As an Atheist, what do you tell your little kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

[Anonymous]

Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

"Agnostic" simply means you "don't know" ("Gnostic" = "knowing" or knowledge).

You can be both Atheist and Agnostic, and most atheists consider themselves both. Many Theists do as well.

There are many degrees and definitions of "not knowing" of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

Beating other people is against the law. Police officers can arrest people who are suspected of breaking the law. The accused gets competent legal representation and must be afforded a fair trial. If they are convicted of child abuse, they can be sentenced by the judge based on state sentencing guidelines.

That is not the same as random strangers having responsibility/authority over children. The school nurse has to contact parents to administer otc pain relief medication to children; that’s how little authority even a school professional who works with children has over children.

You don’t sound open minded at all about the Christian faith, yet judge people who aren’t open minded about atheism or other religions as hypocritical bigots. You are just as close minded and bigoted as they are.

You also are incorrect about Christianity; God doesn’t “send people to heaven if they are good.” That’s probably something someone indoctrinated you into believing, something that is false.

Pot, meet kettle.

[Anonymous]

I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

Beating other people is against the law. Police officers can arrest people who are suspected of breaking the law. The accused gets competent legal representation and must be afforded a fair trial. If they are convicted of child abuse, they can be sentenced by the judge based on state sentencing guidelines.

That is not the same as random strangers having responsibility/authority over children. The school nurse has to contact parents to administer otc pain relief medication to children; that’s how little authority even a school professional who works with children has over children.

You don’t sound open minded at all about the Christian faith, yet judge people who aren’t open minded about atheism or other religions as hypocritical bigots. You are just as close minded and bigoted as they are.

You also are incorrect about Christianity; God doesn’t “send people to heaven if they are good.” That’s probably something someone indoctrinated you into believing, something that is false.

Pot, meet kettle.

Pp did not say that God sent people to heaven if they are good. They said that some people believe that. Maybe you don't. Good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

Beating other people is against the law. Police officers can arrest people who are suspected of breaking the law. The accused gets competent legal representation and must be afforded a fair trial. If they are convicted of child abuse, they can be sentenced by the judge based on state sentencing guidelines.

That is not the same as random strangers having responsibility/authority over children. The school nurse has to contact parents to administer otc pain relief medication to children; that’s how little authority even a school professional who works with children has over children.

You don’t sound open minded at all about the Christian faith, yet judge people who aren’t open minded about atheism or other religions as hypocritical bigots. You are just as close minded and bigoted as they are.

You also are incorrect about Christianity; God doesn’t “send people to heaven if they are good.” That’s probably something someone indoctrinated you into believing, something that is false.

Pot, meet kettle.

Pp did not say that God sent people to heaven if they are good. They said that some people believe that. Maybe you don't. Good.

“when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven.”-pp

Can someone post scripture from the Christian bible that says people have to be good so God will send them to heaven? Who believes that? No Christian I know believers that?

Who do you know that believes that, pp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

Beating other people is against the law. Police officers can arrest people who are suspected of breaking the law. The accused gets competent legal representation and must be afforded a fair trial. If they are convicted of child abuse, they can be sentenced by the judge based on state sentencing guidelines.

That is not the same as random strangers having responsibility/authority over children. The school nurse has to contact parents to administer otc pain relief medication to children; that’s how little authority even a school professional who works with children has over children.

You don’t sound open minded at all about the Christian faith, yet judge people who aren’t open minded about atheism or other religions as hypocritical bigots. You are just as close minded and bigoted as they are.

You also are incorrect about Christianity; God doesn’t “send people to heaven if they are good.” That’s probably something someone indoctrinated you into believing, something that is false.

Pot, meet kettle.

Pp did not say that God sent people to heaven if they are good. They said that some people believe that. Maybe you don't. Good.

“when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven.”-pp

Can someone post scripture from the Christian bible that says people have to be good so God will send them to heaven? Who believes that? No Christian I know believers that?

Who do you know that believes that, pp?

Maybe immediate pp is correct and there's no need to be a good person on earth to get into heaven when you die. Maybe the Bible says you can be very nasty and simply believe in God to receive your eternal reward. Maybe that would explain why so many people who profess to be Christians are so nasty. Meanwhile, atheists or people of other religions go to hell because they don't believe that Jesus Christ is lord. Or maybe just believing in God is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

Beating other people is against the law. Police officers can arrest people who are suspected of breaking the law. The accused gets competent legal representation and must be afforded a fair trial. If they are convicted of child abuse, they can be sentenced by the judge based on state sentencing guidelines.

That is not the same as random strangers having responsibility/authority over children. The school nurse has to contact parents to administer otc pain relief medication to children; that’s how little authority even a school professional who works with children has over children.

You don’t sound open minded at all about the Christian faith, yet judge people who aren’t open minded about atheism or other religions as hypocritical bigots. You are just as close minded and bigoted as they are.

You also are incorrect about Christianity; God doesn’t “send people to heaven if they are good.” That’s probably something someone indoctrinated you into believing, something that is false.

Pot, meet kettle.

Beating people gets you arrested because we have decided as a society that is is harmful to human well being. There are people, (me included), who
believe that indoctrinating children into a Bronze Age belief system, for which there is zero evidence and that has caused immeasurable harm over the centuries, is something that is also harmful to well being.

I am not saying that it should be illegal, and it really couldn't be regulated anyway. But I do believe it is ultimately harmful in many many ways, and I hope at some point we have both accepted that it is harmful, and outgrown the usefulness of religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m more agnostic than true atheist since I’m holding out that 1% hope there is something more.

But what I’ve told my kids is that religion is how people explained the world around them before we had science, and where you were born affects which religion you were taught.

We’ve also spent a lot of time talking about the creation of the universe 300B years ago, how crazy it is that matter turned into conscious life, the statistical improbability that the earth was made to support life and that they were born as them, etc.

You can still look at the science and appreciate the “miracle” of it all. And my kids know that I don’t have any more answers to the unknowns than they do. 1 kid is practical and even questioned Santa from a young age. He’s had a pretty skeptical outlook on God from early on. Whereas my younger kid is much more creative/spiritual and open to the unknown existing. He will talk about maybe God is like X or like Y.

I support both of them in coming up with their own thoughts on the matter. I think indoctrinating them that there is no God is just as harmful as shoving religion down their throats. What they believe is up to them.

I don’t think raising your own children in your family’s faith tradition is “shoving religion down their throats.” Children are part of a family, and most families have traditions and beliefs. Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the manner they believe is a responsible and appropriate.

If a parent does or doesn’t have faith or religious beliefs or traditions, raising children without faith or religious traditions is how their family works, for lack of a better term.

When the children are adults, parents should accept whatever their child and their child’s own family (spouse and kids) decides they want to believe, or accept that their adult child and their adult child’s family is undecided about such matters, or does not have any religious or faith beliefs or traditions.

No one should tell other people how to raise their children. Parents do not have to stop practicing their religion once they become parents, that’s absurd. Parents don’t have to stop being atheist or agnostic once they become parents, but that’s absurd.

People need to stop believing they have any say or authority in the lives of other people’s children. They have zero input into the decisions parents make for their own kids.

I agree with much of what you say, but not all. Personally, I think it's crazy to encourage anyone to be religious in a world in which more and more can be explained by science.

Also, I think we do have say and authority over other people's children right now, in that beating your children can and should send you to jail. I think and hope the time will come when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven .

Beating other people is against the law. Police officers can arrest people who are suspected of breaking the law. The accused gets competent legal representation and must be afforded a fair trial. If they are convicted of child abuse, they can be sentenced by the judge based on state sentencing guidelines.

That is not the same as random strangers having responsibility/authority over children. The school nurse has to contact parents to administer otc pain relief medication to children; that’s how little authority even a school professional who works with children has over children.

You don’t sound open minded at all about the Christian faith, yet judge people who aren’t open minded about atheism or other religions as hypocritical bigots. You are just as close minded and bigoted as they are.

You also are incorrect about Christianity; God doesn’t “send people to heaven if they are good.” That’s probably something someone indoctrinated you into believing, something that is false.

Pot, meet kettle.

Pp did not say that God sent people to heaven if they are good. They said that some people believe that. Maybe you don't. Good.

“when it's not considered OK to fill children's mind full of silly superstitious stuff like, for instance, that if they are good,God will redeem them and send them to everlasting life in heaven.”-pp

Can someone post scripture from the Christian bible that says people have to be good so God will send them to heaven? Who believes that? No Christian I know believers that?

Who do you know that believes that, pp?

Maybe immediate pp is correct and there's no need to be a good person on earth to get into heaven when you die. Maybe the Bible says you can be very nasty and simply believe in God to receive your eternal reward. Maybe that would explain why so many people who profess to be Christians are so nasty. Meanwhile, atheists or people of other religions go to hell because they don't believe that Jesus Christ is lord. Or maybe just believing in God is enough.

+1. Not to mention that you really can't MAKE yourself believe something. It doesn't work that way.
Knowing that it doesn't even matter if you are a good person in order to get to heaven is just one more ludicrous notion about christianity

[Anonymous]

^^^^ Just want to point out that there is insufficient evidence that any of the above is true.

[Anonymous]

I am an atheist who attends church with my young kids. Usually when they ask questions I just say things like people believe x or Christ taught y. They are free to make up their own minds as they get older.