Between Two Worlds: Raising a Western Kid in an Eastern Culture [S5.E15]

Diving into one of their more complex topics, Greg and Ed
explore some of the questions that arise when raising a child
with an appreciation for skepticism and science in the middle of
a culture known for its superstitious beliefs. With Ed teaching a
critical thinking class to Thai college students and Greg's son
asking questions about ghosts and praying, the boys have some
interesting insights.


Greg stresses the delicacy of parents in his situation:
were he to directly state his opinion that ghosts are not real
and praying for something has no effect on the outcome, it could
create friction between his son and the Thai side of his family,
who sit more on the 'probably/definitely' side of the scale.
While trying to ensure his son grows up with an appreciation for
evidence and science, this also provides a good lesson on
respecting others' beliefs, despite having different ones
yourself. Where exactly is the instruction manual for this
situation?


The guys wrestle with the issue, doing their best to come
up with some guidelines. Perhaps just appreciating the importance
of threading the needle between the two cultures is the key to
being a good parent. Greg's not gonna be able to get it perfect,
but maybe just trying is the point.


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