Below is more information about what I’ve got planned for this month. You don’t have to read it; you can just show up. If you’d like more info about what to expect and how to prepare, read on.

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STUFF ABOUT THIS MONTH’S MEETINGS

Topic: Kids and Content

This month at Dads Group we will be having a discussion about kids and content. How much should we be sheltering our children vs. exposing them to the things of the world? Are there ages at which we should start talking to them about certain topics? What is a parent’s role in filtering and helping their children process what they experience? Come for what I imagine will be a lively discussion. Take what’s useful to you and leave the rest. 

The Format for This Month’s Meetings

To be honest, I will not have the time before Wednesday to prepare a cohesive presentation for you on this topic but I think I will be able to facilitate a useful conversation on it. Given how broad this topic is, we will not be exhausting what there is to talk about in an hour and a half and we will likely identify some useful specific topics for deeper dives at future meetings. You can consider whether you would be up for taking a turn at leading one of these meetings on a particular topic in the future.

We’ll start with check-ins; then I’ll present a few ideas; then we’ll go around and give each person a chance to respond to one of these prompts: “What is one thing that you have figured out about how you want to approach your kids and when they are exposed to certain content?” Or “What is some part of this conversation that you would like to hear other people’s thoughts about?” And then we’ll get into more general discussion once each person has had the chance to say something on where they’re at with the topic. Anyone who wants to just pass and listen to the conversation is very welcome to do that.

A Request

I’ll remind people of this in person on Wednesday as well but I want to remind people that this is a topic where people might feel a lot of shame or guilt. We all have our intentions about what content we will let our kids consume and how much time we will let them be on devices and then we have the reality of what we actually manage to do. We might feel some shame about that. We also all have our own intentions about what content we will let ourselves consume and how much time we will spend on our devices and again we have the reality of what we actually do. We might feel some shame about that. 

My request is that everyone keep this in mind when sharing their opinions on this topic. This is a topic that people have strong opinions about. That’s great. I want to hear those opinions and debate them and discuss them. These things matter and have real consequences. Speak for yourself. Share your opinions. Leave other people to form their own opinions. 

Some Reading Material

Here are a few things to read to get your mind going on this topic:

Isaiah 7

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good” (Isaiah 7:14,15).

“Protection of Innocence” (Donald C. Fitzpatrick, Jr. New Church Life, 1998)

When we speak of protecting innocence, we usually mean protecting children from things that may harm their developing minds. We usually do not realize that we should also be concerned about protecting innocence in ourselves. But when we look at the definition of innocence given in the Writings, we gain a new perspective.

In Heaven and Hell 281, innocence is defined as “a willingness to be led by the Lord.” This meaning is very different from the one that people usually think of when they hear the word. And yet this is the innocence that needs to be protected and that is under assault in our culture.

This assault is clearly seen in the forms of entertainment that are labeled as “for mature audiences” or as containing “adult language.” The movies and television programs that bear these labels often include excessive violence, profane and obscene language, nudity, and sexual promiscuity.

Apparently those who produce and enjoy these forms of entertainment believe that they are appropriate for people who are mature or adult.

Surely, however, such things appeal to our innate desire to lead ourselves and to do what we enjoy doing without regard to whether it is good or evil. If we choose to do this, we allow ourselves to be led by the hells that delight in these same things. And when we do this, we cannot be willing to be led by the Lord.

It would seem from this that we should be concerned about protecting our own innocence as well as about protecting the innocence of children.

“Protection of Innocence” (N. Bruce Rogers, New Church Life, 1970)

Here is a sermon from 1970 by the Rev. N. Bruce Rogers. I don’t necessarily agree with everything in this sermon but it’s thought-provoking and some of the passages he cites are well worth considering: “Protection of Innocence” N. Bruce Rogers (PDF).

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GENERAL DADS GROUP STUFF

Timing & Locations

These groups happen about once a month on Wednesday. This is the early morning slot that takes place from 6:45-8:15am in the Bryn Athyn Scout Building. There’s also an evening slot that takes place from 7:30-9:00 pm in the Bryn Athyn Church School Library.

Get Updates

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Questions?

More details at brynathynchurch.org/dads Any questions? Email Malcolm at malcolm.smith@brynathynchurch.org