Raising atheist kids.

[PETE_ROSE]

I have a darling six-year old girl whom I have told absolutely nothing about god, Jesus, etc.  She's in 1st Grade now but came home one day asking, "Who is Jesus?"  I told her that he "is some guy from Mexico", and since then, she has said nothing further about him/it!  But, now, her teacher has been giving me dirty looks for the last 6 months or so!

And, so, atheist parents, how do you deal with this?

Now that's funny! Not exactly inaccurate either in a certain context. From Mexico...lol

[Jehanne]

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

Have a chat with the principal.

It's no big deal to me, as long as she is good to my kiddo, which she is.

---

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.

Oh, I agree!  My oldest son, for awhile, did not believe in god but did believe in Santa, and went to school sharing both of those "beliefs".  At his elementary school (which was public and different from my daughter's due to open enrollment), his teachers were a bit more blunt, threatening him with "hell fire" for having shared his belief in Santa but not god.  I didn't say anything to the principle about that, either!

[The Valkyrie]

I don't have kids, thank contraception, but I'd tell my kids all about religion - ALL. Not just the "good" stuff the religious love to push, but the massacres, the genocide, the hatred of other groups, the blood sacrifices (and that's just in the bible).

Tell them about it but don't sanitise it.

[Seraphina]

I talk to my 10 year old daughter about science far more than religion. She can make up her own mind as far as religion goes but learning critical thinking is a must and I'm trying to be a good role model in that regard.

Also, we went to a quinceanera Catholic mass last summer and she looked so bored with the prayers and sit/ stand/ kneel stuff, that may have put her off religion for good - let's hope.

[Cecelia]

When we first had kids, we were still Christian. But we weren't church going Christians. Or even Bible reading Christians. Most of the stuff they picked up, they picked up from other relatives.

When I stopped believing, I'd tell my kids when they asked if there is a god: "I don't know. Some people think there is, and some people don't. Do you think there's one?"

[J a c k]

I keep reading the title of this thread as, "Racist atheist kids".

[vorlon13]

Ever since CDs post, I've been seeing it as braised atheist kids . . . .