Parenting as an Atheist

[Faith No More]

My point is you "shouldn't let your wife" take your kids too church you should all go as a family, and show your kid that its okay too go to church, after all its just reading a few poems and singing a few songs. Just don't go every week and make it an obsession. And always be there too answer questions, and offer another point of view

like my atheist mother did with me

That's actually not a bad idea, but, for me, going to church is like going to the dentist. The last time I went, I was bribed with $20 to go, and it would take a lot more than that to get me to go again. Plus, my wife is Catholic, and their services are particularly painful to sit through.

My main concern is to get him interested in the scientific method and to teach him to inquire and explore on his own, because I believe that, as a parent, the best approach is to give a kid the proper tools to come to their own conclusions, rather than just force a conclusion upon them.

[simplemoss]

I would've felt really shitty towards my mom I think if she was forbidding me too go to mosque. Even if later on in life i might have thanked her.

Although I'm not sure, if I would, I might only think that because my sister was my moms favorite and I was my dads.

so i might be saying that because we were both males. Maybe your son would identify with you no matter what and hate and dislike his mom and you both can laugh at her and her crazy religion. But would you really want it that way?

Btw I'm a fairly hardcore atheist and I don't even remember what the scientific method is?

[coldwx]

I have two daughters and a wife who is mildly religious. I think she is afraid to let go of it because here parents are so devout. My dad is a pastor also so there is constant give and take within my family structure. I simply talk to my daughters honestly. My five year old is not old enough to care or ask questions, but my 7 year old is very intelligent and has questioned quite a few things. My wife is very good about not trying to persuade either way(unlike her and my parents) and we seem to have struck a good balance for now. When the questions come I just ask them what they think and try to ensure they understand it is necessary to ask questions and look at all things critically.

[Faith No More]

I would've felt really shitty towards my mom I think if she was forbidding me too go to mosque. Even if later on in life i might have thanked her.

Although I'm not sure, if I would, I might only think that because my sister was my moms favorite and I was my dads.

so i might be saying that because we were both males. Maybe your son would identify with you no matter what and hate and dislike his mom and you both can laugh at her and her crazy religion. But would you really want it that way?

I really don't want my son to see it as an us vs. them situation. I want him to understand that it's really more about personal exploration than it is about deciding whether it's mommy or daddy that's right.

Btw I'm a fairly hardcore atheist and I don't even remember what the scientific method is?

http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_la...ndixe.html

[simplemoss]

Maybe you can get involved with other religious activities. Take him too a Buddhist temple or a mosque. One of my friends was Greek orthodox and we used too go as a family too their church in the holidays, mainly because a Greek buffet is freaking tasty if youve never had it, but visiting their church helped me realize how many cultures their are out there.

Where do you live btw, because your kid might be influenced into religion more by his friends family and community, rather than his mothers opinion. Certainly the girl he loses his virginity too will have atleast a little say in the matter. After all religion is mostly cultural

[Marsellus Wallace]

I loved the dialogue alot

your son will never be a christian, if everytime she says something religious, you look at him and say "son,.....dats bullshit"