So my older son suspects that The Easter Bunny is bullshit

[Orrex]

He's four now and has had serious doubts about the whole idea of an anthropomorphic, egg-delivering rabbit since last Easter.

He's still basically okay with Santa Claus, whom he identifies as a guy who comes in the front door, talks to Dad, and then leaves presents under the tree. (Actually, he's not comfortable with the idea of a stranger coming into the house late at night--presents or no presents--so we had to reassure him that Dad would stay up to make sure that Santa doesn't go any farther than the tree).

But a ginormous bunny? Doesn't pass the smell test, as far as my son is concerned. He doesn't make a big deal about it, because I think that he suspects that the basketful of candy would fail to materialize on that miraculous morning, but I can tell that the question puzzles him.


Here's my question to you: how does a four-year-old (or, in point of fact, a three-year old) develop basic skills of critical thinking that completely elude nominal adults who somehow find the claims of woo to be credible?

[TZ]

1. Because kids imitate their parents

You are obviously setting a good example for him.
On the other hand, we have my niece who hears about how wonderful "The Secret" is and who has a mother who thinks she's psychic. I am gonna start with the science stuff with her ASAP. But I don't know how much that's gonna take.
Of course thats not all of it since I am a skeptic with two wooish sisters but I have an uncle who is a brilliant political science and its his influence (debating politics,world events, and even sports) along with my scientific training that helped me become a very analytical person when by nature I am a very emotional, and occasionally irrational person.

[dropkickpa]

2. Dropkid told me when she was 6

"I'm only in it for the candy. Bunnies and people don't call each other on the phone."

She still sorta believes in Santa, but the whole "Santa and the Easter Bunny are best friends and talk all the time on the phone, so you better be good" only lasted a couple of years. Oh well, Jan-Mar used to be easy-peasy.

Dropkid canbelieve in santa because he's a person, but giant bunnies, like your kid, stretched her credibility, though I tried to milk it for all it was worth.

She's not a very gullible kid, she calls people on their shit all the time. Which is all good in my book. Funny thing, though, because she's had no real exposure to religion, she has no clue who "that lady with the baby" or "that guy with the long hair and beard, looks like Uncle Kevin" are.

[TZ]

3. heh.

That reminds me of a story. My younger sister and I were both born at a religiously affiliated Hospital in Ohio (Good Samaritan in Cincinnati). When I was born my older sister (who was 2.5 at the time) saw the crucifix on the wall of the hospital and said in her loud little girl voice.."Mommy..why is that man hanging on the wall...?":rofl:

[semillama]

5. That story reminds me of my favorite DFC caption:

http://dfc.furr.org/archive/476.html

"Can you believe this shit? Somebody hung a dead Jew behind the altar!" - Paul T. Riddell

[LeftishBrit]

6. There is a story (I've heard various versions, so it may be an urban myth)...

of a mathematician's child, who asked one Sunday morning, "Daddy, why are all those people going into that building with a plus sign on it?"

[onager]

7. That may have come from a joke

One of my favorites, though all you infidels have probably heard it many times...

Little Johnny kept failing math. His parents tried everything--summer school, private tutors--but nothing helped. So in desperation, after one "F" too many, his father decided maybe Johnny had too many distractions in public school. Dad signed him up at a Catholic school with a reputation for turning out excellent students.

And sure enough, with his very first report card, Johnny scored an "A" in math.

"Outstanding, son!" his father rejoiced. "So what did the trick? The discipline of the nuns? The dedication of your math teacher? What?"

"None of those, Dad. Just fear. I knew these people weren't fooling around when I saw that poor guy nailed to the 'plus' sign."

[Warpy]

4. I figured Santa out at the ripe old age of two

well, almost three, when I pulled the beard off the department store Santa. My mother's attempt to explain that Santa was at the North Pole finishing all the toys and his helpers were there to find out what we wanted for Xmas fell completely flat. I knew what I'd seen and Santa was a fake. I never did buy the big bunny story. I'd seen the chickens at my Grandma's house and knew where eggs came from.

My mother was an Irish Catholic agnostic who believed in reincarnation. She really had no reason to be surprised at my skepticism or that it arrived so early in my life.