanie]

I think it is very cute.

[Lindaloo]

What's sad is that at 8 years old, kids are already thusly indoctrinated. He's certainly free to express his opinion, of course.

My own dissertation explaining God would be much shorter and more concise.

What is sad is thinking like this and from Yarrah too. This 8 year old sounds pretty smart to me and I commend the little fella for being able to explain God in his own way, not to mention being able to put it on paper. Most adults do not even do that well.

[azskyman]

As we get older, we tend to see things through all kinds of filters. Like that eyeglass tester that the optomitrist uses.

"Cover your left eye and tell me if this is clearer or is this one better? Click. Now is this one better or the first one? Click. Tell me if this makes it easier to see the letters on the chart, or does this one? Click. And so on..and so on.."

We are given the gift of children to help us see around the filters. They help us see what is real. They help us throw out our filters.

He captured the essence of it all in a few paragraphs. We would have asterisks all over it if we invited our filters back into the mix. So let's not, and let's learn from this young fellows crystal clear vision.

And it is nice to know there are no atheists in Chula Vista. My son and his wife live there.

[Janie2006]

The kid can write. Such a skill will serve him quite well in the future.

As far as the issue with ideology or indoctrination goes, well, I'm afraid none of us can avoid that. Everything is ideological. Inevitably every person acquires lenses (or filters). It can't be helped.

That being said, I agree with Linda. Unfortunately there are plenty of adults who can't write or sometimes even reason as well as that child.

[Janie2006]

The great doctors of the Church spent lifetimes thinking and writing about the nature of God. The Divine is a pretty complex subject, to say the least. There are some great religious schools in the US, and all over the world as well. The Jesuit schools come to mind, for example.

[Yarrah]

This puts things in a different perpective: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/dutton.asp

And it is nice to know there are no atheists in Chula Vista. My son and his wife live there.

What would be the problem if there were some of them living there? Would they pose a threat?

[Stephanie]

This puts things in a different perpective: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/dutton.asp

And it is nice to know there are no atheists in Chula Vista. My son and his wife live there.

What would be the problem if there were some of them living there? Would they pose a threat?

There would be none.

Let me put it to you this way, you're picking on the WRONG PERSON right now, pal. Back away. Yes, this is a warning.