So, my brother bought my 3 y.o. son some Veggie Tales DVD's ...

[NewHampshireDem]

We are not Christians and not that I am anti-Christian, but we are choosing not to raise our children in that tradition. (I'm a Buddhist agnostic, myself, and my wife is an athiest.)

They aren't the ones that are specifically about the Bible (as far as I know): One is the "Bublyburg Superhero" set and the other is "Duke and the Great Pie War."

We haven't opened them yet ... send them back or keep them?

[blondeatlast]

1. They are actually pretty harmless for the most part.

My son used to select them at the library and at 8, he's already decided he's agnostic even though I'm a practicing Christian and daddy's a lapsed Hindu--yet my son loved most of them and watched them over and over.

I doubt that even atheists would find them terribly offensive, really. If one didn't know the Biblical stories to which they refer, I doubt one would even make that connection.

The way I look at it is there's a lot of really crappy stuff out there for the youngsters and the writing and production values on the VTs are pretty strong (I order AV for a library, and when it comes to kids' stuff, that's a BIG consideration).

Screen them first if in doubt, but if you choose not to, I don't think you'll find anything offensive about them.

[Shine]

2. Yeah, we were given some Veggie Tale videos, too, and I also

had some trepidation about the whole Christianity thing. But they ended up mostly being about interpersonal skills, being kind to one another, stuff like that...There was no hardcore indoctrination at all and I don't even remember the Bible being mentioned.

My take is, they're pretty harmless. Plus, my kids liked the cutesy little songs. Singing vegetables...hey, it doesn't get much better than THAT! hahah.

:hi:
Shine

[lostnfound]

4. Yes, I even detected some lefty propaganda in at least one!

Shows the evils of piracy of other people's treasures and the importance of sharing and of placing a higher value on the needs of others than on your own wealth

[NewHampshireDem]

3. Thanks for the feedback ...

I grew up with Davey and Goliath and look at me! Obviously the indoctrination didn't take :)

[tigereye]

5. those folks have a great sense of humor

and don't hit you over the head with their religious beliefes.

[Tab]

6. I live in NH

and took my son to see the Jonah one, not realizing the slant on it, but I agree with the others - they don't shove it down your throat; it's pretty innocuous (at least that one was), there's some talk of god, but nothing that turned out to be problematic. Like someone said, "talking veggies", and some of it was actually funny. So, what the hell...

And if he's three, I'm pretty sure most of it will be over his head anyway, and he'll just enjoy the talking veggies.