For the longest time, I've given instruction and information to my son on the basis of my authority. I was older, more learned, and knew things he did not, so I dictated my knowledge to him. It occurred to me yesterday, though, that he now has numerous voices authoritatively dictating to him (teachers; school friends telling him all manner of things about girls, boys, baseball, and Star Wars; his grandparents trying to indoctrinate him with Christian nonsense; the television trying to subtly brainwash him with marketing jargon) and I do him no service by being one more voice in the crowd. I need to change my style with him and begin to reason or show him how to evaluate claims.

The discussion yesterday morning was whether today was the last day in March. His claim was that the calendar at school said today was the last day in March. I told him that it was not and wanted to mount an argument for him when I realized that calendars are completely conventional. There is no argument to mount for what day it is today that isn't an argument from authority. My mind wandered and then I realized that theological discussions are the same way. There's no empirical basis for gods, saviours, or paradises, so the best you can do is mount competing "is too" and "is not" arguments.

I am continually amazed as I watch my child grow up at just how puerile adult religious belief is.