My thoughts on Religion: Christianity

[Darwinian]

If not, what do you tell your children about God, the Bible, and Christianity that would not constitute indoctrination relative to your position on the matter?

I don't tell them anything about God, the Bible or Christianity just as I don't tell them anything about Greek mythology or the ancient Norse religion. This isn't to say that the subject doesn't get discussed in the normal course of events and when it does I do of course speak as an atheist but I certainly don't belittle or ridicule any opinions that they have. For example, one of my daughters favourite subjects at school is Religious Education. She absolutely loves it and finds it fascinating and we often discuss what she has been learning but I believe that it is precisely because she has been brought up in an environment of open mindedness and critical thinking that she is able to quite openly enjoy a subject such as this, share her enjoyment of it with me and not feel any need to rebel as unlike a child brought up and indoctrinated into a certain ideology she has nothing to rebel against.

If he is an agnostic atheist, of course he wouldn't say that.

Of course he would if he wanted them to be able to develop their critical thinking and powers of inquiry.

I will assume here that you also are an agnostic atheist.

I don't believe that the being you know as God actually exists but I cannot know it. In exactly the same way that I don't believe that there is a giant pink elephant wearing a wedding dress in my kitchen playing chess with a blue pygmy rhino that instantly disappear whenever anyone enters the room and never leave any evidence of their having been there. I cannot know this but I think it pretty unlikely to say the least.

So your children could explore Christianity without you giving your position on the matter?

That depends upon what you think my position is. If by that you mean would I attempt to dissuade them from their exploration then no, of course I wouldn't. I suppose that I would make sure that they had all sides of the argument available to them and allow them to make their own discoveries.

I have no problem telling my children that God exists, that the Bible is the word of God, and I do make them go to church. I think it is a parent's job to tell your kids what you believe and live a life consistent with that.

I would argue that there is a huge gulf between telling your children what you believe and making them believe what you believe. Would you consider telling your children that although you believe in God they don't have to?