Myths and Fairy Tales

In the education of children and youth, fairy tales, myths, and fictitious stories are now given a large place. Books of this character are used in schools, and they are to be found in many homes. How can Christian parents permit their children to use books filled with falsehood! When the children ask the meaning of stories so contrary to the teaching of their parents, the answer is that the stories are not true, but this does not do away with the evil results of their use. The ideas presented in these books mislead the children. They impart false views of life and create and foster a desire for the unreal.MHH 258.6

The widespread use of such books at this time is one of the cunning devices of Satan. He is seeking to divert the minds of old and young from the great work of character building. He purposes that our children and youth shall be swept away by the soul-destroying deceptions with which he is filling the world. Therefore he seeks to divert their minds from the Word of God and thus prevent them from obtaining a knowledge of those truths that would be their safeguard.MHH 259.1

Never should books containing a perversion of truth be placed in the hands of children or youth. Let not our children, in the very process of obtaining an education, receive ideas that will prove to be seeds of sin. Even people with mature minds would be far safer if they had nothing to do with such books, and their example and influence on the right side would make it much easier to guard the youth from temptation.MHH 259.2

We have an abundance of that which is real, that which is divine. Those who thirst for knowledge need not go to polluted fountains. The Lord says:MHH 259.3

“Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to My knowledge. ...
That your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?”
MHH 259.4

“He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;”
“Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”
“That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God.”
“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 22:17-21; Psalm 78:5, 4, 6, 7; Proverbs 10:22.MHH 259.5