What do Atheists believe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Then her kid goes to religious homes and I am sure asks questions her mother has never thought of addressing.

That’s great.

As long as you are cool with Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, and others having a similar discussion with your kid, then you are not a hypocrite.

[Anonymous]

If I send my kid to someone’s house, especially to spend the night, I’d have to know and trust them.

I assume most parents are the same. Let’s be honest, some don’t care. Sadly.

If I send my child into someone’s home I expect my child to be respectful and the family to be kind and respectful of my child.

I don’t expect the family hosting my kid to not be who they are.

It’s up to me to discuss religion, sexuality, culture, etc etc etc with my kid.

If you don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle don’t let your kid be exposed then it.

Again, pp spoke of how God never comes up in her household. Apparently she’s sending her kid into households that are religious. Does she not know that? Can she not have discussion with her child about how families live differently and embrace different values?

[Anonymous]

^^to it then

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I send my kid to someone’s house, especially to spend the night, I’d have to know and trust them.

I assume most parents are the same. Let’s be honest, some don’t care. Sadly.

If I send my child into someone’s home I expect my child to be respectful and the family to be kind and respectful of my child.

I don’t expect the family hosting my kid to not be who they are.

It’s up to me to discuss religion, sexuality, culture, etc etc etc with my kid.

If you don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle don’t let your kid be exposed to it then it.

Again, pp spoke of how God never comes up in her household. Apparently she’s sending her kid into households that are religious. Does she not know that? Can she not have discussion with her child about how families live differently and embrace different values?

In fact, although you may know people have views different from yours, you may not know and not expect that they will take the opportunity of your child being at their home, to inculcate your child with their values.

Talking about their religion in answer to a question (e.g., "why is that guy hanging on a cross?") is OK: ("He was tortured by roman soldiers"). It's not OK to respond, "He is the son of god who died for our sins."

In response to the first answer, the kid may follow up with, "But why do you have such an awful image of him in your house?" To which you could respond "It's part of our religious beliefs...." Any subsequent questions should make it clear that this is what your family believes, not something that all people, including your young quest, should believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or the family is religious and the sleepover child observed and asked questions.

I bet nobody would complain if the family was Muslim and the child was exposed to their religion. They’d see it as diversity.

Once my DD has a sleepover and a girl asked why we don’t say prayers before going to bed. My daughter explained that we don’t believe that there is a God. The next day, the girls parents came over and yelled at me for trying to teach their daughter my godless ways. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I send my kid to someone’s house, especially to spend the night, I’d have to know and trust them.

I assume most parents are the same. Let’s be honest, some don’t care. Sadly.

If I send my child into someone’s home I expect my child to be respectful and the family to be kind and respectful of my child.

I don’t expect the family hosting my kid to not be who they are.

It’s up to me to discuss religion, sexuality, culture, etc etc etc with my kid.

If you don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle don’t let your kid be exposed to it then it.

Again, pp spoke of how God never comes up in her household. Apparently she’s sending her kid into households that are religious. Does she not know that? Can she not have discussion with her child about how families live differently and embrace different values?

In fact, although you may know people have views different from yours, you may not know and not expect that they will take the opportunity of your child being at their home, to inculcate your child with their values.

Talking about their religion in answer to a question (e.g., "why is that guy hanging on a cross?") is OK: ("He was tortured by roman soldiers"). It's not OK to respond, "He is the son of god who died for our sins."

In response to the first answer, the kid may follow up with, "But why do you have such an awful image of him in your house?" To which you could respond "It's part of our religious beliefs...." Any subsequent questions should make it clear that this is what your family believes, not something that all people, including your young quest, should believe.

You don’t have to power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home. I’d tell the child that that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins. Period. If the child wanted to know more I’d tell them to ask their parents. That’s it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I send my kid to someone’s house, especially to spend the night, I’d have to know and trust them.

I assume most parents are the same. Let’s be honest, some don’t care. Sadly.

If I send my child into someone’s home I expect my child to be respectful and the family to be kind and respectful of my child.

I don’t expect the family hosting my kid to not be who they are.

It’s up to me to discuss religion, sexuality, culture, etc etc etc with my kid.

If you don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle don’t let your kid be exposed to it then it.

Again, pp spoke of how God never comes up in her household. Apparently she’s sending her kid into households that are religious. Does she not know that? Can she not have discussion with her child about how families live differently and embrace different values?

In fact, although you may know people have views different from yours, you may not know and not expect that they will take the opportunity of your child being at their home, to inculcate your child with their values.

Talking about their religion in answer to a question (e.g., "why is that guy hanging on a cross?") is OK: ("He was tortured by roman soldiers"). It's not OK to respond, "He is the son of god who died for our sins."

In response to the first answer, the kid may follow up with, "But why do you have such an awful image of him in your house?" To which you could respond "It's part of our religious beliefs...." Any subsequent questions should make it clear that this is what your family believes, not something that all people, including your young quest, should believe.

You don’t have to power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home. I’d tell the child that that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins. Period. If the child wanted to know more I’d tell them to ask their parents. That’s it.

But it's not "practicing your religion" when you explain something a visiting child sees in your home. It's just answering a question - or should be -- and not expressing your beliefs as if they are facts. As you know, religious beliefs can vary a lot, even among Christians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t have to power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home. I’d tell the child that that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins. Period. If the child wanted to know more I’d tell them to ask their parents. That’s it.

You're right. No one has the power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home.

No one also has the power to tell people not to be inconsiderate A-holes to guests and children either.

I remember my sister coming home crying at age 6 because the kids across the street told her she was going to hell because she wasn't born again. That was a fun day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t have to power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home. I’d tell the child that that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins. Period. If the child wanted to know more I’d tell them to ask their parents. That’s it.

You're right. No one has the power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home.

No one also has the power to tell people not to be inconsiderate A-holes to guests and children either.

I remember my sister coming home crying at age 6 because the kids across the street told her she was going to hell because she wasn't born again. That was a fun day!

In some religious denominations, it's expected or even required to proselytize. It can be so ingrained that people don't know when they are doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I send my kid to someone’s house, especially to spend the night, I’d have to know and trust them.

I assume most parents are the same. Let’s be honest, some don’t care. Sadly.

If I send my child into someone’s home I expect my child to be respectful and the family to be kind and respectful of my child.

I don’t expect the family hosting my kid to not be who they are.

It’s up to me to discuss religion, sexuality, culture, etc etc etc with my kid.

If you don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle don’t let your kid be exposed to it then it.

Again, pp spoke of how God never comes up in her household. Apparently she’s sending her kid into households that are religious. Does she not know that? Can she not have discussion with her child about how families live differently and embrace different values?

In fact, although you may know people have views different from yours, you may not know and not expect that they will take the opportunity of your child being at their home, to inculcate your child with their values.

Talking about their religion in answer to a question (e.g., "why is that guy hanging on a cross?") is OK: ("He was tortured by roman soldiers"). It's not OK to respond, "He is the son of god who died for our sins."

In response to the first answer, the kid may follow up with, "But why do you have such an awful image of him in your house?" To which you could respond "It's part of our religious beliefs...." Any subsequent questions should make it clear that this is what your family believes, not something that all people, including your young quest, should believe.

You don’t have to power to tell people how to practice their religion in their own home. I’d tell the child that that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins. Period. If the child wanted to know more I’d tell them to ask their parents. That’s it.

So let's say your kid does a sleepover and comments on the lack of prayer before meals and notices that there are no pictures of Jesus around the house. The host parents say that their family doesn't believe in Jesus or any religion and if the kid wants to know more, they can ask their parents. That would be OK with you, right?

[Anonymous]

Yes, why wouldn’t it be? Why should someone lie to a child about it?

Simply saying you believe in a religion or don’t isn’t horrifying.

My sister is a Buddhist and my bil and atheist and oddly she prays with their kid every night! Right? Why? I don’t know or question, that’s their choice. It seems odd but it’s not my business at all.

[Anonymous]

I took my kids to church. The church I grew up in, so they could make their own decision.

I have no issue with them being exposed to religion. The more they see/are aware of/know, the more informed their decision.

They are old enough now, and neither believes in any kind of religion.

I don't understand why some people have a problem with exposure to differences. If you eat meat do you keep them away from vegans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took my kids to church. The church I grew up in, so they could make their own decision.

I have no issue with them being exposed to religion. The more they see/are aware of/know, the more informed their decision.

They are old enough now, and neither believes in any kind of religion.

I don't understand why some people have a problem with exposure to differences. If you eat meat do you keep them away from vegans?

No, And you also don't tell your kids that vegans are wrong or make vegans eat meat when they come to your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my kids to church. The church I grew up in, so they could make their own decision.

I have no issue with them being exposed to religion. The more they see/are aware of/know, the more informed their decision.

They are old enough now, and neither believes in any kind of religion.

I don't understand why some people have a problem with exposure to differences. If you eat meat do you keep them away from vegans?

No, And you also don't tell your kids that vegans are wrong or make vegans eat meat when they come to your house.

Correct. But if they ask why you are a vegan, you say why. You don’t hide or lie. There’s no reason to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my kids to church. The church I grew up in, so they could make their own decision.

I have no issue with them being exposed to religion. The more they see/are aware of/know, the more informed their decision.

They are old enough now, and neither believes in any kind of religion.

I don't understand why some people have a problem with exposure to differences. If you eat meat do you keep them away from vegans?

No, And you also don't tell your kids that vegans are wrong or make vegans eat meat when they come to your house.

Correct. But if they ask why you are a vegan, you say why. You don’t hide or lie. There’s no reason to do so.

And you explain it as a choice -- not something that everyone must do