Sometimes it seems as if evangelical Christians have nothing better to do than look for the devil in every toy, tv show, or movie. But now, our enemy has done it for us.

The American Humanist Association has published an article on "Where Can I Find Humanist Books and Films for Children and Teens?" The article lists the best humanist authors, movies and tv shows. Better check and make sure your favorite author or show didn't make the list (if you're a sci-fi fan, you're probably sunk!)

But what I found particularly interesting was the section on Bible stories for humanists:

Many might wonder if stories from the Bible could possibly have any value for humanist children. The answer is yes, and for two reasons.

First, if Bible stories are read in the same way that one might read ancient Greek myths or the mythologies of other cultures, it's possible to understand them for what they are: Hebrew and Christian myth and legend. And then they can be appreciated and enjoyed without being believed.

Second, Bible stories in particular are part of Western culture. A person can't be considered culturally literate without knowing them as well as one might know Aesop's Fables. Just think of all the familiar English metaphors and references that come from the Bible: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Sampson and Delilah, reading the handwriting on the wall, Daniel in the lion's den, David and Goliath, "Let my people go," the golden calf, the Ten Commandments, the battle of Jericho, "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone," the good Samaritan, the widow's mite, original sin, "I wash my hands of it," the antichrist, and so on. Such references come up often enough in conversation, written materials, film, and elsewhere that children who are reared without any knowledge of the Bible will find they don't understand many things people are talking about.

So, if one goes to a Christian book store (or ordinary children's book section of a secular store) and picks out something innocuous that tells Bible stories, this should do much of the job of educating children in the traditional Sunday school curriculum. And an excellent way to introduce humanist kids the Moses story is to rent or buy the Dreamworks video Prince of Egypt, which treats the material as a story rather than as religious doctrine.

There's nothing to worry about in all this. No humanist child has been known to have "gotten religion" just from reading a children's book or viewing a video that tells Bible stories. Still, it always helps if a parent discusses any material with a child. And, as noted above, it puts the stories in perspective if the child can be given this material together with books and videos on Greek mythology and the mythology of other cultures. The larger context is always of great benefit.

Mom? Dad? Are you teaching your children doctrine? Or do your children think its just another story?