# "Left Behind" for KIDS? Ewwww... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255 "2001-07-30T18:17:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/21 "2001-07-31T17:42:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Menocchio \* > > The difference is that science books for kids aren’t designed to **scare** the kiddies into accepting the scientific method and rational thought. You’re right they don’t have too. They just use the ole trick of saying it is a fact. > [@](#): > > BTW, what evolution books for kids? \*\* Oh I don’t know? How about the text books? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/22 "2001-07-31T17:42:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > **Well how about the the ole missing ape looking guy turning into a man and what is worse they pass it off as a fact at least on the LB for kids it says fiction on it.** You’re right; anything that attempts to demonstrate an ape turning into a man (as an evolutionary process, rather than a morphological study) should not be passed off as fact. And just because something is labeled as fiction doesn’t mean that children are capable of treating it as such. > [@](#): > > \*\*And what subversive tactics used in the LB for Kids are you talking about if you don’t mind? \*\* Saith RTFirefly: > [@](#): > > **What bothers me is the crass psychological mainpulation of children that these books’ authors, and fundies in general, seem to be comfortable with practicing. There’s that fundie mindset that takes “sorry, we won’t let you run the schools as an extension of Christian Ed” and turns it into “they’ve kicked God out of our schools!”; sounds like these books take that sort of paranoia, amplify it considerably (“Why is the school expelling anyone who dares to talk about God?”), and manipulate kids with it.** ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/23 "2001-07-31T17:43:31Z")
_repeatedly bangs head against the keyboard_ OEUR)(#\*U)(JFUEW)(RO:LEJGOIFDUG09j4lkr4j098regpodf09f3oj ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/24 "2001-07-31T17:47:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*_repeatedly bangs head against the keyboard_ > OEUR)(#\*U)(JFUEW)(RO:LEJGOIFDUG09j4lkr4j098regpodf09f3oj \*\* Oh goodie I just made another commision sell from the computer manufactures that replace damage computer equipment. 😃 But I hope your head is alright. ---
**Author:** ![Journeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/25 "2001-07-31T19:05:32Z")
Is this a hijack? I’m still pretty new here… My experience with Left Behind involved flipping through one of the books to satisfy my curiosity. I have no qualms about stories with relgious context, but the book’s writing left much to be desired. The storytelling stlye is so laughably simplistic. The characters have all the personality of cardboard cutouts, and the plot so predictable that I put the book down after two chapters. I have since stayed far away from them. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/26 "2001-07-31T19:57:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > > You’re right they don’t have too. They just use the ole trick of saying it is a fact.\*\* Given that it is, and is supported as such by all availiable scientific data, I don’t have a problem with that. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Oh I don’t know? How about the text books? \*\* The sad fact is, not enough kids in America are given a proper education in the sciences in general, let alone in biology and evolution. And, in any event, I’ve yet to see a textbook on evolutionary biology sold undercover as juvenille fiction. Nor do they resort to scare tactics, as opposed to reason, which seems to be the selling point of the Left Behind series. FTR: I’ve never read the books, and based on the reviews here, probably won’t bother, which is a shame, since I enjoy apocolyptic fiction. **The Stand** and the tangentially connected **Dark Tower** series standing ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/27 "2001-07-31T20:04:58Z")
On review, I realize I’m coming across as if I disapprove of juvenille literature with a Xtian theme. I do not. As a matter of fact, I believe failure to read at least parts of **The Chronicles of Narnia** to your children should reult in a conviction for criminal negligence. 🙂 The crucial difference is in tone, I believe. One is a fantasy encouraging a loving God who accepts even the righteous among those who are nominally His enemies. The other encourages fear and paranoia, both towards God and those that don’t follow him. Plus **Narnia** cast Christ as a giant talking Lion! How cool is that! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/28 "2001-08-01T00:55:04Z")
Please do NOT discuss evolution vs. creation in this thread about the Left Behind For Kids book series. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/29 "2001-08-01T02:00:05Z")
Me left alone with all the jesus freaks gone?! WOO! Bring me the hookers! The rocks stars! The clearly thinking, non god-fearing sane people! Man, that would be great. The concept of the book could be great if it wasn’t used as a tool to pitch Christianity. In my version, only people who practiced Santeria would be taken to heaven. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![katiekilldare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@katiekilldare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiekilldare)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/30 "2001-08-01T02:22:12Z")
My Sister-in-law (mother of three) read the LB series, and became concerned that perhaps her eldest child could, in fact, be left behind. So, she made sure that her oldest knew my phone number. She decided that if _The Rapture_ comes, chances are Mr. killdare or I would still be around. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/31 "2001-08-01T02:38:50Z")
I still think The Rapture as commonly understood is a bit of miscommunication. What will _really_ happen is all the dead Christians in all the graveyards will rip their way out of the ground, and set off a terrifying Tribulation Period of Zombie Apocalypse[sup]TM[/sup]. And I know if they’d make a kids series out of that, I would have read the hell out of it as a child. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Nekked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/46a35a/32.png) [@Buck\_Nekked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Nekked)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/32 "2001-08-01T02:49:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by katiekilldare \* > \*\*She decided that if _The Rapture_ comes, chances are Mr. killdare or I would still be around. 🙂 \*\* I can’t decide whether I’d consider that a compliment or an insult. At the very least, she considers you highly among the heathens. Enough so to trust you with her only unbegotten daughter. There’s an irony there somewhere. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/33 "2001-08-01T04:22:32Z")
I’m missing something - and I’m not sure what, but I don’t find them particularly creepy. The story doesn’t seem that much scarier than a bunch of other children’s literature, which oftentimes involves death and destruction. (IIRC, my children’s bible included the flood, Sodom and Gommorah, the bears eating the little boys, mass slaughter, and the crucifiction among other stories. I wouldn’t call any of those really happy or anything.) I know I was reading crappy children’s horror novels when I was at these books’ target age group. The books are espousing a certain viewpoint of the end of the world. But it seems to me that most kids who are going to get and read these books have already heard that view from parents, pastors, and friends and the only new thing here is that it’s fictionalized. The same could easily be said about the religious and political viewpoints the books promote. The kids have already heard it. I would bet that most of them have already read about how godless America is ruining their lives in other Christian children’s fiction. It does reinforce the view, but it isn’t introducing that mindset. No, the kids aren’t getting exposed to other views, but the parents are probably limiting other viewpoints anyway, with or without the LB books. My huge objection to the books is that they’re horribly written, and they’re being put up on pedestals as good fiction. Children should not be misled like that. I don’t necessarily agree or disagree with their opinion, but that doesn’t cause me any worry in the least. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/34 "2001-08-01T05:07:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarinth \* > \*\* > The story doesn’t seem that much scarier than a bunch of other children’s literature, which oftentimes involves death and destruction. (IIRC, my children’s bible included the flood, Sodom and Gommorah, the bears eating the little boys, mass slaughter, and the crucifiction among other stories. I wouldn’t call any of those really happy or anything.) I know I was reading crappy children’s horror novels when I was at these books’ target age group. (POSSIBLE “LEFT BEHIND: THE KIDS” SERIES SPOILER) Well, “Left Behind: The Kids” includes a destructive earthquake, rivers sweeping people to their death, mass mental programming, and many more horrors. Although children probably see most of this on TV by the time they are age 10 or so, by that age children often seem to realize that TV is fiction and that the things they see aren’t to be imitated or held up as a good example. My primary objection is that this book series may be no worse than what kids see on TV, but the fact that this is subtly portrayed among the fundamentalist community as a possible reality is what is the scary part. At that age, I’d be quite afraid to imagine my parents, family, and friends just “being raptured.” ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/35 "2001-08-01T05:24:49Z")
Well, I don’t see how it’s any more manipulative/inaccurate than, say, the cartoon “Captain Planet”. And it probably doesn’t have nearly as many subliminal messages. . . ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/36 "2001-08-01T06:39:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by katiekilldare \* > \*\*My Sister-in-law (mother of three) read the LB series, and became concerned that perhaps her eldest child could, in fact, be left behind. So, she made sure that her oldest knew my phone number. She decided that if _The Rapture_ comes, chances are Mr. killdare or I would still be around. 🙂 \*\* Don’t leave anything to chance. Send her my phone number. Well, I guess I might get it by one of those out-of-control cars, but overall, I’m a pretty good bet. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/37 "2001-08-01T14:29:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panchitaville \* > At that age, I’d be quite afraid to imagine my parents, family, and friends just “being raptured.” \*\* Heck buddy when it happens everybody is going to be scared no matter what age they are. I’m curious how come of all of ya’ll keep saying, “they are horribly written”? Could you please cite some examples of what you mean? I thought writing was pretty much creative expression. Art if you will, how can art be terribly done? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/38 "2001-08-01T15:15:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*I’m curious how come of all of ya’ll keep saying, “they are horribly written”? Could you please cite some examples of what you mean? I thought writing was pretty much creative expression. Art if you will, how can art be terribly done? \*\* Just because writing is creative expression doesn’t mean everyone is equally good at it. Art can quite easily be terribly done; if I were to attempt to reproduce the Mona Lisa, you would probably laugh at it. I don’t have access to the Left Behind books, so I can’t provide any examples from them. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/39 "2001-08-01T15:38:46Z")
I see what you are saying Ultra but look at abstact art all that stuff looks really like a junk yard trash but people pay top dollar for it. Or say look at movies what the stupid academy says has nothing to do with how the general populace likes it. So who is to say the academy is better at judging films than the general public(especially since “Where Brother Art Thou?” didn’t win anything. 😉 Anyway you see what I am saying? I think the books were great I have read all of them and anybody that I suggest them to(Christian or not) reads onr they end of reading them all too. So they can’t be as horribly written as people on this thread have said because heck they were a best seller. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255/40 "2001-08-01T16:05:19Z")
The reason they’re best sellers is not because they’re great literature. Best sellers rarely are. Religious fiction (OK, Christian fiction) has been having a big boom for the past 10 years. People like to read books that reflect their own worldview and validate their faith and values. LB does that, and has an exciting plot, and it’s really easy to read. But it isn’t well written at all. It’s really hack, and you can usually tell what’s going to happen, and the people are pretty cardboard. And some people read it for the same reasons that they watch B-movies. I do, anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-for-kids-ewwww/74255.md?page=3)