Do you think that books can persuade a child to move away from the morality you've taught them? Do you think it's dangerous to let your children read books that don't agree with what you are trying to teach them?

What age group are we talking about?  Most books intended for younger children I don't believe really do, and even alot of books that do have political ideas, and beliefs that will contradict parents are usually more subtle, and something you have to look in the story to find.  You have to remember, an adult can read a book and find all sorts of political, and religious meanings, but the child reading it only sees a story that has a talking lion who is the king, fairies, and such.    If we are talking about teenagers however, I don't believe it is "dangerous" per say.  An opinion that doesn't agree with your own, even from your own child is not necessarily dangerous.  In fact, anything but.  You have already given your children your beliefs and views, and this offers different ones, and the contradicting ideas often bring the child to developing their own opinion.  Like it or not, high schools point is to prepare the child for life in the real world, of which does mean ages such as 14 and 15 thinking critically, and coming up with their own opinions and beliefs.  That is what colleges want, that is what businesses want. 

I agree w/ Caladbolg. I think adults read way too much into children's stories. I can remember when I was in 9th grade, we had to write a report on a religion. My friend and I choose to write ours on Satanism. I went to church every Sunday whether I liked it or not. My Mom just said to be careful w/ it and that it was something you could fall into w/out realizing it. But, she didn't freak out or say I couldn't do it or anything. I really only remember one thing I read that made an impact on me. It was about a little girl who had been kidnapped by a cult. I think I remember it so well b/c it scared the **** out of me! But, doing that report and reading those things certainly didn't change any beliefs I had. I do have to say, though, that I would be hesitant to let my child do that sort of report using the internet. They could stumble across something that could really end up badly. But, as long as they used books from the library, I guess it'd be okay.

I would have to disagree somewhat. But, I do think that if a child is persuaded by a book, he or she was thinking about whatever the subject is to begin w/. It's likely that he or she picked that book to read b/c he or she had questions about that subject.

I tend to be of the mind that in order to best educate themselves and think independently readers should research both sides of the story.  As long as children have a good grasp of what is real and what is fiction they should be ok.  Keep an open dialogue and you might be surprised by how much they are learning.

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