If everyone was atheist

[Longhorn]

I believe that He's not a micromanager. He leaves it up to us Christians to spread the word.

Then he doesn't really care.

I'm sorry but it looks as though you misunderstood. I never said that. What I said was that I believe God created the concept of morality. Not that people can't be moral unless they believe in God.

So, what if they have a different morality than what you believe is god's morality?

My apologies. I misunderstood.

I should correctly say that a person can still be taught to use critical thinking skills, even if they are taught a particular faith. There are other subjects to learn from besides religion, where they will learn to use their critical thinking to come up with the right answers. Adding religion in there doesn't take away someone's ability to learn and use critical thinking.

Teaching a religion = teaching the conclusion

That denies critical thinking. You'd be teaching them to think critically, except for this one thing when you need to suspend reason. That goes against critical thinking.

I believe God is supernatural and isn't confined to the laws of nature. I believe He has always existed and was not designed by anyone.

That's called special pleading. You said everything that exists has a cause.

Sure, but teaching them about my faith, like teaching them anything else, won't automatically mean that they'll just blindly follow. I would encourage them to make sure they believe for themselves and not just because I told them.

It most likely will. Children work that way. They believe anything you tell them.

[loganonekenobi]

We're talking about an omnipotent god who wants us to worship him. You'd think he'd make sure everybody got the memo, wouldn't you?

I believe that He's not a micromanager. He leaves it up to us Christians to spread the word.

Oh, but you said morality comes from god.

I'm sorry but it looks as though you misunderstood. I never said that. What I said was that I believe God created the concept of morality. Not that people can't be moral unless they believe in God.  

Not what I said. Don't put words in my mouth.

I said that teaching critical thinking skills and teaching to believe a certain religion are mutually exclusive. Which they are. Teaching the conclusion and teaching to arrive at conclusions by way of reasoning are mutually exclusive.

My apologies. I misunderstood.

I should correctly say that a person can still be taught to use critical thinking skills, even if they are taught a particular faith. There are other subjects to learn from besides religion, where they will learn to use their critical thinking to come up with the right answers. Adding religion in there doesn't take away someone's ability to learn and use critical thinking.

God needs to have a cause. Who designed the designer?

I believe God is supernatural and isn't confined to the laws of nature. I believe He has always existed and was not designed by anyone.

Yea. One way to do that us to not tell them what to believe.

Sure, but teaching them about my faith, like teaching them anything else, won't automatically mean that they'll just blindly follow. I would encourage them to make sure they believe for themselves and not just because I told them.

as to indocrination (although thats not the direct topic but ultimatly comes to this) lets take for example the Aztec. 600 years ago they were a sophisticated set of sun worshiping human sacrificing civilizations. They were doing fine they just hadn't got around to metal. they were too busy building some of the greatest architechure in the world with out all that unnesseccary tech like metal tools.
then "BAM" in comes columbus and Catholocism. History will tell you it wasn't a pretty meeting between the two. If not for the massive amount of diseases the typical Europeon carried they would have kicked the spanish (catholic) butts right back to queen Isable's lovely bossom. Eventualy those great native americans were able to throw off the spanish rule but not before they were TOTALLY indocrinated into Catholosism. Despite the mass murder, wether by direct killing in the mines or by disease, the mexican identifies with being catholic. WHY? because indocrination works. I wont say you shouldn't teach your children about your faith. that's not my place to do so. However i would urge all parents to wait untill critical thinking skills are learned I.E. they understand that santa, the tooth fairy, and the easter bunny are not real. I mean no offence but look around. How many christian bilboards do you see on average in America. Now look for any that are Hindu or Budhist or muslem....... nope nothing. you might see a pagen pentagram on some one's door. that's all i'm going to say about that on this post but just look around Christianity is EVERYWHERE.

[Cyberman]

I believe that He's not a micromanager. He leaves it up to us Christians to spread the word.

How do you think that's working out?

[loganonekenobi]

CL: If you have children, would you allow them to reach the age of reason (around 7 or so I think) to develop unbiased critical thinking skills before you introduce them to religious doctrine?

No, I don't see a reason to wait until they are 7 before introducing anything. Obviously they will be too young to understand much more than the bare minimums at that time, so most of it will come with time as they get older. I'd say this is how it was with my family.

by the way... would you happen to know of a good site i could go too on a Christian site for debate?

[Ravenshire]

Yes, I believe it to be the truth, and that's the #1 reason I plan on teaching them about Jesus/etc.

(emphasis is mine)

And, this is the biggest reason you shouldn't. You believe. You don't, by the very nature of the claims, can't know what the truth is. But, you'll teach it as the truth. So, should the good folks over at the Westboro Baptist Church (the "god hates fags" funeral protesting ass-hats) teach their kids what they believe is the truth? How about the fine upstanding Klan members? Should they teach their kids what they believe is the truth?

Now, you can point at these groups and shout "but, they've got it wrong!" The problem is, they can point right back at you shouting the exact same thing.

And, despite your protestations to the contrary, your kids will most likely believe as adults whatever it is you teach them as children, unless they're very, very lucky.

[SteelCurtain]

Whoops, I meant to type 1900's. Hadn't caught that when I was typing, sorry.

Uhm... Did you mean - 20th century? "1900's" suggests the first decade of the 20th century.

Lot of pedantry milling about. Don't like the look of it.

[Catholic_Lady]

No, I don't see a reason to wait until they are 7 before introducing anything. Obviously they will be too young to understand much more than the bare minimums at that time, so most of it will come with time as they get older. I'd say this is how it was with my family.

by the way... would you happen to know of a good site i could go too on a Christian site for debate?

I was part of Catholic Answers for a while, but there are a lot of really fundamentalist type people on there. You could give it a shot though. They may be able to answer whatever questions you have.

[MJ the Skeptical]

That's^ ridiculous and completely pessimistic. The only way religion would take hold again in a world full of atheists would be if society collapsed and we went back to the stone age or something.

A population free of dogma entering the technological age no less would be far less vulnerable to such superstitious dribble, religiosity would be a ulta-minority position like atheism was for most of history.

You have way too much confidence in the intelligence of the average human and way too little understanding of the creativity of the selfish.

Well, I respect your right to have that opinion, but I still think it's defeatist and short-sighted, but I appreciate your reply Julia.

[Joko]

People motivated by faith to do good, such as MLK and the Catholic Charities volunteers, would hopefully still find the benevolence within their hearts to continue their essential service. People motivated by faith to do bad, like those who suppress LGBT rights, would either find something else to justify their bigotry or would see the light of tolerance.

[RobbyPants]

I'd say yes on the basis that:

1) There is nothing useful religion offers society that can't be accomplished without it.

2) Religion offers extra reasons to allow bad things.

Basically, it offers the chance for people to screw things up without any meaningful, tangible benefits. Sure, you can tell people that they're actually immortal and they'll get to see their loved ones when they die, but I don't see that as actually helping society. Grief counseling doesn't have to be accomplished through nonfalsifiable, improbable promises.