Last night my 10-year old daughter said that she did not believe in God.

[Jehanne]

It just came out of the Blue; we were sitting around talking. (My wife and I did not raise any of our kiddos to be atheistic.) I played neutral as my daughter and wife discussed the issue. I did tell my daughter, jokingly, that Santa would not bring presents if she did not believe in his existence. At that point my wife mentioned the Easter Bunny, also.

[arewethereyet]

My oldest and youngest are both atheist. All three were allowed to go to church with friends and I answered their questions when they came up...often starting the answers with 'some people believe'. They attended Vacation Bible School because it was something to do and their friends were there.

My youngest pretty much was done by age 10 when he attended what turned out to be a hellfire and brimstone tent revival with a buddy of his. He was actually quite upset about the whole thing for a while.

The middle one goes to church when it suits her, usually to please people around her but I really don't think there's much of a faith there.

I stayed out of their decisions regarding religion after being forced to play the Catholic game and go to Catholic schools myself.

[zebo-the-fat]

Congratulations on having such a bright daughter, I don't think I reached the age of reason until around 12 years old

[Mister Agenda]

I've noticed that most (not all, there was this one guy adamantly raising his son to be an atheist, don't know how it's turned out) parents of my acquaintance who I know to be atheists prefer their children reach their own conclusions on religous matters and are willing to expose them to information about religion or allow them to go to services if they're curious about it. I see similarities to their typical approach to sex education.

[arewethereyet]

I've noticed that most (not all, there was this one guy adamantly raising his son to be an atheist, don't know how it's turned out) parents of my acquaintance who I know to be atheists prefer their children reach their own conclusions on religous matters and are willing to expose them to information about religion or allow them to go to services if they're curious about it. I see similarities to their typical approach to sex education.

The question I came to that was the big turning point for me was 'Do I believe this or was I told I believe this?' That's why I let my kids experience different flavors of faith and come to their own conclusions.

[Angrboda]

I don't remember losing my faith. I was an atheist by my teens, but I don't know why. I suspect it had something to do with my mother losing interest in my religious education once my older sisters were confirmed.

[vulcanlogician]

It just came out of the Blue; we were sitting around talking.  (My wife and I did not raise any of our kiddos to be atheistic.)  I played neutral as my daughter and wife discussed the issue.  I did tell my daughter, jokingly, that Santa would not bring presents if she did not believe in his existence.  At that point my wife mentioned the Easter Bunny, also.

Nice. I've always thought playing neutral was the best strategy. If your kiddo ends up being an atheist, it's best that she arrived there through her own questions and reasoning. 

How did the conversation with your wife go? Or did you already provide the basic gist?

---

I don't remember losing my faith.  I was an atheist by my teens, but I don't know why.  I suspect it had something to do with my mother losing interest in my religious education once my older sisters were confirmed.

I never knew you were raised Catholic. Not sure you mentioned it before.

[Angrboda]

I don't remember losing my faith.  I was an atheist by my teens, but I don't know why.  I suspect it had something to do with my mother losing interest in my religious education once my older sisters were confirmed.

I never knew you were raised Catholic. Not sure you mentioned it before.

I wasn't. My family was Presbytarian.

[brewer]

What did the cat tell you?

[vulcanlogician]

I never knew you were raised Catholic. Not sure you mentioned it before.

I wasn't.  My family was Presbytarian.

Interesting. I thought confirmation was a Catholic-only thing. Just goes to show, a point I've made before. Protestantism was a split from Catholicism-- not the formation of a new church.