Should you wait to talk to a child about atheism?

[process613]

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?

[The Valkyrie]

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



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

Teens? No.

Young kids, especially under 8, yes. Unless they bring up the subject of religion, which they're likely to encounter at school, anyway.

I think kids should be brought up to think for themselves.

Edit. Forgot the 30/30 rule. Link removed.

[Minimalist]

It's an individual thing.

At whatever age the kid figures out there is no Santa Claus he/she should be told "guess what else?"

[abaris]

I have no kids of my own, but I don't think you should shove anything down their throats at an early age. My parents were mildly religious, but they certainly didn't indoctrinate me. I was invited to make my own mind up on things. That's the right procedure in my book, since it will naturally lead to questioning anything. A child doesn't understand the concept of theism or atheism. It doesn't work that way. There was time when I thought the "Christkind" (our version of Santa) was as real as ghosts, but I grew out of it. So I would even argue, children are more vulnerable to theism, since it meets their demand for miracles and fairy stories. Atheism wouldn't find a fertile soil when they're little.

[Nope]

I think that it also depends on where you live. In the south eastern US, religion is everywhere. There are billboards letting you know that Jesus Saves(right next to billboards telling you were the adult store is). Upon meeting someone for the first time, people ask what church you attend and are surprised if the answer is none. It would probably be better for the parents to explain why they are atheists when their son or daughter is young.

[abaris]

I think that it also depends on where you live. In the south eastern US, religion is everywhere. There are billboards letting you know that Jesus Saves(right next to billboards telling you were the adult store is). Upon meeting someone for the first time, people ask what church you attend and are surprised if the answer is none. It would probably be better for the parents to explain why they are atheists when their son or daughter is young.

Yes, you're right of course. In my country, religion doesn't invade personal space. You have to actively look for it and I've never been asked what or if I believe. It's just not part of any casual conversations.

Have to add that the majority of our believers are meh catholics.

[Thumpalumpacus]

It's an individual thing.

At whatever age the kid figures out there is no Santa Claus he/she should be told "guess what else?"

I didn't do it in such a pointed manner, but yeah, the "we adults let kids believe in Santa for their own pleasure" always has ripples.

My son was about five when he came to me with his first question about Jesus Christ. Seems his mom had a lover who was a devout Christian and trying to fill my son's head with the claptrap. I told him I don't believe in any god, and told him why: "There's no evidence."

That started a years-long conversation about how we learn which things are likely real and which aren't, and that's a good thing.

See, when Jake was born, his mom (at that time a Catholic) and I had agreed that we would neither push our belief or lack thereof on him, and that we were neither bound to lie about our own beliefs if he asked. When the playing field is leveled like that, children will always go with the rational explanations, because children are natural scientists. I was confident in my ability to raise him to think for himself and evaluate claims on their merits.

He's given backhanded compliments to that confidence of mine when he disagrees with me about even minor things; instead of yelling at me about how I "don't understand", he lays out his case in steps, and only then calls me stupid.

[Jackalope]

I have a 12 year old son, and I prefer to expose him to critical thinking, reason, and science (as well as how to recognize pseudo-science).

I'd rather he learn to think critically and come to his own conclusions than try to influence *what* to think. I'd be doing him a disservice by teaching him anything other than *how* to think and come to his own reasoned conclusions. I'm happy with whatever he decides to believe, as long as he comes to it honestly.

[Jenny A]

We have two teenage daughters. Our relatives are very Christian and many of the girls friends are also Christian. They have been to church with relatives and friends, and because it simply was the best one in town, to a Lutheran preschool. We've simply discussed what we believe (or rather don't believe) and why around the dinner table. Other than that we've answered the girls' questions as they arose.

The result? We have two well informed atheists with some knowledge of Christianity.

Oh and some funny stories--- During her pre-school years my eldest played a game where she would put a sheet over her head and chase the youngest around while claiming to be the ghost of Egypt. It took me a while to figure out that she'd misunderstood what was meant by the host of Egypt.

[FatAndFaithless]

We have two teenage daughters. Our relatives are very Christian and many of the girls friends are also Christian. They have been to church with relatives and friends, and because it simply was the best one in town, to a Lutheran preschool. We've simply discussed what we believe (or rather don't believe) and why around the dinner table. Other than that we've answered the girls' questions as they arose.

The result? We have two well informed atheists with some knowledge of Christianity.

Oh and some funny stories--- During her pre-school years my eldest played a game where she would put a sheet over her head and chase the youngest around while claiming to be the ghost of Egypt. It took me a while to figure out that she'd miss understood what was meant by the host of Egypt.

I like this approach. You don't hide your opinions from your kids but you don't force it on them.