*sigh* One, as a Christian I really can't get behind these "targeted" Bibles. It just seems wrong. If you want to raise your child as a Christian and teach them things from the Bible, teach them from the Bible, not some cutesy version. Kids aren't stupid, they don't need things dubmed down. Two, I never wanted to be a princess, Jedi, sure, princess, no. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@Red-headed bookworm: that's what I love about Star Wars - equal opportunity Jedis. The new animated series that my little Jedis like has tons of female characters who are powerful, strong and don't hesitate to kick some ass and take some names. So my boys will get the message even if some of their female peers won't...sigh #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
This message is also contained in the book "Captivating" - a book which my book group attempted to read, until I staged a feminist coup and recruited others to the side of declaring it was total crap. Our married-at-22, socially conservative, gender-role-believing book group leader was nonplussed.
I'm pretty sure the Bible verse does NOT go "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth in him could make an obscene amount of money marketing glossy versions of his word and telling other people what to do."
I identify as a Christian, and a feminist (a pro-choice one, to boot). This is hard, as in my view some people who identify as Christians have their priorities all messed up. Not to toot my own horn, but a few weeks ago I went out with friends to a city park to hand out homemade muffins and talk to the homeless there. I view doing something like that as living a more Christ-like life than sitting at home quietly exuding virtue to inspire a man to do something good.
Also, my boyfriend is agnostic and feminist, so that probably wouldn't work on him.
I work in the children's section of a major chain bookstore, and this book is currently part of our religion endcap. Every time I walk past it I have to fight the urge to put a match to it. My only consolation is that we've had it in stock for months and I'm pretty sure we haven't sold any.
I haven't seen the boys one, though! One of my biggest pet peeves working in the kids' section is the blatant gender separation in some books, and the insistence of certain parents/grandparents/etc. that something is "a boy's book" or "a girl's book". I often stick to recommending sci-fi/fantasy type books when I can, because they tend to be much more gender-neutral. Having a parent refuse to buy the Rainbow Magic Fairy book that their son requested because it's too "girly" is just soul-crushing. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@bookling: The kids totally buy into it too! My boy won't read half the books I recommend because they are too "girly". Can you imagine how much literature he is going to miss out on if he keeps this up? #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@redqueenmeg: I think the point is that in addition to being frighteningly gender-specific, the book is capitalizing on the Princess theme in a creepy way. Also, no Bibles are gender-neutral, even if they have sensible leather covers. Women are referred to as property in the Bible, and I'm really sick of people arguing that this is okay. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@PaintedTrollop: Have to say I am immensely thankful for my parents not forcing any type of religion down my throat. They let me make my own choices as to what I want to believe. Love them! #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@twirlywhirly: You were lucky! My husband grew up with evangelical Baptists. Full immersion baptism in the river. As a result of all that Bible pounding and religion jamming, he and his brothers are all atheists. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@PaintedTrollop: Well I think part of the reason they were so cool with it is because my dad had to go to Catholic school for much of his education and I think it still haunts him. It seems that having religion forced down one's throat can often have the unintended effect of creating atheists. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
Who would be totally up for switching up the covers on these books? I mean, yes, messing with a store's books is a bad thing, but what I wouldn't give for a little girl gifted the princess one to open it and be told how to be a strong lil' warrior! #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
Compassion! Sharing! Truth! What is this work of Satan!
Look, welcome to middle america. There are people out there who are different from you, the people in the big cities on the left and right coast. You are not the center of universe. There are people out there to whom family and religion matter and it's not a mental disorder to feel that way. Is this thing telling girls they have to personally fill up their kingdom with a full quiver of god's chidren? Is it tell them to wear magic underwear? If you think this is freaky, you're deeply ignorant of anything outside your own perceptions.
If you want religious wackos, go attack a scientologist. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@BytheSea: when politicians have to kowtow to athiests, and Pelosi has them sitting in her office while she's making deals - that's when I'll stop being bitchy about Christians. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@BytheSea: Huh? Because in the big coastal cities family and religion don't exist? Seriously? I grew up outside NYC in a very Catholic home in a very Catholic and Jewish neighborhood and only knew a couple of kids in my class who weren't either of those religions and actively so.
Look, welcome to the coasts, where people have religion as well and families too. And for that matter my grandma raised by nuns in an orphanage woulda found this God's Princess stuff shameless and groty.
No one's saying the religion inside is bad, just the packaging and the warped messages it sends that don't jive with the bible and just reinforce the idea that religion is sexist when it doesn't have to be. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
I saw this in WalMart about a week ago and almost crapped my pants.
Also, when I was thirteen, I wrote what I called a "Treatise on Princess and Maidens in Distress." It was not complimentary. So yah, high five on not wanting to be a princess! #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@Dorilys: At 15, I had to prepare a speech for English class and I argued that all religions should be abolished due to their innate misogyny. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@Dorilys: The little person is going to be four at the end of the year. She wants a vampire princess party. Um. I don't quite know how I feel about this. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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@Plum-Pie: We are possibly the same person! I gave a talk on evolution and how religious interpretations were wrong when I was 16 or 17! Again, internet high five! #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@The Plain People of Ireland (formerly cheerfulp is always...): Good luck with that. I really don't know how to interact with children... they tend not to respond well to logic. However, maybe nudge in the direction of a monster party? Then she could still be a vampire princess? #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
I have always been rather squicked out by princess stuff, and had I received this as a child, would have been seriously uninterested in it.
But for those who believe the bible, it does say that Christians are heirs of God. It does not, however, mention anything about tiaras. ha ha. While I think the princess imagery is off the mark, I do understand where it's coming from, as it is consistent with biblical imagery of God as both a father and a king. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
@CurtCole: YES! I spent many an hour as a small child playing She-Ra. She had a cape, a sword, good hair, and a horsie! Hell, I'd still like to be She-Ra most days! #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
This horrifies me, yet I also let my mom call me princess. I am not sure why. I find it endearing. Maybe it's because it's not my dad doing it, just two traditionally oppressed women forming their own kingdom of princesses without any men.
That, or I've just always had a less contentious relationship with my mom. And she's never referred to me as God's princess or anything. Though there was a girl in college who bragged about being the "bride of Christ," but apparently they had an open marriage as she allegedly had anal sex with a few guys. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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I'm pretty sure the Bible verse does NOT go "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth in him could make an obscene amount of money marketing glossy versions of his word and telling other people what to do."
I identify as a Christian, and a feminist (a pro-choice one, to boot). This is hard, as in my view some people who identify as Christians have their priorities all messed up. Not to toot my own horn, but a few weeks ago I went out with friends to a city park to hand out homemade muffins and talk to the homeless there. I view doing something like that as living a more Christ-like life than sitting at home quietly exuding virtue to inspire a man to do something good.
Also, my boyfriend is agnostic and feminist, so that probably wouldn't work on him.
11/16/09
I haven't seen the boys one, though! One of my biggest pet peeves working in the kids' section is the blatant gender separation in some books, and the insistence of certain parents/grandparents/etc. that something is "a boy's book" or "a girl's book". I often stick to recommending sci-fi/fantasy type books when I can, because they tend to be much more gender-neutral. Having a parent refuse to buy the Rainbow Magic Fairy book that their son requested because it's too "girly" is just soul-crushing. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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Look, welcome to middle america. There are people out there who are different from you, the people in the big cities on the left and right coast. You are not the center of universe. There are people out there to whom family and religion matter and it's not a mental disorder to feel that way. Is this thing telling girls they have to personally fill up their kingdom with a full quiver of god's chidren? Is it tell them to wear magic underwear? If you think this is freaky, you're deeply ignorant of anything outside your own perceptions.
If you want religious wackos, go attack a scientologist. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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Look, welcome to the coasts, where people have religion as well and families too. And for that matter my grandma raised by nuns in an orphanage woulda found this God's Princess stuff shameless and groty.
No one's saying the religion inside is bad, just the packaging and the warped messages it sends that don't jive with the bible and just reinforce the idea that religion is sexist when it doesn't have to be. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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Also, when I was thirteen, I wrote what I called a "Treatise on Princess and Maidens in Distress." It was not complimentary. So yah, high five on not wanting to be a princess! #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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But for those who believe the bible, it does say that Christians are heirs of God. It does not, however, mention anything about tiaras. ha ha. While I think the princess imagery is off the mark, I do understand where it's coming from, as it is consistent with biblical imagery of God as both a father and a king. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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In my opinion, this is the only princess worth aspiring to be. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...
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That, or I've just always had a less contentious relationship with my mom. And she's never referred to me as God's princess or anything. Though there was a girl in college who bragged about being the "bride of Christ," but apparently they had an open marriage as she allegedly had anal sex with a few guys. #godslittleprincessdevotionalbi...