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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There's only thing that matters in all of this, OP: What do you think happens to us when we die?[/quote]

To an atheist, it's not so much what we believe as a matter of faith, but what's been shown to happen. Which is to say, nothing happens to us when we die. Our brains stop functioning, our bodies decompose. Our friends and family remember us for some time, but 2-3 generations later, no one living would know we ever existed. We are merely insignificant links in a biological chain.

Now, that is what we logically understand will happen as a matter of fact. As to how that make us feel, that depends on the person. Some become scared, some find this as an indication to treasure life even more. It depends on the person, but I would say the most natural initial response, especially for people with no kids, is a profound feeling of sadness.[/quote]

I'm not sad -- Im happy to be here.  We are very Significant links in the biological chain--- none of us would be here if it weren't for the exact people before us.It's huge stroke of luck.   As for kids -- memories of them die out after  a few generations too and some day the whole universe may burn up.  So what - there's nothing we can do about it.  But we can enjoy it while were here.[/quote]

Or we can believe in a whole invisible, eternal realm created thousands of years ago by our pre-scientific predecessors and later organized into numerous religious organizations that still exist today with financial support from their followers, and in some cases, reinforced with the threat of eternal damnation if you don't believe.[/quote]

yup, live and let live. Anything else?[/quote]

Live and let live would entail not forcing small children to believe things for which there is no evidence.[/quote]

We parents do that with matters other than religion. Santa, tooth fairy, sorry but the grocery store ran out of ice cream. And?[/quote]

and before they grow up,you tell them that it was just make believe.[/quote]

No. They come to their own conclusions. You think I go down a list eliminating misunderstandings on their 18th birthdays?

"So, Tommy, the grocery store really did have ice cream that day." 
"The badly limping rabbit we saw go through the yard when you were 4 yo WASN'T going to be OK." 
"When you wished on all those stars, dandelion puffs and birthday candles it was for nothing. Nope, no wishes connected to those actions."
[/quote]

Kids figure out those things when they are kids- from other kids, and with confirmation from their parents.  Then if they have younger siblings, they play the game with them for a while, before affirming that they have good reason to doubt and clueing them into to the facts. No on expects an adult to still believe or harbor doubts about Santa or the Easter Bunny.  In contrast, in the case of religion, people of all ages are taught to believe, are urged to continuing believing and while doubts are allowed and even expected, it's also expected that the doubts will revert back to belief, despite the evidence.  [/quote]

So this is a parenting decision. Do you raise your child in religion or not. Do you raise your child with the idea of being a vegetarian, a recycler, a sports watcher, a camper, a traveler, a patriot, a dog lover.

Why should you care about how parents raise their kids and with which values?[/quote]

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