Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

This topic has 11 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 8 months ago by Theups1.

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September 29, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Theups1
Participant
We are almost finished with The Secret Garden. Then all of a sudden we get to the chapter where they talk about chanting!! I had NO idea this concept was in this book!! ACK!! We cut those pages out of the book so we can (hopefully) finish. Are there any other books in the SCM line up that have ideas like this in it??

His,
Shari
September 29, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Rachel White
Participant
You don’t mean you LITERALLY cut them out of the book do you?
Just skip it, give a quick explanation on why it’s wrong Biblically and move on.
That’s what we did.
September 29, 2013 at 9:29 pm
missceegee
Participant
Shari, personally we simply read the book as written and discussed as we went along. We do this with all of our books. I try to preread books my kids read individually so we can have good discussion, but because every family is different it’s hard to give specific advice like this bc what offends one is not offensive to another, even amongst conservative Christians. Our family has read or listened to most of the SCM selections up through year 6-7 and we have no problem reading and discussing these books. My best suggestion is that you preread and determine what you are comfortable with AND edit on the fly as needed.
Blessings,
Christie
September 29, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Rachel White
Participant
Agreeing with Christie’s less hysterical response :).
September 29, 2013 at 9:50 pm
Linabean
Participant
I am agreeing with Missceegee. We read aloud and discuss everything. We talked about how she came from India and this is what she had learned to do instead of prayer. People still do these things and, being from a missionary family, I want my children to know how to think about these, spiritual, cultural and religious issues from a Christian point of that will also help to point others to the one true way. We discussed how we use prayer, not mindless chanting, to communicate with God, among all sorts of other issues that were brought up from this chapter. I am not sure if I communicated my true thoughts on this clearly enough for my satisfaction, but this is the best I can do right now! ; ). I sincerely hope you are not offended by my comments.
Blessings!
-Miranda
September 29, 2013 at 10:09 pm
JennyMN
Participant
Shari,
I agree with the prereading. The Secret Garden does contain a fair amount of pantheism (if my memory serves correctly) mixed with Christianity. I believe at one point they sing the Doxology. I did a little research on the author and she did incorporate her beliefs into her books. Which every author does! Anyway, that was a good conversation with my girls and something I frequently remind them – worldview and religious beliefs will affect writing.
So, in addition to pre-reading I would encourage you to read a bio on the author to see where they are coming from. This will hep you assess their writing.
Jenny
September 29, 2013 at 11:38 pm
Karen
Participant
We’re only about 8 chapters into listening to The Secret Garden (thank you, Librivox!). But I read it as a child — I can’t think where the chanting occurs.
What chapter is that in?
For the record, I’m in agreement with the “read it and discuss it with your Biblical explanation” camp.
There was an article in the classical magazine from the Memoria Press people about how reading lots of books is not nearly as dangerous as only reading a few….and this was one of the reasons why — here is an opportunity to teach your children as you wish them to be taught. Personally, I’ve found that exposure (through reading) to viewpoints different from my own has provided me with the wherewithall to explain why I find it objectionable. Not that I’m questioning my beliefs; or flirting with the occult or anything like that. But as these objectionable things come up, I find that because I’m reading a lot of books, I can pull ideas from everywhere and come up with reasoning and explanations easier.
Did that make sense??
September 30, 2013 at 12:14 am
mama_nickles
Participant
I just read the chanting chapter with my 6 and almost 4 year olds this week. They laugh about the “magic” because of course they realize that “magic” didn’t create things, God did! IMO, it’s important to expose your kids to other beliefs and to have those discussions with them about why those beliefs are wrong. They will be exposed to them eventually. Better when they are under your roof and you can help them talk/think through it. Not that I’m ready to read mine Harry Potter or anything though!
September 30, 2013 at 12:51 am
Rachel White
Participant
I would also like to add that even though I skipped the actual section when I read it aloud (since they were so young and I don’t repeat stuff like that), we still discussed what I had skipped.
So later (as in current time, 5 years later) my dd has reread it on her own and the subject matter wasn’t a surprise to her, she knows it is against G-D; as we have discussed the occult when it’s come up; like when Saul called up Samuel using a witch and even someone in our own family who is a practicing neo-pagan.
And knowing the viewpoint of an author is always relevant, IMO. An author’s or an artist’s personal worldview mattters. Helps with teaching discernment.
September 30, 2013 at 2:42 am
LindseyD
Participant
I guess I’m the odd one out. It never even occurred to me that there was a problem with the book…and I’m a pastor’s wife. I just don’t over analyze these types of things; we read books and enjoy them for what they are. The book is fiction, and my children know the difference between fact and fiction/fantasy. Of course we don’t believe in chanting and such, but we read through that section and didn’t even pause to think about it. If the kids stop and ask questions, we definitely discuss. But that didn’t happen in this instance. Like Christie, we have read most of SCM’s suggested literature, and we have not stopped to over analyze anything. Personally, I don’t feel that every reference to magic/sorcery/opposing religious beliefs needs explanation or discussion. My kids know the difference between right and wrong and don’t require me to pick apart everything we read just to point out something they didn’t catch anyway. Just my opinion!
September 30, 2013 at 1:20 pm
morgrace
Participant
I know many people don’t like abriged verisons of books – but just in case anyone might like another option, there is an abridged verison of the book published by Dover. I have not seen it myself, but for some families it may be worth checking into. (And hats off to Christie – well said!)
September 30, 2013 at 8:42 pm
Theups1
Participant
Thank you for all of your replies!!! We did discuss magic and how God is behind everything. They get that. But the chanting thing really bothered me.
Yes, we did cut those pages out. Why? Because my 7 year old is a voracious reader and I don’t really want her reading over that section again. We have a family member into meditation and chanting and I don’t want that to stir up any more curiosities than we already discussed.
Thank you all SOOO very much!!!
His,
Shari