The Worry Stone

Yesterday my seven year old granddaughter showed me a polished white stone which was about the size of a nickel.  I remarked that it was a pretty stone  She said that her teacher had given it to her, and that it was a "worry stone."
I inquired as to what that meant.
"My teacher says when you are worrying about something, you just rub the stone and your worries will go into the stone."
I asked her if she believed this.  She said that she did.
What?  What?!  I was horrified and incredulous.


This troubles me both from a religious and a scientific perspective.  Now, I well know that there are many with strong religious beliefs who think science is of no value, and that there are many who believe in science who think religion is rubbish.  Those in either of these camps may not want to acknowledge that there are quite a number of us out here who believe in both science and religion.  This includes some extremely intelligent and logical folks.


As a person who delights in the orderliness of the world and the logic of science, I am disgusted that a teacher would foist a "worry stone" on a child.  If weird Uncle Clyde gave a child such a stone and described its function with a smirk on his face, I would not have much of a reaction.  Even a child would know enough to question his credibility.  But, our children believe what a teacher tells them.  They are learning correct bits of information from a teacher:  two plus three equals five, a sentence is a complete thought beginning with a capital letter and ending with a punctuation mark, Albany is the capital of New York but not its largest city.  They ought to also be learning how to think logically....not magically.  A "worry stone" in grade school is a horrific basis for the study of earth science, biology, chemistry and physics in high school.


As a person of faith, I want children to understand that there actually is a way to get rid of worries, and it does not involve rubbing a stone.  The troubles of life can be discussed with a God who loves us and sees beyond today.  I want my grandchildren to sing:
I cast all my cares upon you.
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,
And anytime I don't know, what to do.
I will cast all my cares upon you.
This is not magical thinking.  This is participating in a loving, supportive relationship with someone who is all-knowing and all-powerful.  


I see no conflict between faith and science, but a "worry stone" is not compatible with either.