Should you wait to talk to a child about atheism?

[abaris]

Very interesting stuff.

On a side note, what do people think about allowing or encouraging children to believe fake things such as Santa? Is it harmless? I don't have kids (and won't) so it's not something I'll have to decide, but I feel a bit uneasy about the idea of it.

I don't have kids either, but I see no harm in things like that. Remembering my own childhood, it was a world of wonders, full of magic tales, fairy tales and such. I think, children need to have that. It encourages fantasy and you grow out of that stage soon enough.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Very interesting stuff.

On a side note, what do people think about allowing or encouraging children to believe fake things such as Santa? Is it harmless? I don't have kids (and won't) so it's not something I'll have to decide. But I feel a bit uneasy about the idea of going along with it if I did have them.

I was actually comfortable with it, because I knew that if I dropped clues he'd figure out for himself who was behind the presents. When he did confront me about it, I 'fessed up, and he was rather pleased with himself for having figured it out.

"Dad, who brought these gifts?"

"Why, Santa did, son. Look at the gift-tag."

"Dad, is that your handwriting?"

<embarrassed look> "Why do you ask? Don't you believe me?"

Presenting truths to children is counter-productive. It's better to let them arrive at those things on their own, by asking the right questions.

[Losty]

Very interesting stuff.

On a side note, what do people think about allowing or encouraging children to believe fake things such as Santa? Is it harmless? I don't have kids (and won't) so it's not something I'll have to decide. But I feel a bit uneasy about the idea of going along with it if I did have them.

I was against it at first. I hated the idea of making a huge elaborate scheme to lie to my children over years. I think it's harmless but I just didn't want to do it. When my kids eventually heard about Santa Clause I told them it was up to them to decide if they believe in him. Pretty easy choice when no one is actively trying to trick you, but they occasionally decide to believe for a while just because they want to.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

My parents never spoke to me about religion. Mostly I was taught that just because someone says something it doesn't mean it's true.

That lesson came in handy when I came across my first God squad member at school (fundie teacher) who began trying to Jesus rape us.

My parents never needed to talk to be about theism/atheism for me to realise I was an atheist.

[strawdawg]

Why wait? By the time a child is in their teens they have already formed their own opinion about atheism.

[Alex K]

Why wait? By the time a child is in their teens they have already formed their own opinion about atheism.

I'd certainly talk to my kids about atheism as soon as the god topic comes up (as opposed to indoctrinating them with...), but that should not keep them from forming their own opinion, does it?

[rexbeccarox]

Why wait? By the time a child is in their teens they have already formed their own opinion about atheism.

Not necessarily. I didn't relate to the word "atheist" until I was in my thirties, even though I have been one... probably my whole life. My parents forced me to go to church until they couldn't anymore, and I just took it as some weird ritual my family participated in. I didn't really have an opinion or a view on it until I was in college and I realized the negative effects some religions have on the world.

[TubbyTubby]

I've 'gone along' with the Santa Claus thing with my kids but now as they reach the age where the belief goes I'm doubting whether I'm happy that I did. I'd probably do it all again because we all have fond memories of those magical few years when Santa was real and I wouldn't want to deny them that, but it doesn't sit as well with me as it used to that's for sure.

My kids 8 & 10 are aware of my thoughts about gods and such, my son seems quite happy to dispose of them in the 'myth bucket' without much questioning. My daughter though, seems to have adopted a more agnostic/mild theist view which I think has come from one of the social groups she goes to each week. She enjoys the group so I'm not keen to disrupt her but now I'm more aware of the content (mild references to God but not in a preaching way) I'm not sure I would have let her start there in the first place. She has her own mind though, I think the truth will find a way through. They both seem happy, polite, kind and curious anyway which is more important.

I sympathise with Robbypants somewhat, must be a very delicate path to tread with kids and split theist/atheist parents.

[ManMachine]

I saw this one the Secular Humanism Facebook page and it got me thinking. They are trying to kickstart a Storybook for Atheists.

[snip]

Do you think we should wait until a child is in their teens to discuss the issue?

There is no consensus of approach, much more importantly, there doesn't need to be one.

MM

[abaris]

Not necessarily. I didn't relate to the word "atheist" until I was in my thirties, even though I have been one... probably my whole life.

Exactly the same with me, though I wasn't forced to go to church. The fundies scared me a little bit at school with their tales of eternal damnation, but I never could master any interest in religion to begin with. And going through my teens and twens it was an absolute non issue. I didn't give it any thought.