Atheist Children

[tavarish]

I think what Dawkins meant was that he's for teaching kids how to think critically, and not necessarily WHAT to think. I think the question isn't very clear, as I don't think there is no real consensus on what atheists do with their children. Some can brainwash them, some can leave them be.

Why would it be important? The only important factor would be that the kids learn how to use reasoned logic and apply it to every facet of their lives, which is possible in any situation, however unlikely the circumstances may be.

[Xyster]

I would no more exspose my child to religion then lets say..... hydrocloric acid or a childmolester but she is only 10, maybe when she is older......

but at the table the other day during dinner we were talking(dont even remember what about now) she chimed in... "heh silly christians"

[Craveman]

I think what Dawkins meant was that he's for teaching kids how to think critically, and not necessarily WHAT to think.

I agree with you on that tav but what I'm wondering about is the influence coming from the parent. Kids, at a young age, pick up a lot of characteristics from their parents and this could/will apply to their religious views (or lack of).

(Just for the record, I will try my utmost best to raise my child neutral with no influence coming from my side, or should I rather say that I would like to strive towards doing this.)

Why would it be important?

Not that important tav, I'm merely interested in what people think about it. How about this for a question: "How many children, with atheist parents, end up being religious?" Personally I can't think of any! So the point that I'm trying to discuss is more to do with parents striving to raise their children neutral. Isn't it more honest to just say "F#ck it, one day I will raise my child an atheist/sceptic?". If my child comes home one day and tells me that all the stories in the Bible are true and that hell is real, then I will definately feel obliged to voice my opinions. Who are they going to believe? The parent of course...

I would dare say atheist parents are not 'brainwashing' with their point of view, I would say they are merely presenting their child(ren) with facts.

Now that is a bold statement...what was that about burden of proof?

I try and teach as much open-mindedness through vried opinion as possible

My son wants to be baptized at 7

This is the point I'm trying to make. Even though you might say that you try to raise your child neutral, they are still going to take on their parents' view on things.

[Autumnlicious]

Plain and simple, if the parents raise them without any religious context, they (the children) are effectively left at a ground state, free to influence themselves when it comes to religion.

Note that I said without any religious context, not anti or pro religious. If they learn critical thought, they are given a tool to better analyze thought, but as it is only a tool, there is still the effectiveness of leaving them in the default state.

I think it is better to keep it non religious - it fosters an environment of deciding for oneself, of growth. And lord knows we can use more of that.

[Meatball]

Imagine if you believed in Jesus and hell as strongly as most of us now disbelieve in Scientology and Zeus. You'd probably do everything you could to ensure your child, whom you love more than anything, knows that Jesus loves them and how to avoid going to hell.

On the atheist side of the coin, there isn't that sense of urgency.

[Bramblepath]

I suppose that when it comes to it, teaching someone to think critically would automatically lead them to the conclusion that there is no God. Depending on how devout an atheist you are, you may be perfectly willing to change a view depending on evidence that comes into light, which is evident in the realm of science, and how theories have developed and changed (especially in the last two centuries).

[fr0d0]

This is an interesting question. You have to do something, make some statement to your children to be a good parent IMO. You have to give guidance, where it's clear to you what is right and wrong. What informs your opinions informs your instruction.

I've known parents who abdicate from their responsibilities as parents, and want to let the child find it's own natural position. Children get confidence and security from knowledge.

So you shirk your responsibility to inform your child, and that child suffers. It's way easier to learn at a young age than it is later on. A child that doesn't know it's boundaries will find it more difficult to re-adjust the older it gets. Children with a poverty of parental guidance may never learn in school, because a teacher needs to invest so much time into encouraging the child to concentrate and behave in a socially acceptable manner.

[Autumnlicious]

A child should always be encouraged to explore, to learn. Growth of the mind, of the body.

[chatpilot]

I think in many ways we do influence our children with our beliefs or lack thereof whether that influence be intentional or unintentional is a different story altogether. I have two daughters one is 12 and the other is 15 yrs. old. On one hand they have their uncle who from time to time takes them to a Pentecostal church (not anymore since they refuse to go) and their mom who claims to believe in God although she is not a practicing Christian. I am openly atheist and every once in awhile my children would ask me about god things that they hear from friends at school and I would give them my honest opinion. My girls are sort of on the fence about the matter but I am sure that when they are older they will be able to make a more informed decision as to where they stand on matters of religion and god beliefs. I feel that kids are too young to comprehend the complexity that is religion and so it is something that is better left for an age of greater maturity.

[Edwardo Piet]

The question asks if atheists are equally the blame but then the only options are both too extreme. I'd say that some atheists do brainwash their children just as all sorts of people do. But I certainly don't think they do it as much because religions are notoriously known for doing that in particular.

EvF