How do I tell my niece about my beliefs?

[ej2539]

My fiance and I recently moved to the city where my sister and her family live. In anticipation of the move, my niece excitedly asked if we would do various things with her (come over to play, go to the park, and go to church). My sister has always been very open with my niece (6-years-old) and my nephew (3) about the fact that not everyone believes what they believe (they're Protestant), but I don't know that she has ever talked to them about the fact that some people don't believe in a god at all. When my niece asked if my fiance would go with them to church, my sister said she didn't think he believed the same things that they do. My niece then asked my sister what I believe, and my sister told her she should ask me about it. She hasn't asked yet, but I want to be prepared. What is the best way to tell my niece I don't believe in god? I appreciate any advice. I'm very close to her and I want to handle this in a way that is honest but doesn't give her more than she can handle at her age.

[Darwinian]

Keep it as simple as possible. I would simply say that I don't believe in God.

If you start over complicating things or creating stories you'll just get deeper and deeper into lying. Also, let her see that people who don't believe are as nice and normal as anyone else.

[Ashendant]

My fiance and I recently moved to the city where my sister and her family live. In anticipation of the move, my niece excitedly asked if we would do various things with her (come over to play, go to the park, and go to church). My sister has always been very open with my niece (6-years-old) and my nephew (3) about the fact that not everyone believes what they believe (they're Protestant), but I don't know that she has ever talked to them about the fact that some people don't believe in a god at all. When my niece asked if my fiance would go with them to church, my sister said she didn't think he believed the same things that they do. My niece then asked my sister what I believe, and my sister told her she should ask me about it. She hasn't asked yet, but I want to be prepared. What is the best way to tell my niece I don't believe in god? I appreciate any advice. I'm very close to her and I want to handle this in a way that is honest but doesn't give her more than she can handle at her age.

Does she believe in santa claus or she knows that it's a fake figure?

[barboft]

My fiance and I recently moved to the city where my sister and her family live. In anticipation of the move, my niece excitedly asked if we would do various things with her (come over to play, go to the park, and go to church). My sister has always been very open with my niece (6-years-old) and my nephew (3) about the fact that not everyone believes what they believe (they're Protestant), but I don't know that she has ever talked to them about the fact that some people don't believe in a god at all. When my niece asked if my fiance would go with them to church, my sister said she didn't think he believed the same things that they do. My niece then asked my sister what I believe, and my sister told her she should ask me about it. She hasn't asked yet, but I want to be prepared. What is the best way to tell my niece I don't believe in god? I appreciate any advice. I'm very close to her and I want to handle this in a way that is honest but doesn't give her more than she can handle at her age.

Just tell her that you believe there's no god.

[ej2539]

Does she believe in santa claus or she knows that it's a fake figure?
[/quote]

She's at an age where she believes in everything she is told by someone she trusts. She absolutely believes in Santa.

[Minimalist]

She's at an age where she believes in everything she is told by someone she trusts.

Unfortunately there are too many people who never grow out of that phase.

[Ashendant]

She's at an age where she believes in everything she is told by someone she trusts. She absolutely believes in Santa.

Hmmm, that's harder, i think you should outright tell here that you believe there is no god, but i also don't think that's the best way to do it, is there anything that children usually believe that she doesn't like the baby carrying pelican or the easter bunny?

[barboft]

Agreed. Just say "In my belief, there's no god".

[ej2539]

I don't think she's ever heard of the stork. When she asked my sister where babies came from and how they get there, my sister was very frank and honest in telling her how it happens. But she does believe in the easter bunny. She already understands that different people believe different things - she has friends who are Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, etc. - and she understands that her parents like Obama but her grandparents like McCain. What I'm worried about is the inevitable "why" that follows when I tell her I don't believe. She is all about asking why. When she asked me why my tummy was bigger than my sister's, I told her honestly it was partly because people are built differently (tall, short, thin, fat) and partly because I eat more than her mom does. That was easy. But I'm worried that my reasons for not believing in god will come off as more condescending or confusing.

[Anomalocaris]

Just tell her there is a far larger world outside Jesus and it's important to you to be in that world.