Just Pretend: A Freethought Book for Children [Paperback]

Dan Barker (Author), Alma Cuebas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2002

This illustrated book for freethinking children examines religions and myths like God and Santa Claus. Overtly freethought, it encourages the child to make his or her own decisions about religion, and champions skepticism, atheism, and informed doubt.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In a world flooded with religious literature, there is a need for material that nonreligious families can present to their children that validates their decision not to believe in gods or myths.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

There is no one in the world who is exactly like you.

You are a human being and you have a mind of your own. Your mind is very special. Your mind helps you to know what is true and false.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877733059
• ISBN-13: 978-1877733055
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Barker (1949-) is co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and co-host of Freethought Radio. After 19 years as an evangelical minister, Dan "saw the light" and announced his atheism in 1984. His first public appearance as an atheist was on Oprah Winfrey's "AM Chicago." Since that time he has traveled extensively, lecturing and performing on college campuses, and participating in more than 90 public debates defending atheism. A former composer of Christian songs and musicals (for which he still receives royalties), Dan is now a jazz pianist and writer of freethought music, including the albums Beware of Dogma and Friendly, Neighborhood Atheist (FFRF, Inc.) Dan has 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and lives with his wife (and co-president) Annie Laurie Gaylor in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo at window by Tim Buchanan. Photo at piano by Brent Nicastro. Photos at microphone by Bruce Press.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shocker for children who were raised to believe God is real!, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Just Pretend (Paperback)

Well illustated book with profound implications for children but, as detailed below, use caution and discuss Santa Claus and God belief with your child before, during, and after your child reads this book - careful and considerate parental attention required!

I've been having an interesting visit with my 8 year old daughter who is staying with me this summer. I gave her 3 books written by Dan Barker and she was fine with "Maybe Yes, Maybe No", a story teaching critical thinking via an example of a girl questioning a story about ghosts. Then, she started reading "Just Pretend, A Freethought Book for Children". Innocent title, that, and she was enjoying the book when it talked about the myth of Santa Claus as I had discussed the Santa Claus issues with her last Christmas.

Unfortunately, I had never discussed the possibility that god belief was a myth, not in clear terms anyway. She is being raised as catholic by her mom. When she got to the page which showed 4 cartoons of god as a woman, man, animal, and half animal-half human, she thought the cartoon was funny, then she read the page and a few that followed it and tossed the book on the floor in a distinct rejection reaction.

Excerpt segments from the pages that shocked my 8 year old daughter:

"Do you know that many people believe in God? They think that God runs the world and runs the universe. Some people grow up and learn that God is *just pretend*, like Santa. But some people still believe God is real."

... skip several pages that build the case to the page that resulted in my daughter's rejection reaction ...

"Why do so many people believe in a god? It's just like the Santa Claus myth. People believe in a god because they were told God is real. Most people were told about a god when they were very young children."

... --- end quote ---

My daughter asked me if crosses and Jesus Christ were myths, too, and when I replied Yes with a little explanation it appeared she was too shocked to continue the discussion, so I put the book aside for awhile. I later read a few more pages to her trying to explain the non-belief point of view and she was more receptive at that time. Sometime this weekend she and I will finish the book and will discuss the ideas in the book more thoroughly.

Even though the approaches in the book are consistent with my views, I wish the author had used a gentler approach to introduce the concept of non-belief as the "Santa Claus as myth / God as myth" approach may be too shocking for children raised to believe God is real. Then again, this book has really got my daughter thinking critically about religion and with quite a bit of input from an adult (especially for younger children brought up to believe God is real), maybe the shock approach is the best approach to get children to *think* critically about religion rather than just accept what they've been told without question.

53 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This will book be a great gift to give it to children, March 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Just Pretend (Paperback)

Just pretend - A freethought book for children Illustrated by Alma Cuebas. I will just quote a passage to illustrate the author's step by easy step approach to the question of belief. "Why so many children believe in Santa Claus? "Because when they were young they were told that Santa is real. "Children believe Santa is real because they enjoy the story. "It is fun to think of gifts, elves, reindeer, and a jolly old man with a red suit who secretly brings gifts into your house at night." You see! It is not rocket science. Let us facilitate honest thinking.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great primer on critical thinking, November 26, 2003

By 

James Wood "Unable to kick a 3 novel a week h... (Denver, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Pretend: A Freethought Book for Children (Paperback)

This is a great book to give a child. It introduces the concept of thinking through what you are told, rather than just accepting everything you hear.
It addresses mythology and reality, and helps them learn to tell the difference.