Raising atheist kids.

[Minimalist]

But, now, her teacher has been giving me dirty looks for the last 6 months or so!

Have a chat with the principal.

[Cephus]

We never specifically taught our kids that religion was nonsense, although I've been openly debating religion for decades so it's not hard for them to pick up on that.  Instead, they were taught to be rational and to ask questions and demand evidence.  When they inevitably came into contact with religious ideas in school, instead of being indoctrinated to disagree with religion, they just asked questions and demanded evidence and when the religious had no answers, they rejected it because it made no sense.  We didn't have to do anything, they realized just how idiotic religion was on their own, using the tools that they had been provided.

[brewer]

I would not mock religions or people of other religions. Teach respect.

Agree partially, not mock but not necessarily respect. Do you give the kids around you the choice to have different beliefs, to question religion, or no religious belief? Based on your posts here, my guess is no.

Jehanne, don't hide it from them, most of our country is religious, they need to know what is out there. Expose them to it, tell them your beliefs and let them know that they can talk to you about it and ultimately it's their choice in the end. Of course these need to be age appropriate discussions.

[Aoi Magi]

Well, I don't have kids yet, but when the time comes I plan to answer them honestly about anything they ask to the extent of my own knowledge. After that, it'd be their choice.

[vorlon13]

probably import to put a label or some other visible atheist identifier on your kids people, I'd hate to eat one by mistake

[Jackalope]

Braising atheist kids? I thought we preferred to eat theist kids?

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In all seriousness, I'm teaching my son to think skeptically, critically and fact check things. If he asks, I'll explain my POV, but whatever conclusions he comes by through honest means are his business. I have no agenda other than that.

Teach how to think, not what to think.

[vorlon13]

they all look alike to me

probably should have the parents of the atheist ones notch their ears or something

[ukatheist]

they all look alike to me

probably should have the parents of the atheist ones notch their ears or something

Aren't most of the theist boys circumcised?

[Athene]

My ex-husband I were both casual Christian theists when our sons were children. They're both college students now. One has been an atheist since late childhood, and one still maintains his casual belief to this day, though he is quite skeptical.

I don't care what personal beliefs they hold at this point. They're grown men, and it's none of my business. 
They're both kind, decent, and respectful of others. It's enough for me, and always has been.

[zebo-the-fat]

Lol my kids go/went to a Church of England primary school (probably the least pushy of the xtian sects) despite both myself and my husband being atheist - many if not most primaries in the UK are faith based.

They both know we are not believers, and when they come home spouting jeebus nonsense, we just ask 'how do you know that happened?' 'does that make sense to you?' 'what other explanations are there?'. We've told them both that xtianity is something that some people believe, just like islam, judaism, buddhism etc, just like they used to believe in Santa and the tooth fairy.



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I did much the same, now have two kids one 25 years old the other 28 both true blooded atheists (though one went to the christian society at university because they gave free meals!)