What Did She Mean by ‘The Little Angel Theory’?
I think I understand ‘the children of wrath’ but I was not sure what she meant by the ‘little angel theory’. Here is the excerpt from her book I am speaking of following that is what I have learned.
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Series
Philosophy of Education Volume 6
The Good and Evil Nature of a Child
Children are not born bad but with possibilities for good and evil.
1 Well Being of Body
A well-known educationalist has brought heavy charges against us all on the score that we bring up children as ‘children of wrath’. He probably exaggerates any such teaching and the ‘little angel’ theory is fully as mischievous. Charlotte Mason Chapter 3 page 46
Then I happened across this book Education and the Good Life, I began to read on page 37 under the chapter entitled Modern Educational Theory
“The change in educational methods has been very much influenced by the decay of belief in original sin. The traditional view, now nearly extinct, was that we are all born children of wrath, with a nature full of wickedness; before there can be any good in us we have to become children of grace, a process much accelerated by frequent castigation.” by Bertrand Russell.
His comment, ‘a process much accelerated by frequent castigation’ demonstrates his lack of understanding in becoming a child of grace. Salvation does not come through punishment nor as CM would have us approach it, by good works and mannerly behaviour.
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10
