Leaving christianity, a bit of my story

[Crossless2.0]

What I would hope parents would do is:

1) Leave religion alone completely when the children are young, and concentrate on teaching them how to think rather than telling them what to think, as far as possible. They don't need to know about it this early. Jamming religious stuff into their head this young is an abuse of power, and an admission that it requires the child being unable to reason in order to believe it.

I don't think we should try to teach them religion before the age of reason, but I think we should tell them about God and simple prayer.

2) Once they've reached the age of reason, present your religious beliefs, owned as your beliefs. Not presented as fact that it is simply true. Explain why you think it is true, and then leave them to decide for themselves.

I present other things as true.  Why would I not present christianity as true and then be open to discussion?  I wouldn't tell them that I don't believe in racism, and then tell them that the principle is not necessarily true because it's not accepted by everyone.

3) Explain that there are many other belief systems, that people believe for their own reasons. Tell them you will love them whether they join your belief system, join another or don't join any at all.

OK.

This kind of process works really well for things that are actually true. They don't need slotting into an impressionable young mind, because they can be demonstrated, explained and evidenced.

I present true things as true and explain why I believe they are true.

Yes, there are some things children have to accept as true ahead of time, for their own safety. Religion is not one of these things, unless God is so vindictive as to be grading the actions of an infant. And such crucial things can be explained later, unlike religion.

Kids below the age of reason are too young for religion, but not for the concept of God.  You're right that God is not vindictive toward children or anyone.

Two things with regard to the parts I bolded: First, yeah, no kidding you shouldn't teach religion to children who haven't reached the age of reason, but why does 'God' get a pass? Oh wait, it has something to do with them not having reached the age of reason, no? Get 'em while they're young and believe in things like invisible friends . . . is that the angle?

Second, in what possible sense is the alleged truth of Christianity similar to a principle that is not universally shared (e.g., racism is bad)? Yours is the religion supposedly grounded in historical 'fact'. You either have the evidentiary goods or you don't. While you're sharing this 'truth' with your kids, are you making any effort to expose them to the actual scholarly consensus on what is established fact versus what is merely claimed, or are you willing to queer the 'evidence' you present to them?