Being an Atheist parent in a Christian land

[Diamond-Deist]

I'm just trying to avoid your child turning into an 8 year old Minimalist ...... I mean c'mon nobody want's that right?

Do you really want him to be in his first day in Religious studies class and when the teacher say's "So now who want's to learn about Jesus?" the kid says "Fk Jesus, he's a creep who's into S&M, whips and bondage!!" ....... no.

[The Grand Nudger]

Whats the alternative to 8 year old Mins? You? Min, every day of the week and twice on sundays.

If my children turn to religion or spirituality in any real and tangible sense as a solution to real world problems, or internal issues.....I will have failed them as a parent, as an educator, and as a friend.

[Diamond-Deist]

...... and what's wrong with me exactly???

[The Grand Nudger]

I've known you (and only through your posts) for all of what, 3 days?

How much time you got buddy...lol?

[searchingforanswers]

Im really laughing imagining an 8 year old minimalist.

[Erinome]

I'm just trying to avoid your child turning into an 8 year old Minimalist ...... I mean c'mon nobody want's that right?

Do you really want him to be in his first day in Religious studies class and when the teacher say's "So now who want's to learn about Jesus?" the kid says "Fk Jesus, he's a creep who's into S&M, whips and bondage!!" ....... no.

But seriously, we don't really have religious study here. It's against the rules for teachers to talk about religion in public schools. On Easter of this year, I let my ex have the kids that weekend, and he did take them to church. He won't be taking them back because in sunday school class the teacher was reading them something from the bible, and my 4 year old had the audacity to question her.

She asked if that really happened, and when the teacher said it did she said "Prove it."

I caught a lot of hell from it, but I was beaming with pride. He called her disrespectful, but that is flawed thinking. It would have been disrespectful if she called the teacher a name, or shouted something like "Jesus sucks!"

But all she did was question that which was being presented to her as truth, which is exactly what I reaffirm to them every day.

If one is raised to question rather than believe, there is no way they could come up with a bible-is-right mindset.

[The Grand Nudger]

And yet they do. Faith is powerful.

[MilesTailsPrower]

I'm just trying to avoid your child turning into an 8 year old Minimalist ...... I mean c'mon nobody want's that right?

Do you really want him to be in his first day in Religious studies class and when the teacher say's "So now who want's to learn about Jesus?" the kid says "Fk Jesus, he's a creep who's into S&M, whips and bondage!!" ....... no.

But seriously, we don't really have religious study here. It's against the rules for teachers to talk about religion in public schools. On Easter of this year, I let my ex have the kids that weekend, and he did take them to church. He won't be taking them back because in sunday school class the teacher was reading them something from the bible, and my 4 year old had the audacity to question her.

She asked if that really happened, and when the teacher said it did she said "Prove it."

I caught a lot of hell from it, but I was beaming with pride. He called her disrespectful, but that is flawed thinking. It would have been disrespectful if she called the teacher a name, or shouted something like "Jesus sucks!"

But all she did was question that which was being presented to her as truth, which is exactly what I reaffirm to them every day.

If one is raised to question rather than believe, there is no way they could come up with a bible-is-right mindset.

Your kids debate better than I do, keep it up!

[frankiej]

She asked if that really happened, and when the teacher said it did she said "Prove it."

You are raising your kids well i see.

The thing about so called disrespect, is that they will disrespect you. But, when you simply ask them why? or where is the evidence? they have the cheek to say you are disrespectful.

[salty]

Children trust their parents to give them an accurate view of things religious and moral. You say you explain things in a way that your children can understand and help them choose for themselves, then you show them a verse in the bible about dashing the heads of children on stones. If you were truly being fair, perhaps you would share the verses that you exposed your children to with their father and he would counter with something like this: "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres." 1Corinthians 6-7.

What is the reason for encouraging a 4 year old to demand proof? Does your 4 year old have the ability to define proof? Won't the child come and ask you what proof means and see if the answer that was given to them, would satisfy you? Adults know that children are easily impressionable, they copy our speech without knowing what it means before they can choose between right and wrong. Wouldn't it be fair to ask that your children not be taken to church until they are old enough to decide if they wanted to attend church? My mother never planted any religion in my mind as the best, as I discovered the religions she allowed me to ask questions, then she gave me her reasons for her belief. I admired my mother therefore I wanted to become more like her. Will your children admire you when they learn from someone else they love and respect that you scared them away from the bible, for the sake of your own beliefs and not because you actually wanted them to choose?

What is fair for the children? What is the best way to make sure they are not forced to believe if they don't want to? And shouldn't you let them believe if they do want to?