My thoughts on Religion: Christianity

[Darwinian]

I bet that Richard Dawkins would teach his children to think critically and to consider all options before making their mind up.

He certainly wouldn't tell them that there was no God but instead ask them to look for the evidence themselves.

As an atheist father of two I am very careful not to impose my beliefs, or lack of directly on my children. The last thing I would do is to tell them that there is no God.

Have they been brought up in an environment where atheism is the norm? Yes. But they have also been given the option to explore all options and they know full well that if they did become 'faithful' that they would still have my love and support.

In contrast, most of the Christian parents that I have come across actually tell their children that God exists, tell them that the biblical stories are true, make them go to church, get them christened and describe them as Christians.

This is, in my opinion, indoctrination and what I have done and Richard Dawkins would do is, I like to think, good parenting.

[Mr Camel]

I bet that Richard Dawkins would teach his children to think critically and to consider all options before making their mind up.

He certainly wouldn't tell them that there was no God but instead ask them to look for the evidence themselves.

As an atheist father of two I am very careful not to impose my beliefs, or lack of directly on my children. The last thing I would do is to tell them that there is no God.

Have they been brought up in an environment where atheism is the norm? Yes. But they have also been given the option to explore all options and they know full well that if they did become 'faithful' that they would still have my love and support.

In contrast, most of the Christian parents that I have come across actually tell their children that God exists, tell them that the biblical stories are true, make them go to church, get them christened and describe them as Christians.

This is, in my opinion, indoctrination and what I have done and Richard Dawkins would do is, I like to think, good parenting.

Thanks for your post!
You are the father I hope to become.

[rjh4 is back]

HAHA! I chose to follow reason dude. My parents educated me the controversy. My Mum is Catholic and my Dad is Atheist.

Are you now disagreeing with your statement: "Which way we stride is solely reliant on how we’re brought up and I stand by this resolute. "

If not, what did you mean by this last quote?

I define "unjust" as partial.

???

Hang on, did you just say I'm religious?

I don't think I said that.

[Mr Camel]

How am I disagreeing with my statement? I said my parents taught me the controversy.

Please use a thesaurus.

Sorry, I was replying to two posts at the same time there.. wasn't referring to you.

[rjh4 is back]

I bet that Richard Dawkins would teach his children to think critically and to consider all options before making their mind up.

Do you think that might include things like: There is no evidence for God and I'll tell you why but I cannot say that there isn't a god because then I would have the burden of proof. Science has proven that the Bible is not true.

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?

He certainly wouldn't tell them that there was no God but instead ask them to look for the evidence themselves.

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

As an atheist father of two I am very careful not to impose my beliefs, or lack of directly on my children. The last thing I would do is to tell them that there is no God.

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

Have they been brought up in an environment where atheism is the norm? Yes. But they have also been given the option to explore all options and they know full well that if they did become 'faithful' that they would still have my love and support.

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

In contrast, most of the Christian parents that I have come across actually tell their children that God exists, tell them that the biblical stories are true, make them go to church, get them christened and describe them as Christians.

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. So not to do those things would be inconsistent with that. As for getting them christened (I assume you mean baptizing babies) and describing them as Christians, I would not do either of these unless the child has made a decision for Christ and desires to be baptized. One is not a Christian until that person makes their own decision on the matter and I cannot make that decision for them. I can, however, lead them in the right direction.

Frankly, I do not see how this would constitute indoctrination but your way is good parenting (other than because you say so).

[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?

[Darwinian]

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I bet that Richard Dawkins would teach his children to think critically and to consider all options before making their mind up.

He certainly wouldn't tell them that there was no God but instead ask them to look for the evidence themselves.

As an atheist father of two I am very careful not to impose my beliefs, or lack of directly on my children. The last thing I would do is to tell them that there is no God.

Have they been brought up in an environment where atheism is the norm? Yes. But they have also been given the option to explore all options and they know full well that if they did become 'faithful' that they would still have my love and support.

In contrast, most of the Christian parents that I have come across actually tell their children that God exists, tell them that the biblical stories are true, make them go to church, get them christened and describe them as Christians.

This is, in my opinion, indoctrination and what I have done and Richard Dawkins would do is, I like to think, good parenting.

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Thanks for your post!
You are the father I hope to become.

That's very kind of you but I really don't think you want my fat belly and big nose

[Violet]

That's very kind of you but I really don't think you want my fat belly and big nose

Liposuction and a nose-job?

I envy your children, Dar

[rjh4 is back]

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?

I agree and I, personally, do not know of a way to "make" a child believe what I believe. Even saying you believe something because someone forces you into it does not mean that you actually believe. So I certainly hope I have not taught my children to say that they are Christians if they themselves had not made that decision. That would be counterproductive, even from my viewpoint. I think I have been diligent in letting them know that putting their trust in Jesus has to be their decision and that nobody else can make that decision for them. I hope that sufficiently answers your question.

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How am I disagreeing with my statement? I said my parents taught me the controversy.

You say: "Which way we stride is solely reliant on how we’re brought up and I stand by this resolute. "

Then you say you are a secular humanist.

These two statements seem to imply that you are a secular humanist solely because of how you were brought up. Maybe I misunderstood. Is that what you meant?

[Tiberius]

"Which way we stride is solely reliant on how we’re brought up and I stand by this resolute."

I highly doubt that. The way I see it, we are more affected by "university years" and actively participating the "real world". I was brought up a Christian, I'm now an atheist. I was brought up politically conservative, I'm now a Libertarian. If the me now had met the me from a few years ago (when I started university), I don't think we'd be very close friends at all.