{Child-ish and Child-like}[19th December 1987]

[Redbook4:235-236][19871219:0105]{Child-ish and Child-like}[19th December 1987]

19871219.0105

I see* that at the British Psychological Society, it was stated that 'psychologists stated that overly religious men presented a risk of child abuse when their marriages went wrong.... It was well established that “if you repress sexuality, it can express itself in child abuse”.' So indeed it can – or in rape, violence generally, eating too much, spots or, indeed, in sexual abstinence. But I should love to know how religious you have to be in order to be overly religious. I suppose there is no such state as being overly psychological.

More seriously, I can imagine some psychologists’ reactions to [dreamed] images of naked fair-haired girls with de-emphasised genitalia.** These are not children. Through their eyes comes the image of their Souls, and they are the Souls of adult Individuals: albeit Angelic ones. I do not believe in child Angels any more than I believe in angelic children. There is a great difference between being child-like, which may be helpful to the adult in certain contexts (“Except you become as little children....”*** removing the stain on the Soul) – and being child-ish, which is unlikely to be helpful to anyone.

So far as my own children are concerned, I try never to forget, first, that they are Individuals, equal in status to [W] and myself; but, second, that they are Children: vulnerable, inexperienced – requiring our protection, teaching, care and Love. The better you know your children, and the less absorbed you are with yourself, the less likely you are to mistake them for adults – until they are adults. I do not believe that anyone who really knew, loved and understood his children (or any others) could possibly abuse them.

But it is a sad World in which clergymen whose wives leave them are to be categorised as being at risk of abusing their children.... The Social Services at present give the impression of being ready not so much to support the family, but to tear it to pieces, on a thought.

*See cutting [from The Times 871218: “Screening to identify potential sex abusers.”] below [in ms at [Redbook4:237-238][19871219:0105]{Occupational Disease (1)}[19th December 1987].]

**([[Redbook4:221-222][19871213:2005e]{Walking with the Fair-haired Girl [continued (5)]}[13th December 1987]] p.221)

[It’s worth noting also that much of the writer’s childhood from about 5 to about 15 was spent in a remote rural location where naked swimming and sunbathing was the rule in groups including family and friends of all ages and both sexes, i.e. nakedness was from an early age associated with socialising rather than sex. (cf. [Redbook1:26][19680416:2250]{The Lake}[16^th April 1968][Age 16].)]

***[

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 18:2-4King James Version (KJV))

]

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