Atheist parent

[Anonymous]

For people who don't believe this is the word of god, it's just words from an ancient book.

And not surprising that it's noted in multiple gospels - they are four versions of the same story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For people who don't believe this is the word of god, it's just words from an ancient book.

And not surprising that it's noted in multiple gospels - they are four versions of the same story.

That is correct of course. But keep in mind: Personal beliefs don't determine what is true, even for the individual involved. I can believe all I want to that it's going to snow in Miami today, but that doesn't mean I'm right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For people who don't believe this is the word of god, it's just words from an ancient book.

And not surprising that it's noted in multiple gospels - they are four versions of the same story.

That is correct of course. But keep in mind: Personal beliefs don't determine what is true, even for the individual involved. I can believe all I want to that it's going to snow in Miami today, but that doesn't mean I'm right

Or that your belief should be respected.

[Anonymous]

I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See, atheists can judge with the best of them!

Oh we all judge. I just think we should judge each other from a rational basis, rather than "my God said what you are doing is immoral".

How is judging someone for their pseronal belief rational?

Of course it's rational. If a full grown adult came to you and told you that he believes the earth is flat, what are you going to think about him?

What you may be confused with, is belief vs preference. It's irrational to judge people for having preferences, like the color blue, or spicy food. But belief is different. You can absolutely judge someone for their belief. You are free to believe whatever you want, and people are free to judge you for what you believe.

I hope someday you know what it means to be truly alone. You are an evil person.

Sigh, so when faced with a reasoned argument, you reply by wishing that I will suffer in life, and call me evil. Nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

You sound like the kind of peach that keeps me away from any organized atheist gatherings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See, atheists can judge with the best of them!

Oh we all judge. I just think we should judge each other from a rational basis, rather than "my God said what you are doing is immoral".

How is judging someone for their pseronal belief rational?

Of course it's rational. If a full grown adult came to you and told you that he believes the earth is flat, what are you going to think about him?

What you may be confused with, is belief vs preference. It's irrational to judge people for having preferences, like the color blue, or spicy food. But belief is different. You can absolutely judge someone for their belief. You are free to believe whatever you want, and people are free to judge you for what you believe.

I hope someday you know what it means to be truly alone. You are an evil person.

I doubt that Jesus would approve of this message!

Jesus wouldn't approve of you avoiding someone because they follow Him.

I think you still don't get it. We don't think Jesus exists. Why would we worry about what someone who doesn't exist approves of or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whenever somebody brings up Thor, Zeus, fairies, etc, I really can't decide if they are just extremely stupid or extremely rude. Do you really think modern religious belief is equivalent to believing in fairies? Do you really have such a very low opinion of us, and such a very high opinion of yourself? Do you just enjoy denigrating people? Or can you really not see there is a difference? When you typed those words, did you feel clever or cruel?

There is no difference between believing in Jesus and believing in Zeus. Absolutely none.

But you didn't answer my question. Could you answer my actual question? I'm guessing you are feeling very intelligent, from this answer. But I can not tell.

How were you denigrated? To me, that is a factually neutral statement that is not especially clever or cruel. I think the problem is that you feel very superior for having "the right answer" compared to other religious beliefs and can't handle when someone points out the obvious fact that there is no reason to believe in Jesus instead of Thor or Thor instead of Buddha.

Or pp's feeling of superiority is wilting and the response is name-calling and accusations. Many Christians are not like this. Instead, their understanding of Jesus' message is one of love and compassion and turning the other cheek.

Yea but what cheek, the literal cheek or figurative cheek. The face cheek or the butt cheek. I've heard multiple interpretations, some go as far as to analyze whether the person doing the initial slapping is left handed or right handed, plus the historical context of what it means to be slapped with the left hand or the right hand, and etc. It gets incredibly complicated, so something as simple as "turn the other cheek", there is no definitive answer and therefore warrants in-depth analysis and has a whole Wikipedia page dedicated to it, I kid you not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

Not the PP responding.
I agree that ideas don't get a pass because they are religiously based. You an issue with consenting gay adults in love because of a few bible passages? No pass from me. But harmless views, even ones I think are in error, get the kind of respect that means I don't actively question a person on them because I understand they have cultural, family, and faith reasons behind them.

I will raise my children to consider this approach when they are older. For now they are too young to get into the dangerous parts of religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

You can act respectfully to believers without respecting the belief. I require that my atheist children act respectfully to other people's religious beliefs because it's polite to do so. They are free to say what they think at home and to believe what they want, but they are not free to act rudely to other children or their families. "Ridicule" is often bullying if the religious believer is a minority, and it's fighting words if they are a majority.

You're not going to convince anyone in these confrontations. It's best to be polite and keep the peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

You can act respectfully to believers without respecting the belief. I require that my atheist children act respectfully to other people's religious beliefs because it's polite to do so. They are free to say what they think at home and to believe what they want, but they are not free to act rudely to other children or their families. "Ridicule" is often bullying if the religious believer is a minority, and it's fighting words if they are a majority.

You're not going to convince anyone in these confrontations. It's best to be polite and keep the peace.

thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

Wow. I bet you're a lot of fun to hang out with, and your kids too. I actually feel sorry for your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

Wow. I bet you're a lot of fun to hang out with, and your kids too. I actually feel sorry for your children.

Sounds iike you're a lot like pp - feeling free to ridicule others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wouldn't care, so why would I ask? Regardless, my children play with all children of various faiths/non-faiths and backgrounds. My children have their own faith, and I make sure that they are respectful of other faiths, because I believe that we all have our own paths to follow. I would think no more or less of you for being atheist.

This is not a healthy mindset. My kids are taught to be rational and critical of other's claims about the nature of the world. There is no reason to respect someone who believes in an imaginary God, none. Tolerate, yes, but not respect. People can be free to follow their own path, and we are free to point out and ridicule the irrational nature of their path.

Not the PP responding.
I agree that ideas don't get a pass because they are religiously based. You an issue with consenting gay adults in love because of a few bible passages? No pass from me. But harmless views, even ones I think are in error, get the kind of respect that means I don't actively question a person on them because I understand they have cultural, family, and faith reasons behind them.

I will raise my children to consider this approach when they are older. For now they are too young to get into the dangerous parts of religion.

Right, ideas should not get a free pass just because they are religious based. It's immoral to perform genital mutilation on kids in the name of your religion whether you are Jewish, or a Muslim. It's immoral to believe that you can pass on your responsibility through vicarious redemption as some of the Christian faith believes. These and other ideas should not be respected just because they are part of someone's religious faith.

Regarding where/when/how to discuss these, obviously you don't openly question these things everywhere you go. As long as people have violent tendencies associated with their religious belief, we have to be careful what we say for our own safety. I teach my kids to not confront others about their religion, not to volunteer the fact that he is an atheist, but to stand his ground when pressed.