As we’re preparing to launch our new world history curriculum (Daniel’s Statue: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome), I’ve been really pondering what we homeschoolers should do about teaching pagan mythology to our children.
Should we teach about Greek gods and goddesses? Should we include myths and stories of giants, fairies, ogres, and more?
The homeschooling world seems rather divided on this topic.
What People Say
While surfing the Internet, I found the following opinions on the topic of teaching Greek mythology:
“Don’t teach mythology.”
- Some families purposely teach nothing about Greek mythology because of the Bible’s commands (such as in Exodus 23:13) not to mention the names of false gods or to learn the ways of worship of the pagan nations.
- Once their children are well-grounded in the Bible, these parents might explain a reference to a Greek god or goddess if they stumble upon it, but they don’t give too many details.
- Some parents don’t teach mythology simply because it is fiction. If their state laws do not require it, they don’t address it at all.
“Teach just a little.”
- These parents teach their children the basics of Greek mythology and the most known stories.
- They teach Greek mythology as a background for understanding the culture that surrounded the early church and the context of much of the New Testament. Mythology was part of the very fabric of society and even commerce.
- Some parents teach mythology only from an ancient Hebrew perspective, demonstrating the differences between the true worship of YHWH and the false and perverted mythology of the Greeks.
“Definitely teach mythology.”
- These parents believe that Greek mythology is classic literature and so has value. Learning Greek mythology is part of a well-rounded education. Many (most?) great works of literature (such as Shakespeare) refer back to Greek mythology, and we won’t be able to understand what great authors were saying if we do not know about this topic. (This is often referred to as the “Great Conversation.”)
- Many parents are using a classical style of education and make a point to spend a considerable amount of time teaching Greek myths. They believe they are interesting and enjoyable, even though they teach their children that they are fiction and make-believe.
“For the last two weeks in school, to accompany our history readings about ancient Greece, we have also been reading Greek myths. This has been our favorite thing in school so far this year–even when reading a children’s version of the stories, they’re so fascinating and engaging, and just really well-written.“
- Some parents believe their kids need to learn that other people carry different beliefs, and it is important to teach them how to interact with those beliefs.
- While not wanting to teach idol worship, some parents believe that Greek mythology offers an opportunity for just the opposite — a chance to talk about powerless gods crafted by men, in comparison to our living God.
- They believe that children will be exposed to worldly things eventually, so it is better to expose them when they are still under the care and teaching of the parents in the home. They wish to help their children learn discernment, because they will encounter evil all their life.
- Some people believe that not teaching mythology is “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.” Why study literature at all? Or read fairy tales? Or watch movies or read fiction or story books?
What Scripture Says
What makes a person well-educated in God’s eyes?
- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
According to this verse, we literally wouldn’t need to study anything else in addition to Scripture to be equipped for every good work.
- “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).
Should we take this literally? “Everything we need”?
Whose eyes matter?
- “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
What if state standards require us to study mythology? What if every other family thinks we’re crazy?
- “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).
- “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
What does God say about worshiping other gods?
- “You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars —all the heavenly array —do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).
- “Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the Lord your God, and do not erect a sacred stone, for these the Lord your God hates… If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky, and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly… You must purge the evil from among you” (Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7).
- “…If I have regarded the sun in its radiance
or the moon moving in splendor,
so that my heart was secretly enticed
and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,
then these also would be sins to be judged,
for I would have been unfaithful to God on high” (Job 31:26-28).
- “This is what the Lord says:
‘Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good'” (Jeremiah 10:2-5). - “But our fathers refused to obey [Moses]. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made. But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?
You have lifted up the shrine of Molech
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon'” (Acts 7:39-43). - “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).
Okay, so idolatry is obviously wrong. But what about learning the mythology of ancient Greece?
- “Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips” (Exodus 23:13).
- “Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them” (Joshua 23:7).
- “The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips” (Psalm 16:4).
What does it mean not to invoke the names of other gods (Exodus 23:13)? Isn’t this referring to not speaking the names of other gods in a worshipful manner, or swearing an oath by their names, or doing something in their name?
Only the NIV translates Exodus 23:13 as “Do not invoke the names of other gods.” Look at it in some other translations:
- “And be watchful in all that I have said to you. And you shall not mention another god by name; it shall not be heard from your mouth” (LITV).
- “And in all that I have said to you take heed. And make no mention of the name of other mighty ones, let it not be heard from your mouth” (ISR).
- “…and in all that which I have said unto you ye do take heed; and the name of other gods ye do not mention; it is not heard on thy mouth” (YLT).
- “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips” (ESV).
- “Listen to everything that I, the LORD, have said to you. Do not pray to other gods; do not even mention their names” (GNB).
- “And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth” (KJV).
What does it mean to not mention the names of other gods?
“and make no mention of the name of other gods; neither call upon them, nor swear by them, nor make vows to them; and, as little as possible, ever utter their names, and never with pleasure and delight, and showing any honour of them, and reverence to them, but with the utmost detestation and abhorrence:
neither let it be heard out of thy mouth; not any of their names; the same thing in different words, the more to inculcate and impress the thing upon the mind, and to show with what vehemence and earnestness this is pressed” (John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible).“make no mention of the name of other gods, etc. — that is, in common conversation, for a familiar use of them would tend to lessen horror of idolatry” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown).
Do people in our modern culture really “learn the ways” by reading Greek mythology?
- Well, I dunno. Ever heard someone say, “Good luck“? or “Knock on wood“? or 12 more words and phrases we get from Greek mythology? Ever seen anyone throw salt over their shoulder when cooking?
- What about statues? Many statues of heroes and famous people have been erected across our cities. Are these biblical, even if we’re just remembering someone’s good deeds rather than worshiping them as a god? Exodus 20:4 says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (ESV). Most of our statues are made in Greek form.
- What about funerals? Ever wondered why we place flowers at the grave of a loved one?
- Why do grooms carry brides over the threshold?
As one website stated, most modern people claim not to believe in these superstitions, but we do them anyway because “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
This is just the tip of the iceberg of how we have “learned their ways.”
The trick comes in figuring out how to unravel the thousands of years of pagan customs that have woven themselves into our everyday lives, even without our knowing about it. (I don’t have this all figured out. It certainly is a tangled mess!)
But how can we teach our children to discern evil and be prepared for it in the “real world” if we don’t carefully expose them to it at home?
What about the children who are exposed to the immoral evil of Greek mythology? (Or Shakespeare, for that matter!) Just because something is old doesn’t make it good! How many teenagers had their first taste of pornography while exposed to “art” through literature, history, and even Christian museums and books?
Note that the Greek word porneuo is translated “fornication” in the King James Version.
- to prostitute one’s body to the lust of another
- to give one’s self to unlawful sexual intercourse
- to commit fornication
- to be given to idolatry, to worship idols
- to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry
What about all the stories of evil and idolatry in the Bible, as well as the mention of the names of foreign gods? Isn’t reading them the same as reading Greek mythology?
The difference is that the Bible’s stories portray evil as evil and good as good. We do see that Moses was instructed to read the entire Torah in the hearing of all people, even the children, yet some of the evil deeds recorded in the Torah are enough to make anyone blush. However, by reading God’s commands to all people of all ages, everyone was equally hearing God’s definition of sin, as well as His pronouncement of judgment and condemnation on those who sinned.
However, ancient literature from other cultures simply portrays stories of humanity and human-like gods. Sin isn’t labeled as evil but just as an honest portrayal of mankind. Humanity is lifted up as the ultimate expression, and that’s the difference.
“Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).
I really like how John Wesley says it.
“We are in danger of missing our way on the right hand and on the left, and it is at our peril if we do, therefore we have need to look about us. A man may ruin himself through mere carelessness, but he cannot save himself without great care and circumspection; particularly since idolatry was a sin they were much addicted to, and would be greatly tempted to, they must endeavor to blot out the remembrance of the gods of the heathen, and must disuse all their superstitious forms of speech, and never mention them but with detestation. In Christian schools and academies (for it is in vain to think of re-forming the play-houses) it were to be wished that the names and stories of the heathen deities or demons rather were not so commonly and familiarly used” (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes).
It’s something to thing about, huh?
What should our curriculum standard be?
- “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
Well done Anne! A very good article, well researched and Scripturally sound! I thank our Father for you!
Praying that we all have wisdom and courage to *apply* it!
Wow Anne! You took something that I’ve been thinking about and struggling with for several years and put it all together for me. Everyone has differing opinions on this, but as believers, we must always come back to “what do the Scriptures say?”. Thank you for all your research and time putting this together. This will help me articulate this to others.
Laurie, I’ve been truly agonizing! I *love* when the Scriptures are so plain though. It really helps a lot.
I don’t think you could purge all references to those Greek and Roman false gods from any education. We recently learned that all of the planets are named after Greek/Roman gods. What are we to do, rename every planet? We would not be able to have a sensible conversation outside our family about the universe and the wonders God has placed there, or why Venus, Uranus, Jupiter support the creation account in the Bible… I didn’t know it before this article, but I must fall into the “teach it just a little” catgeory. I don’t want my family spending much time on the gods, and I don’t care what someone else says is “classic” literature, but I agree that it is wiser for me to teach them a little about it while I can still guide their thoughts back to the true God. Ultimately our goal is to launch children that can function well in the world as salt and light, who can relate to those who are lost by sharing the Truth of the Gospel. I want mine to be rock-solid in their own beliefs first. Just my thoughts.
I see your point about “teaching it just a little.” In fact, in the curriculum we’re writing, we are mentioning that Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome all served false gods, and we’re using an Usborne book that has a few pages (less than a dozen out of 400 pages) that reference pagan worship. But our plan is to have the students look up and discuss all of the verses that were in today’s post, and to constantly do what Wesley says: “never mention them but with detestation.” We want our children to know that people do worship “created things,” but we want to clearly and loudly name it as evil, not as “interesting.”
Anne, I really enjoyed reading this. I appreciate that you approached the topic from all angles, even giving the opinions of those who believe differently. All too often, I find myself taking a stand on something, only to find out later that I didn’t have all of the information. I generally end up looking like a fool, and maybe I am! lol
Anyway, I agree with everything you’ve laid out here. I think more people would agree with you, if they weren’t afraid of seeming “weird,” or if they didn’t automatically accept traditional teaching styles. I loved what you said – just because it’s old doesn’t make it good. I’ve struggled with this myself, when it comes to elements of magic in television and literature. I rationalized, thinking, “well, no one thinks that Tinkerbell or Glenda the Good Witch of the North, or Gandalf is bad. So what’s wrong with Harry Potter, since the lines of good and evil are clearly drawn?” But I didn’t want to be one of “those people” who believed something just for the sake of wanting to believe it, so I really studied what God had to say about magic and magic users, and the effect that these things are having on our culture. I finally understood that I could convince myself that it was alright, but I could never convince God. And since He created me and purchased me, I figure He has every right to tell me how I ought to live. Not to mention, He always has our best interests in mind. I am truly working to learn to trust Him, in every aspect of my life. It’s a long journey, because I’m nowhere near there, and I might say it’s a difficult journey, but when I trust Him completely, things get easier. Easier than if I were trying to go my own way every moment.
Switching gears here, and I mean this constructively, my Bible doesn’t say anything about a scarecrow in a melon patch. I get the meaning, but I would be afraid to read a translation that takes such creative license. I’m not saying this to criticize you, but only because I believe you are the kind of person who will take a step back and ask the hard question: “Am I sure I am reading the right translation?”
Thank you so much, Amy! Please help me, though. You mentioned, “Switching gears here, and I mean this constructively, my Bible doesn’t say anything about a scarecrow in a melon patch. I get the meaning, but I would be afraid to read a translation that takes such creative license.”
I’m not trying to be dumb, but I’m not sure which translation this is. I want to be wise in the translations I use, so please, fill me in! 🙂
Hugs,
~Anne
Oh, hold on, I see it now. The NIV translates Jeremiah 10:5 as “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk.”
Yup…. Yeah… I get what you’re saying! Of all the translations I used today, the NIV was the worst on *all* the idolatry passages. It was a little odd to me, and now you’re confirming it.
I honestly believe that the problem comes because we are 2000+ years removed from the original languages and cultures — and wow, Babylon and her idolatry have really spread through all the world, just as Scripture says.
I truly believe that the best alternative is to learn to read, speak, and write in Hebrew. I’m just not there yet, so I do praise God for all the translators who have done their best to put the Word into English. And I look forward to the day when Messiah rights the languages of all! Until then, I’d like to learn Hebrew — and I’ll just have to struggle along in English with all its problems.
P.S. The ISR translates Jeremiah 10:5 as “They are like a rounded post, and they do not speak. They have to be carried, because they do not walk.” The ESV says, “Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field.” The KJV says, “They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not.” Wow, got some Hebrew idioms going on here! 🙂
Yep, that’s the one! I’ve always been taught that the KJV goes all the way back to the original language, so that’s the one I use. I don’t mid reading other translations, and I know God can and will reach those who are softened toward Him, no matter what translation they are using, but I think I would try to stick with a translation that comes as close as possible during my regular Bible study. I know we can’t always get word for word, because some words just don’t translate, or because we don’t have enough English words to properly express the Hebrew or Greek word being used. (For instance, we only have one word for love.) But I wouldn’t *study* a paraphrase, or a translation of a translation, or anything that obviously takes a creative license. I’ve read places in the NIV where the text seems to be saying the opposite of the KJV. I just don’t understand how that could have happened. For instance, Psalm 19:3. The NIV is basically saying that the heavens have no voice, but the KJV is saying that the heavens speak in every language. Anyway, another instance where I open my mouth without having a good argument handy, but I always err on the side of safety when it comes to translations. I wouldn’t have a problem reading another translation, if I could be absolutely sure that they were going all the way back to the original languages, and translating as closely as possible. The KJV has been the standard for so long now; it’s the one I trust.
I want to thank my wife for an excellent job of writing an article to explain this foundational teaching of Scripture. No we cannot escape paganism. But Jesus does give clarity when He says, “Be in the world, not of it.” Most curriculum, both in the secular and the “Christian” homeschooling circles, exalts the “Classics” as essential to a proper education. Who says? God or man? I recently heard a man coming back from the Patrick Henry College bragging on the homeschooling students who knew so much of classical literature. This man is a writer and employee of Answers in Genesis!! Now AiG and this man I highly respect, but it shows the ignorance or brainwashing we believers have in adopting the syncratic ways of the world. I grew up in public education. I remember every Shakespearian work I read. I remember every warped book that was “required” reading in order for me to have a “well-rounded” education. I remember the pornography, fornication, illicit references in those works that were heralded as normal or common. I remember the nudity I was exposed to my 9th grade year in Romeo and Juliet, and my brothers and sisters in MacBeth. These “classics” of literature time and time again go against everything we seek to promote to our children. I have never read Hamlet, but I can tell you what the story is about. Why? Because I have heard the Cliff Notes version of it. I didn’t have to be engrossed in it to understand what it is about. There are much better stories in the Bible to explain the same meaning. How about Oedipus Rex or 1984 or even the Latin classics. It blows my mind how many Christians teach Latin to their children while maybe getting to Greek and Hebrew. That right there shows where we place our values. It is better to understand the classics in their original language than the Bible in its.
I hope this post gets all to think…and if the Spirit so leads, to act. Thank you again honey for a great post!
Thank you, dear friend, for your words of wisdom.
In my mind, you are *spot on* as the Brits say. We have had many *looks* or comments from others about certain words that we do not use (magic, etc), but we stick to our guns. C and I looked up some words in the encyclopedia many years ago for her to understand where they originated. She is very sensitive to these things and stays away.
We also had one of those *but the planets are named after Greek gods* conversation the other day. She wanted to re-name them all. Only then do we talk about things and I help her to understand that we do LIVE in this world, but we do not need to be OF this world. We will address things only as they come up, and we have a very open communication relationship where she will tell me everything. All good, cuz we can then talk about it.
Thank you, again, for blessing my day today. I pray, even now, that you will truly be blessed by the LORD in your ways of loving Him and being true to Him.
Many thanks to you for this article! This year, as part of our “Christian curriculum” we were to read the “Children’s Homer”. After the first chapter, my heart was greatly grieved. I went to my husband with my concerns that while this was supposed to be “classic literature” – I did not want the children hearing stories and tales that gloried pagan idols (which demons hide behind). I was so glad when my husband told me not to continue reading it to the children! It is one thing to mention that certain civilizations worshiped idols (like when I taught through the 10 plagues in Egypt – and how each plague was designed to show how G-d was above/more powerful than the Egyptian idols). But it is something else to indoctrinate them with tales designed to glorify false gods.
Kraig said:
” It blows my mind how many Christians teach Latin to their children while maybe getting to Greek and Hebrew”. Me too. I had a conversation with someone about Classical Conversations as a new group is starting up this year. I said I was concerned about the Latin focus as I don’t want to spend time on that. The reply was that it helps with other foreign languages and scientific terms. I replied that it all depended on which languages you were learning. Latin does not help if you are learning Hebrew or Chinese, for example.
It just goes to show where our perspective is. I also told this person as far as science goes, first of all, who says my blessing will be a scientist anyway? And even if she does go that route, she can pick up the Latin terms later. It is a lot easier to learn Latin that it is to learn Hebrew or Chinese!
Abrianna: As far as the learning of Latin to open the door to learning other foreign languages, it is true that if you study the roots and endings, the declensions and conjugations of one language understanding how it is formed, you can then use that same methodology to understand any other language – including Hebrew or Chinese.
The study of Latin is foundational for many languages that are common to us these days, and many roots of words that have become a part of our English. Music uses latin, art, will your blessing be avoiding those as well?
Anna and Mr. Elliott:
C.S. Lewis and Tolkien both credit the idea of myth as revealing to them the truth of the True Story. Every man-made fairy tale where good and evil battle it out, and there are men with the “god-spark” in them reflect the truth of God’s story, of Jesus, of the need for a savior who is supernatural, both God and man.
If we take what you are saying literally then literally we will never mention the names of the planets or the months or the days of the week – or avoid it and then only say them with detestation. Where is the New Testament freedom in Christ to eat any meat and not honor one day above another? Remember WE are the gentiles! We are in a different dispensation where everything is about evangelizing the world. Paul said he would be all things to all men that he may win some to Christ. He also said when in Rome do as the Romans. No, I don’t believe this means worship or sacrifice to idols. But I am sure he had a working knowledge of the Roman culture – being a Roman citizen, even though he was a Pharisee among Pharisees – in order that he could conversate with them and reason with them or use logic to show them the falsity of their worship with God’s reasoning and logic. Paul was very well read, made allusions to other works within the Bible – showing that we do have permission if no commission to do so ourselves.
Or course there are boundaries, we have read Lord of the Rings and Narnia, but not Harry Potter. I can’t be the Holy Spirit however for a family that does or participates in Halloween or Christmas and Easter traditions.
Our education should absolutely be Christ centered and integrated: every subject pointing to the other, pointing to God, and God pointing to every subject pointing to each other. It’s all his world.
The Bible does not give us another name for the planets, and we don’t use the names Israelites used for the months and days – we don’t even call a day what God calls a day: evening and morning of the sixth day… nor the Sabbath – Friday evening to Saturday evening. We worship on Sundays – and people think it’s “The Lord’s Day” as in the Sabbath. Every day is The Lord’s Day – I will rejoice and be glad in it! 🙂
I appreciate your article, but I do believe there is more to extra biblical literature and the “rules” one should set up concerning it than what you have presented here.
Anne, Anne, Anne! I am nearly speechless because this very topic has been weighing heavily on me TODAY!!! I was just anxiously thinking how glad I am my son will be starting 1st grade this fall and not 2nd grade because the classical christian program we use really gets into the false gods beginning in 2nd grade. I have to agree with your article 100% and it such a BLESSING to listen in and glean from another sister’s wisdom on this incredibly relevant (and sometimes confusing) topic! I am overwhelmed at Abba’s goodness and faithfulness to His children to lead us in His Way. Thank you so very much for allowing Him to use you to answer a question that has obvioulsy been tugging at many people’s hearts! Bless you!!!
Teach about them, definitely. They are in our culture, like it or not. Not only in our days of the week, names of the month, but also in a lot of commercial products: sports (Nike, Osiris, etc), cars (Mercury, Saturn) and in tons of company logos (things like suns and swooshes and stars). Also all over Washington D.C. in paintings and in statues.
I teach about them with Gen 6 in mind,
1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, Â 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. Â 3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Â 4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
I show my kids that these ancient myths hold a bit of truth. There were nephilim (transhumans) that were larger, stronger than mere humans and those rose in status. Interesting take here: http://seedtheseries.com/blog/BR0.html
Thank you, Anne, for this timely post. In the past I had not had any particular position on the Greek myths. I remember reading many of them when I was younger, and have in fact read some to my children, of which we always then talk about what we read in light of Scripture. But recently I have been re-thinking exposing my kids to so much of this mindset, and this particular year Greek and Roman mythology is heavily roled in our curriculum. Pretty much I was planning on just not using those portions. Two Scriptures that the Lord brought to mind as I questioned this is 1 Tim 1:14 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. And, Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. The main thing–they turn us from truth, and they cause needless questions not edifying truth. My desire is for my children to know and love truth, and we know from Scripture that Jesus IS truth.
Oh my, this literalist interpretation out of context befuddles and greatly concerns me. This, to me, is the biggest danger in deserting the tradition that Jesus left with us in Peter. I pray that the children you are raising don’t go out into the world and immediately turn from God when they see the lies and contradictions presented by your willful ignorance of all the truth He has bestowed on us outside of the NIV.
Thank you SO very much for writing this!!! You are awesome! 🙂
Wow another blessing from Abba Father, finding your site today! We educate our children where all the falsities can be found, often with elaboration on when they began officially, (such as pagan names of the planets, days of the week etc) But we will absolutely not read “literature” surrounding these subjects unless it is a specific requirement, and we will be seeking to avoid that if at all possible. .. I really had to chime in on the Bible versions part – Please please bless yourself and read “Ruach Qadim” by Andrew Gabriel Roth to find that our socalled NT was in fact written in Aramaic, which *actually* was the language of the common person in Yeshua’s time and place. Ever notice how certainof Yeshua’s words were left in Aramaic? (Talitha Kumi, Abba, Rabboni, Mammon, maranatha, there are more, preserved as clues for us) There are so many proofs it is not even funny, this Greek primacy tale is another lie from you know where. The Father DID protect His sacred word, and soon more of us will find it. And the customary “full measure to running over blessing” from Adonai for finding His treasure? the Aramaic RHYMES – ck the Lord’s prayer, it is a beautiful rhyming poem, full of plays on words and more, as is most of the ReNewed Covenant. HallaluYah! Please email me if you are interestd in more, gotta run! Shabbat Shalom all!
During listening to Bible on tape, 1 Timothy 4:7 would be the first verse I would hear. The Spirit was working on what this meant in our homeschool. This morning, I stumbled upon this website when I was googling how to homeschool with the Bible as our textbook. Praise God for answered prayers!
Thanks for that encouragement, Angela! 🙂
In the book of John, there are seven times that Jesus calls himself “I Am…”. All seven of those references are direct challenges to the gods of Asia Minor. By understanding more about those gods, we can more fully understand what Jesus was saying and His intent. The same is true of the plagues that God sent on Egypt. All of history is filled with ungodly people and myths. If we choose to ignore parts of it, we are left without knowing the full story of what God has done and is doing in the world. I do believe we should be careful in what we teach our children as well as in how it is presented, but I don’t believe that by studying history in it’s entirety, we are sinning against God. We are looking back on His Story to see His hand woven throughout all of time.
Thank you very much for posting this article. Most people have never heard of the texts that say not to mention the names of false gods, or learn about them, their reputations, or their powers.
In eighth grade, I was required to read about Greek and Roman mythology, and I was fascinated with the “stories”. I found myself being drawn into it deeper and deeper, and checked out as many books on the subject from the library as I could find. I was beginning to feel a real connection with these characters. Praise the Lord, my mother saw what was happening, and very gently talked with me, and shared with me that these “myths” were about the very same Pagan gods that Paul and the other disciples were trying to convert the Gentiles from worshiping, and that these “stories” were part of the Pagan worship. I was completely stunned. I don’t know why it was not clearer to me myself. I was so shocked, and I immediately decided I would not learn any more about these false gods. It was a temptation for some time, but God has given me the victory over this temptation to get into idol worship.
I was then very upset with my (public) school: How could they teach us about Pagan gods, but were forbidden to teach us about the true and living God?
I am now teaching my own two children in home school. We do not mention the names of foreign gods, and we will not learn the Greek or Roman myths. We do not buy toys with false gods’ names on them. It is getting increasingly more difficult to remain pure from this idolatry that is creeping into our culture, but difinitely worth the trouble.
We have been a “voice crying in the wilderness” in our cirlcle of friends and acquaintences, both Christian, and non-Christian. I’m so happy to hear you have this conviction, also.
I just found your site….what a blessing it is to me! Excellent article and thank you soooo much for taking the time to research what the Bible has to say about the issue. This year I abandoned part of our history curriculum “History Pockets – Ancient Civilizations” with my young children after coming to the Greece/Rome section where they color and construct a well known temple to a goddess. After hearing what the Word of God has to say about it I’m confident with my decision not to every waste our time on such foolishness again!
May God Bless You!
It is such a blessing and relief to find your article! I was searching the internet for info on how to put together a world history curriculum that DOESN’T memorialize the things the Father warned us against. We have been using a Classical/Charlotte Mason approach, although I have struggled since year one with the direction they take on teaching history. I decided not to teach chronologically from the beginning, because I wanted to wait till they were well grounded in the truth, before I filled their heads with myths.
This year we began our chronological voyage through history, and as we were reading a chapter in one of the popular history spines my daughters facial expressions became pained. My oldest said, “Mom, can you just stop saying those names, maybe you can just read it without the names”. I think we were all just so uncomfortable, and so I gladly said I would try. It was quickly apparent that that was pointless, and we closed the book and called it a day. LOL.
I want them to have a good understanding, I want them to see how pervasive this stuff is, and how steeped our society is in it, which can only be because we haven’t obeyed. Exodus 23:13 says we are to be circumspect (beware), and that we are not to “zawkar” mention, recount, record, the names of the pagan deities.
Thank you for your article! Thank you for stepping up and putting together the materials to enable others to take an obedient approach! It’s muddy business stepping out of past error, and accepting the Word for what it says. May our children be well equipped for the Father’s work! -Laura
Hi, Anne! I love this post and totally agree – thank you for your boldness and your faithfulness to teaching God’s Word. My oldest will start homeschool soon (kindergarten age) and I don’t know where to start…there’s so much on here! Can you recommend some posts you may have for beginners? I’ve been looking into curriculum options but I’m turned off at how little Bible there is, even in Christian curriculum. I want the Bible to be primary and other subjects secondary. I just don’t know where to look to get started! Any tips you could offer would be greatly appreciated :o) What did you use when you began homeschooling?
Hi, Karly! Here are some places to start here:
http://homeschoolingbible.com/hints-for-homeschooling-a-kindergartener/
http://annesschoolplace.com/downloads/learningtoread.pdf
And have you seen these books?
http://foundationspress.com/homeschool-support-2/homeschool-how-to-series/
Please, feel free to write back as you’re starting to make decisions and have more questions!
Hugs,
~Anne
In delving into the bible about this for myself; how do we reconcile the fact that the bible itself makes mention of other gods?
Also, I noticed that in your history curriculum you use books specifically about these other gods, did you revamp your thoughts on this?
Here is a segment from my conclusion on the topic of teaching mythology to our children. In it we explain our view as one of extreme caution. We seek to certainly not portray mythology in a good light…especially in it’s relation to God and His Word. Many today, and throughout recent history, go so far as to place the Bible and pagan mythology on the same footing. This is taught in schools, on the internet, and in books, sometimes very inconspicuously. We see mythology as important in the fact that it is part of a historical culture. It is one part of historical documentation and primary sources that show us how they think and act. We desire to give parents the option to read these things and then decide how much they want to share with their children. For example, learning about some of the Babylonian/Persian mythology gives light to the stories of Nebuchadnezzer, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednigo, Daniel, the wise men who visited Jesus’ family after his birth, Esther, Nehemiah, etc. This is because we can see phrases, names, actions taken by pagans more correctly when we place them in the light of how they dealt with their gods and how they dealt with the one, true God. Personally we believe that we are not to be striving to study these things extensively. We are not to make pagan mythology a primary part of our study. We certainly do not want to make it seem that pagan mythology is good or right. We seek to follow God’s example in showing that it is wrong and often in juxtaposition to God’s way of living. Here is the excerpt from our conclusion which states that we highly suggest being very discerning as parents but that we also see that God himself shared aspects of the practices of the worshippers of other god’s and how they were evil:
“This is just the tip of the iceberg of how we have “learned their ways.”
The trick comes in figuring out how to unravel the thousands of years of pagan customs that have woven themselves into our everyday lives, even without our knowing about it. (I don’t have this all figured out. It certainly is a tangled mess!)
But how can we teach our children to discern evil and be prepared for it in the “real world” if we don’t carefully expose them to it at home?
What about the children who are exposed to the immoral evil of Greek mythology? (Or Shakespeare, for that matter!) Just because something is old doesn’t make it good! How many teenagers had their first taste of pornography while exposed to “art” through literature, history, and even Christian museums and books?
Note that the Greek word porneuo is translated “fornication” in the King James Version.
What about all the stories of evil and idolatry in the Bible, as well as the mention of the names of foreign gods? Isn’t reading them the same as reading Greek mythology?
The difference is that the Bible’s stories portray evil as evil and good as good. We do see that Moses was instructed to read the entire Torah in the hearing of all people, even the children, yet some of the evil deeds recorded in the Torah are enough to make anyone blush. However, by reading God’s commands to all people of all ages, everyone was equally hearing God’s definition of sin, as well as His pronouncement of judgment and condemnation on those who sinned.
However, ancient literature from other cultures simply portrays stories of humanity and human-like gods. Sin isn’t labeled as evil but just as an honest portrayal of mankind. Humanity is lifted up as the ultimate expression, and that’s the difference.
“Woe to those who call evil good< /br>
and good evil,< /br>
who put darkness for light< /br>
and light for darkness,< /br>
who put bitter for sweet< /br>
and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).
I really like how John Wesley says it.
It’s something to thing about, huh?
What should our curriculum standard be?
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).