my wife was raised by a deeply lapsed Catholic (ie, divorced teen mom who was afraid to ever set foot in the church again) and I was raised in a reform Judaism household. My wife has zero interest in establishing any religious traditions of her own, but I do have a distinct interest in my daughter (now 4) being aware of her cultural heritage as a Jew and as such we have taken her to seders, lit the candles on Hannukah, etc ... I would probably join a temple if I could find one that I liked that didn't have insane dues, but I have yet to really come across one that interests me in San Francisco. In some ways this may be easier for me than for other parents - having been brought up in an extended family of extremely non-observant Jews (ie, identify as Jews but never went to Temple) I don't feel a pressing obligation to immediately sign my daughter up for Hebrew school and indoctrinate her into a theology I don't agree with. At the same time, Judaism encompasses a very broad set of beliefs so I don't really have a problem with picking a choosing what I introduce to my daughter. I'm sure I'll read her stuff from the Bible at some point, because there are awesome stories in the Bible, and I'll tell her that they're from a book that Jewish people have been reading and re-reading and writing commentaries on for thousands of years.
― “How you like that, Mr. Hitler!” (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 20:46 (twelve years ago) link
Hoping to find videos that retell/summarize key stories of the bible that I could share with my 11 year old. Preferably from a secular/atheist perspective, but non-fedora.
Just recently have found that biblical references tend to bring things to a screeching halt for him. All like "wait, what's Noah? I don't get it." Want to inform him without taking too much of his time or being preachy. Something accessible.
Could be any other religions too! Odinism, Hindu, ancient Babylonian religion, whatever. But not being familiar with the basic Jewish Christian stuff seems like it could be a roadblock to understanding.
― how's life, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:11 (eight years ago) link
oh man so much biblical crap out there, it's a bitch to sort through
on the hinduism end there's this incredible book, which is great for little kids:http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81Aj5ZLt5sL.jpg
― Οὖτις, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:18 (eight years ago) link
whoa. that looks holy shit awesome.
― how's life, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:20 (eight years ago) link
he is an ex-Pixar (I think?) guy, he has a couple other hindu-themed book, one about how Ganesha broke his tooth, one that's just a catalog of gods/godesses - but the Ramayana one is the best of the crop
― Οὖτις, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:27 (eight years ago) link
I think yr problem is going to be that most biblical stuff is not created from a cultural-studies kind of perspective, it's created primarily for believers to indoctrinate their children.
11 is old enough to read some of R. Crumb's "Book of Genesis" imo (altho you'd probably want to skip certain chapters and you'd have to be okay with boobs and lots of body hair lol). That's a faithful rendition that's done by a non-believer.
― Οὖτις, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:30 (eight years ago) link
most biblical stuff is not created from a cultural-studies kind of perspective
Yeah, that is very much my problem.
The Crumb thing sounds mostly okay, but not quite there yet for some of the genesis material. Suppose I could ask my local comic shop guys if they had anything in this vein, but I think it would get re-shelved in favor of some Batman.
― how's life, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:39 (eight years ago) link
i think these are excellent for children but probably contain religious content as well - you may have to be prepared to skip paragraphs you're not in love with:http://www.amazon.com/The-Little-Midrash-Says-Beraishis/dp/B000FT6BSG
there's a few volumes (and i just asked my brother and he says it's not so religious and more just the plain midrashim).
― Mordy, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:46 (eight years ago) link
the first volume probably contains most of what you want (bereshis deals w/ adam + eve, noah, abraham, etc), the second one is the exodus narrative, the others are only of interest if you're particularly committed to giving your kid a thorough jewish education and not just a broad religious one.
― Mordy, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:48 (eight years ago) link
kids books of Bible stories are probly reasonably innocuous as long as you discuss context first imo
― probs with the skag (Noodle Vague), Monday, 1 June 2015 16:49 (eight years ago) link
altho if it's factual references maybe an age-appropriate encyclopedia wd be the way to go?
― probs with the skag (Noodle Vague), Monday, 1 June 2015 16:51 (eight years ago) link
"Books" are definitely off-track though. He's got plenty of books that I'd rather he read that he doesn't get around to. Looking specifically for videos.
― how's life, Monday, 1 June 2015 16:57 (eight years ago) link
ah didn't read you properly, okay non-polemical videos is probly much harder.
― probs with the skag (Noodle Vague), Monday, 1 June 2015 16:59 (eight years ago) link
I feel like my ideal would be something along the lines of Crash Course, which has this episode on historical Christianity, but doesn't go very deep into the stories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG55ErfdaeY&index=7&list=WL
But even fairly straight-forward bible cartoons that are well-written and not TOTALLY BORING. I've gone through so much garbage on youtube. I'm sure it's gonna fuck up my recommendations for like a week.
― how's life, Monday, 1 June 2015 17:01 (eight years ago) link
hmm yeah I got nothin in the video dept sorry
― Οὖτις, Monday, 1 June 2015 17:04 (eight years ago) link
me neither
― Mordy, Monday, 1 June 2015 17:14 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ExRYenS2w
― probs with the skag (Noodle Vague), Monday, 1 June 2015 17:30 (eight years ago) link
I think there is some value in this godley play stuff but it's supposed to be performed rather than filmed and idk how you would seek it out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkjXX2xjTkg
― ogmor, Monday, 1 June 2015 17:52 (eight years ago) link
*godly