This, I agree with. Especially the going to church part. It’s one thing to withhold your opinion, but going to church to put on some kind of fake piety show would be tantamount to lying.
This is a strawman since what I was pointing out was that it is hardly surprising that Dio would treat a child differently than posters on this board. Which is what you were pitting him for right here in this thread.
Ever heard of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy? We teach children about those. Children are exposed to lots of nonsense, they mostly seem to turn out fine.
…which is what my non-rhetorical question pertained to.
The difference is that adults (generally, I hope) still don’t believe in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. I trust you realize there’s a huge distinction, considering the majority of adults still believe in God. I don’t see why you would tell a a child differently than you would an adult when it comes to religion–my parents didn’t, and I appreciate them all the more for it.
No, using the example I just gave above to Red Barchetta, it’s the same as an adult pretending to believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, so by that standard parents lie to their children constantly.
From the child’s perspective it is the same thing. Parents do pretend to believe in Santa Claus or the ruse would fail.
No, it’s not. In the case of Santa, the child is presented with evidence that it’s fake, by way of the parents’ testimony (if it even takes that long). Religion stays with most people forever, as it takes root at very fundamentals of people’s lives, shaping how they live and perceive the world, in ways a fairy who takes teeth and a jolly fat guy who delivers presents once a year does not.
They are not at all analogous scenarios.
Yes, it teaches about Hell – that’s not what I said. Catholicism does not teach that those who aren’t Christians go to Hell. Hell was pretty much for those who were truly evil (murderers, rapists, child molestors, etc).
Purgatory was kind of a temporary Hell, kind of like a half-way spot. You’re not nearly bad enough to go to Hell, but you’ve still done some crap, so you need to spend some time here. Think of it like detention. 
Unlike TreacherousCretin, I went to Catholic school in 1980s-early 90s, so this was post-Vatican II. I think the only time I was ever smacked by a nun (or any teacher) was in first grade. And that was because my friends and I were running around at lunch time and banging on the doors of the band room. We each got a light smack on the butt and then the three of us weren’t allowed to sit together at lunch anymore. That’s about it.
It was always more the “sheeps and the goats”, help those in need, do unto others, the Good Samaritan, etc.
That’s not to say it was all candies and roses, but it wasn’t, well, Hell. I went to a Catholic college as well, although one that was super liberal.
I’m not a practicing Catholic anymore, but that’s not because I feel “abused”. (And no, I’m not going into my beliefs here. I’m simply going to describe my experience with a Catholic school. That’s it.)
One thing I’ve noticed about Dio is that he seems unflinchingly, unfailingly devoted to his family. That, more than his debate style or political position, is what sticks in my mind when I think about him.
His daughter was crying. If there were someone I loved with the sort of devotion that he loves his daughter, I would consider doing almost anything to stop them from feeling that kind of pain. That sort of love and consideration seems perfectly in line with the Dio we see around these parts.
Yes, but that doesn’t account for the 11 years he spent raising her contrary to how he presents himself here.
ETA: I’m sure Dio’s a fine parent. I just find it odd that he’ll lay into someone with facts for believing something he thinks to be untrue, but raises his daughter to believe the same beliefs he counters here.
Luxury.
I saw fellow Second-Graders knocked repeatedly on the tops of their heads with the edge of a tightly stacked brick of flash cards (by Sister Dominica); Fourth-Graders hit on top of the head with a fist filled with keys (brass knuckles, in effect, by Sister Marie Lucille);
In sixth grade I was slapped HARD across the face (by Sister Catherine); Seven years behind me, in 1964, my sister saw a fellow First Grader have her nose broken by being violently slammed to the floor face first with a hard, unexpected shove to back of the head (by Sister Elvira Marie).
In every case, the crime had been “speaking out of turn” (whispering surrepititously) to another kid.
The third-world country where these events took place was San Diego, California.
.
Anyone else keep reading this thread as being about an artist?
That’s my situation. Luckily my sister confided in me that she also “lost her faith”, my husband was not raised particularly religious and is of the school “I don’t believe, but most importantly, I don’t care” and some of my friends share my point of view. My daughter is so far totally oblivious to religion (she is almost 6).
At some point I considered sending my child to a Catholic school, despite our atheism, I am glad I came to my senses.
This. I would lie awake in bed terrified of the darkness, of dying in my sleep, thinking about tortured saints (we learned about that in technicolor and lots of details). A 7 year old has no business wondering about torture and hell.
In my school only boys were hit. 
From post #58, the first two paragraphs pretty much explained the situation that Dio agreed to:
That was the precursor to the situation he’s in. I stated in #115:
Then, Spark420 asked THE QUESTION in #122:
Dio’s response in #125:
So, there it is…Dio in a nutshell. It pretty much explains the way he is on this board and now I know Dio’s state of mind when I read any future postings from him w.r.t. religion. He’s trying to honor something at home that creates resentment, and then transfers that energy to the boards. Hey, I’ve seen worse things than this, and I don’t blame him that he values his family more than a bunch of posters who don’t fully appreciate the position he’s in.
Ahhhh, Full contact Catholicism. Women who hated children and pretty much everyone else.
Explanations aren’t justifications. I can respect his situation, but not honor it. These problems could have and should have been addressed long ago, as Dio himself admits. It’s not fair that people here have to endure his acting out.
I suspect that the situation at home has nothing to do with how he posts here. You’re putting your own spin onto this.
I understand that his demeanor (at times) is not justifiable, but at least I now know how to address his posts, which will be far easier now than other posters that are still on my “WTF?!?” list with their posting behaviors. We all need some thick skin to be on this board anyways, so…fair or not, we can deal with his staunch defensive behaviors. Having a personal crisis like Dio’s shows a more human side to him which is refreshing, whereas there are other posters here that constantly offend without rhyme or reason as to why they do what they do.
For the record, when I agreed my home situation might be the reason I “vented on the board,” I was only talking about religious topics. I can be a lot athier here than irl.
I am putting my own spin on this more so than RB, out of personal experience that has some parallels to Dio’s.
Did you post just to disagree? I didn’t spin anything–I commented in regards to the person who suggested it was affecting how he posts here.
Might not be helpful for Dio, but it could be for other dopers reading the thread.