No Ties Between Bible Negligence and Parental Laxity in Europe
Dear Editor,
I appreciate The Christian Post's content, but I have to disagree with the views in your recent editorial, "Europe is Neglecting More than Just its Children" (May 21, 2007).
The piece very rightly notes that Europe has seen a strong decline in Christian belief and values (as has the United States, though we're not yet as far down the path). But it goes on to blame many Europeans' greater willingness to leave their children unattended on the "neglect of God's word."
I'm old enough to remember when even small American children were far less supervised than they are now. Children were told to "go out and play" and might not be seen again until suppertime. Leaving a baby on the street in its stroller while mom shopped inside was once common even in large cities. This was at a time when America was much more clearly a Christian nation than it is today.
Americans used to see public spaces as much safer than they do now. I think this, not the "neglect of God's word," made them more willing to leave their children unsupervised.
Certainly Christian faith is in bad shape in Europe. But if European parents feel safer on their own streets than we do on ours, we should be examining ourselves, not blaming them.
Thanks,
John Brady
Barton, OH
