牧师，近期看了你写的关于谈鬼说怪的文章，有些延伸问题。身为家长，我们可以让孩子读以下类别的书籍吗？1. 关于咒语巫师等等的故事。2. 希腊神话。我感到矛盾，因为这些故事有些传递了好的信息，比如哈利波特（友情，亲情），而希腊神话是大家都知道的“知识”。

答：
我和太太有三个孩子，大的两个读大学，小的仍在小学。对儿女看书的事，我和太太的立场基本上是采取上帝对始祖的吩咐与原则：“伊甸园中各样树上的果子，你都可以吃；只是那知善恶树的果子，你不可吃；因为你吃的时候，你必要死。”（创世记二16-17）

我和太太与儿女分享基督徒的信仰和道德原则，并在他们阅读不同类书籍的过程，与他们讨论阅读心得、想法、疑问。基督徒的神学与伦理规范在旧约《十诫》和新约《登山宝训》中说得很清楚（出埃及记二十1-17；马太福音五至七章）。

我没禁止儿女看巫师咒语或希腊神话小说。当然，明显淫乱与色情的书不要看是肯定的。

我把你的问题发给我的孩子。大女儿写了她的心得与回应。她目前是医学生。她用英语来写，因为我们家的WhatsApp群聊里常用英文沟通。她的表达比较口语化，有时哈哈笑hahahaha，也提到我们一家在一个原住民退修会中的分享内容，我和太太是该退修会的讲员。轻松地听一听年轻人的想法吧。

Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Parents play an important role in a child’s life. I think as a parent, you will know your child the best (or I hope so). See how well your kids are able to discern the content. From right and from wrong; from fictional to reality.

In my opinion, if we don’t worship it (addicted to it, worship it as gods, etc), it does not violate the Ten Commandments. As said, there are indeed certain lessons that can be learnt through these books and contents. So it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it or not.

It comes down to two options:

1. You allow them to have access to those contents.

There is a difference between limited access and full access. For me, it poses no harm to have a certain amount of access if they are interested in it. I think a little bit of research from the kids side will do no harm. Like my dad always tell us, it’s fine to explore and know other religions. We live in this world where there are so many things going on. Early exposure and certain knowledge will help your child to navigate and understand the world a bit better.

HOWEVER, it does post a risk in the fact that they get too deep and think that’s real and legitimate. When that happens, parents, be strong and wise. Do NOT condemn. Sit down, have a meaningful discussion. You do your research as well. Understand why they think that way. I believe condemnation and criticism leads to nowhere. So take heart of your emotions and pray to God for wisdom.

2. You do not allow the content.

I get why some parents would choose to go for this option, but as when I was a child, I did not think it is suitable. We are now in a new era, access to these things are just two clicks away. Education is definitely more important that avoidance (of course, education DOES NOT have to mean that they can freely consume any contents).

I do think if we ban it, they will either:
a. Comply and keep it for the rest of their lives,
b. Do it secretly behind your backs.

As with anything strict or banned, it is in our human nature to find it even more so to do it . Just like if you limit screen time, we still gonna do it. You just don’t know.

I think it’s same as my dad’s answer to the Iban pastors’ wives in a retreat, you’ll let us know, have the freedom, but those choice is ours. Of course if go overboard, as parents, you have the right to warn. (Unless your kid too far off rebellious already, hahahaha)

Of course as said by dad, this DOES NOT apply to pornography and sexual/sexuality contents. Although I do think education regarding this topic is important, but it needs to be the correct method of education. Monitoring what they consume is important. Again, make sure they feel safe for discussion and know right from wrong. Else, they may sink in deeper when they do their own research.

文章来源：取自刘世尧面子书，20230904