Hope for the next generation

[ElDinero]

I came across this from the Richard Dawkins' Foundation website, and no doubt some of you will have already seen this. It's a fairly tame but nonetheless encouraging encounter between an eight year old who apparently has her head screwed firmly on, and Christopher Hitchens.

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/...ding-list/

However, rather than this be a short lived thread where we all go 'awww, look at the little tinker asking Hitchens questions about books', I thought maybe we could open up more broadly to a discussion about how you guys think the next generation will experience religion and atheism, how the demographics might shift and what the children of today are likely to have to deal with. For those of you with children, what do you teach them about the world? Are they the sorts of children likely to do as Mason did and ask such questions, or have such a passion for learning?

I have some thoughts on this which I'll add soon, but in the meantime, take it away.

[KichigaiNeko]

I can only say that my two (both over the age of 20) are atheistic in their world views. (Mum does the *sigh of relief) They are both curious about everything and yes I am so proud of them as they keep connections with family and friends...they'l do ok

[thesummerqueen]

I actually did start to tear up. I'm going to have to come back to this in a couple hours. This is very good.

[The Grand Nudger]

Aside from fostering a belief that daddy is psychic and omnipresent, I hope to raise a clutch of clear headed minions myself.

[frankiej]

There is little hope.
When I finally finish my virus to bring the dead back to life, everyone is doomed to a life of radical survival and anarchy.
It'll freakin' sweet.

[Erinome]

My son, Joseph, is 7 years old and watches Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking every night while he's winding down before bed, and has for about 3 months now. Before that it was the BBC miniseries version of The Hitchhiker's Guide. He loves science, and excels in math. Though I remind him from time to time that he's very young and doesn't have to make a decision about what his beliefs are, but he says he doesn't want to believe in god because, "God doesn't make sense when ya think about it." He also loves Pokemon, Sonic, and WWE, so he's a normal kid. He just happens to have a mom that shoots it straight.

My daughter, Ali, is 5 and has a better sense of awareness than any child I have known at her age. She speaks her mind, and has been banned from her father's church for doing so. She asks a million questions a day, never seeming to find satisfaction. You might've seen me refer to god in my posts as "Mr. God"... I got this from her. She likes to watch horror films, and won't wear anything without "bones" on it (skulls). I admit she is a peculiar child, but she's destined for greatness, I just know it.

My daughter, Liz, just turned 3. She is still a baby in so many ways. She's has a very sweet nature, is girly, quiet, and shy. Although she has a limited attention span, she sits in on all our family lessons.

Every week my children and I have an open discussion about anything and everything. We talk about the universe, evolution, ancient myth, wars, history, morals, etc. I even read them parts of the bible sometimes if it's theology we're discussing. They know all about homosexuality, as their Uncle Cris was gay, and I have been moved to tears with pride on several occasions with how they fearlessly stand up against bigotry, be it from their father or anyone else. I want my children to live in reality and be prepared for the real world, ready to approach it with a broad understanding of how it works.

[downbeatplumb]

My three kids seem to be atheistic at the moment, despite the best efforts of their spiritualist mum.

It could change however as i dont ram my opinions down their throats.

Generally the population seem to be doing quite strange stuff, I,ve heard women in my offce talking about visiting psychics and reading their astrology religiously.

It always seems to be women that believe these things, they seem to see themselves as the 'spiritual' sex.

[ElDinero]

Offer to read their horoscope for them out of the newspaper, then read them somebody else's. When they agree with it, point out the error. Won't stop them, but worth a giggle anyway.

[thesummerqueen]

I wish the counselor had let me do something similar after our Myers-Briggs tests.

[5thHorseman]

I have a lot of hope, even Israel(highest phd/100persons) is 37% atheist/agnostic.

The better education is and the more science moves on, the more people will question religion.

So Texas is fucked.