Reading fairy stories to children is harmful, says Richard Dawkins

[Wolf Howl]

Fuck Richard Dawkins. I have a few copies of Grimm's Fairy Tales and I will read them to my daughter. They are my cultural heritage and they teach important lessons in salient ways and are meant to inspire children. Richard Dawkins and his incessant fame-whoring can go to hell.

[SardiniaAtlantis]

Its important if you want them to believe the religious fairy tales as adults.

[Dombra]

Not only extreme Atheism, but extreme Asperger as well

[Prisoner Of Ice]

Holy Christ, I will have to bookmark this.

CAREFUL, YOU MAY ACCIDENTALLY TEACH YOUR CHILD SOME NORMATIVE VALUES!

[Skjaldemjøden]

Bruno Bettelheim wrote an entire book on why parents should read fairytales to their children - The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. I've read part of it for my studies and he has very good arguments. I own quite a few fairy tale books and intend on reading to my future children, as my parents and four grandparents have done for me when I was a kid.

[Unome]

Holy Christ, I will have to bookmark this.

CAREFUL, YOU MAY ACCIDENTALLY TEACH YOUR CHILD SOME NORMATIVE VALUES!

After Natia and her leftist cohorts get their hands on the children's books, children will never read about the ancient myth of heterosexuality when men & women lived together, loved each-other, and had biological children.

"Wow, you mean men and women actually lived together (and the same race) in the ancient 2000AD?!?! I can't believe it daddy!!!"

[Minesweeper]

Just remembered how I read fairytales to my little sister. Makes me so proud now.

[Skjaldemjøden]

"Wow, you mean men and women actually lived together (and the same race) in the ancient 2000AD?!?! I can't believe it daddy!!!"

Don't be silly, parents will obviously have no part in the children's upbringing by then

[Jägerstaffel]

Most of the original folk and fairy tales that we are familiar with are much darker, more violent and more sexual than the modern retellings of them. Not sure how normative the values are that are being expressed if looked at from that angle. All in all though - I absolutely loved folktales and fantasy as a kid and so I introduced my children to them. They seem alright, despite the occasional hint of a wicked underlying sense of humour.

I think exposing children to fantasy is a good way of letting children know that we all have viewpoints for how we interpret the world. A healthy imagination and understanding of the separation of reality and fiction might lead to a skeptical evaluation of other fanciful stories we are told as children, but that some carry belief in through adulthood.

[Svipdag]

Based on my own experience as a child and for 72 years thereafter, I can confidently state that Mr. Dawkins' hypothesis is pure taurine excrement.