Being an open-minded, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent person means that you put in the effort to understand other perspectives. It’s rude to go about insulting anyone who has a different perspective on faith than you. But some parents don’t manage to teach their children this basic lesson.
One man, who is an atheist, asked the internet if he went too far after he ruined Easter for his local community. According to u/Eastershowdownlol, a 9-year-old kid, whose parents are religious fanatics, accused him of worshipping the devil. Not in the mood for a lecture, the man agreed with this, scaring the kid. Scroll down for the full story and an update from the author.
It's bizarre to see a child openly judge you for believing in different things
Image credits: Image source / Envato (not the actual photo)
This man shared how he scared a small kid from a religious background after he insulted him for being an atheist
Image credits: Satura_ / Envato (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Eastershowdownlol
Authority figures shape kids' behavior, values, and communication style
Image credits: Sandra Seitamaa / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
On the one hand, kids don’t fully grasp social etiquette, have a filter for their thoughts, or understand how being too direct could be rude. That being said, it’s not like they’re completely oblivious either. Their attitudes, perceptions, and behavior are largely shaped by authority figures, like their parents, teachers, media personalities, etc.
So, if a kid goes around accusing someone who doesn’t share the same faith as them of devil worship, it’s very likely that they got that idea from someone in their family or social circle. In other words, their parents are likely (un)intentionally raising them to have a certain worldview. In this case, an incredibly judgmental and intolerant one.
To be fair, it’s not like the rest of humankind is innocent in this regard. The vast majority of people make snap judgments about other people, events, and places all the time, whether they realize it or not. We are bombarded with so much information throughout the day that generalizing certain things is how we navigate through life while staying (more or less) sane. And yet, this isn’t an excuse for rudeness, insults, or discrimination.
You have to remember that, even though people are judgmental, they’re also wired for empathy, community, connection, and building relationships. We’re all social animals, for lack of a better term. If you constantly make instant judgments about people before getting to know them, you potentially miss out on friendships and partnerships. It’s important to be critical without over-the-top criticism.
Everyone is judgmental to a certain extent, but we all have to put in the effort to be more empathetic and open-minded
Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
“Judgment is a cognitive ability that helps us assess people, situations, and relationships based on the sensory evidence available to us to come to conclusions and make decisions. It's an important skill, but it's also important for us to wield it carefully so we can avoid being overly critical of others,” Verywell Mind explains.
Judgmental people tend to make negative assumptions without having all the facts, see the entire world through their subjective biases, lack empathy, and are often unhappy with their lives. What’s more, they tend to devalue other people so that they feel better about themselves, and they view others as competitors, instead of potential collaborators.
Open-minded individuals, in contrast, are understanding, reasonable, empathetic, support others, and generally try to look for the best in people and situations.
They do their best to look past other people’s flaws, embrace nuance, avoid black-or-white thinking, and don’t avoid others who aren’t like them.
How do you protect your boundaries, whether from strangers or family? How would you react if someone accused you of worshipping the devil just because you were an atheist or had a different religion from them? If you’re a parent, what are you doing to ensure that your kids grow up to be empathetic and open-minded, rather than overly judgmental of others? Share your thoughts with all the other readers and us in the comments below.
Many internet users sided with the author, and here's their perspective
Not everyone was on the same page, though. Some folks called out the way the man behaved
Later, the author shared an update about all the social fallout
Image credits: Eastershowdownlol
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