atheist parents

[HarryStanluv25]

when I have kids some day I will simply raise them with love and discipline and all the things needed to raise a child. Religion is not needed therefore I will not have us attend any service or discuss god because there is no need. I will tell them early on we all have our own choices and beliefs and to not let others bring them down. I will tell them they do not need to say 'under god' when saluting the flag and things of that nature. When religion is brought up- 'Mommy, Jack said there's a person called god who watches over us' I'll simply say certain families believe certain things. But in this household we do not pray to any deity and that no one really has the right answers. I will want them to not be afraid to ask questions and to again, not let others make them feel like they are wrong or their beliefs don't matter. I think one of the most important things out there anyone can do is feel okay to wonder about life and be okay that perhaps, you may be wrong. Just live your life as best you can and be a good person to the world. As long as you do that you deserve to go to an afterlife.

In short, I want them to believe in what I do, to an extent. I want to have them atheists their whole life without shoving it down their throats. I would just be worried one day they would believe in god. I don't know what I would do about that. Thankfully I have plenty of time to think about it lol.

[downbeatplumb]

I have three boys and a spiritualist wife.

She used to talk to them about life after death and the spirit realm.

When pushed I just told hem to look at the evidence and make a rational decision about what they think happens.
They all currently atheistic in thier outlook.

Dont teach them what to think, teach them how to think.

[KichigaiNeko]

Dont teach them what to think, teach them how to think.

And that is ALL you can do. Your children will take it from there.

[passionatefool]

I am planning to have kids one day. I would teach them to be skeptical and to think rationally. To question thing and pretty much give them the liberation to think freely without fear of some hellish retribution. I can say now though i would probably take them to a lot of science events, museums. Star gazing and learn about our place in the universe and what is beyond this planet. So maybe even if they became a theist, they wont be a moron.

[Erinome]

It's a wonderful experience to be able to enlighten your children about all the wondrous realities in the universe!

Real conversation from Friday afternoon:

I asked my son what he was learning in school...

Son- The Milky Way galaxy. I raised my hand and told my teacher that earth was in a spiral arm of the milky way.
Me- Good for you! I bet she was impressed!
Daughter- You should tell her that we are made from it too. (star stuff)

[passionatefool]

It's a wonderful experience to be able to enlighten your children about all the wondrous realities in the universe!

Real conversation from Friday afternoon:

I asked my son what he was learning in school...

Son- The Milky Way galaxy. I raised my hand and told my teacher that earth was in a spiral arm of the milky way.
Me- Good for you! I bet she was impressed!
Daughter- You should tell her that we are made from it too. (star stuff)

AHH your kids are so smart. If only more parents would do this! Most adults doesn't know that we came from star stuff so you your kids are definitely a step ahead of them!

I first heard it from cosmos by Carl Sagan and ever since i'm hooked lol. Reality is so wonderful and magnificent, I dont understand why people got to make up fairy tales to color it when it is already full of colors.

[Faith No More]

Because people get to dictate the fairy tales. Reality, however, is beyond their control.

[Chriswt]

A very interesting post.

I have a 14 month old baby girl and so I'm currently trying to further enlighten myself in the ways of the natural world so that when she asks questions I will have the right answers.

The whole problem with not believing in a deity is that the truth is a lot harder to explain and take in. The story of Creation is easier to tell than that of Evolution and so I’m making sure I can explain everything in the simplest way possible (I feel a new post coming on).

I will want her to think for herself and be free to believe in what she wants but if her beliefs are because of indoctrination by school or school friends I will be sure to put her back on track in the most diplomatic way possible.

My parents were not religious but I accepted the existence of a god when I was younger in the same way I accepted Father Christmas. However my vision of God was someone loving, caring, forgiving, gentle, compassionate and loved all his creatures equally. It didn’t take me long to realise that no religion on earth offers a god like this!!!!!

[KichigaiNeko]

I have used this man's concepts and principles on my two...with some success. Best of all I got an education in HOW to think!!





Might be another starting point for you??

14 months old...and Daddy's little girl?? Adorable

[rubikscube]

I don't have kids. But if I do, this is what I'll do:

Raise it to be analytical and logical. When it comes for nursery time, check that the nursery is completely secular and won't preach religion. If the kid is mature enough, I'll give it its first talk about religion. Tell it about science, as the understanding of the world around us through observation and experimentation, and say that other people use other things to understand the natural world through other means namely the belief in an unverifiable god. I'll say that its important to respect other people's religion, and to use logic to make up your own beliefs. If its not mature enough, introduce it when it is. I'll talk about it with the kid alot, and let it grow as a logical being. When school arrives, expand on the previous discussion. And so on.