George

Good answers. But I noticed some of you dodged my more pointed questions

What happens when they start feeling like outcasts because other kids are religious and talk about God all the time?

What happens when they come home asking questions about God.

I agree with most of you on the point of raising your kids the best you can without using God as a crutch to explain everything. But what happens when your kid brings God to you?

Example my 5 year old asked me a few weeks ago about the sun rising in the morning. She said "did God do that?". It was the first time I'd ever heard her say God that I can recall and I assume she got it either from talking to other kids she asked some adult a direct question about something (the kid has a lot of questions ) and they gave her the God brush off.

Well I answered her question by... get this.... telling her the truth! I told her the sun is out in space and it sits still. The earth is moving so that's why it looks like the sun is rising to us. We had a short conversation just so I could be sure she "got it". She's a smart kid so I'm sure she gets it now. My only concern is now the next time some kid who was told that God does everything starts talking about the sun and she corrects the kid there is gonna be a big fuss.

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brig

I can't say for sure what I would tell my kids were the situation to arise (which I'm sure it will do, and exactly as George described too!).

But, I'm going to try to be as honest as possible, with regards to my own beliefs, i.e. that some people believe a power greater then us created all that you can see, but I don't.

There's a lot that we can't or don't know and I would like for my kids to understand that and accept that, and not feel like they have to attribute everything to someone or something. The older they get, the more I would encourage them to gain their own knowledge, and form their opinions about these things and if that leads them to God, then so be it.

lisha32

This is the topic the prevented my ex-boyfriend and I from continuing our relationship. (This only occurred last night, so i may be a bit emotional still.) I am almost 21 years old, and have struggled for the past four years with my beliefs. My parents raised me to believe in God while i was young, yet for whatever reasons religion disappeared in our lives after a series of hardships. I began college at 18, and was amazed at the amount of knowledge i had not yet been exposed to! Since then, I've done nothing but ponder almost everything i had ever been "taught" and just expose myself to different things. I finally decided that being agnostic made the most sense to me, and i'll tell you now, being accepted in this community, even in my own family, has not been easy.
Anyways, i remember as a child asking my mom so many questions like "where did we come from?" Interesting that out of all my childhood memories this is the most vivid, my mom was flabergasted, didnt know what to even say.....so anyways....i've thought hard about the topic lately. You may think i'm young to be thinking about how i want to raise my children, but it should be a very important part of everyone's plans. Why force anything upon a young child? I will simply explain to them when they ask that religion and their beliefs is something that they will figure out on their own. I will share with them what i feel and expose them to things that helped me at whatever age they bring it up. It's something that they will build themselves and i'll explain it to them in as clear and simple a way as i can. I dont know what this world is all about still, and i dont rule out the possibility that there is some higher power, but for me religions are nothing but stories to help people get through life. I dont feel i am a bad person for just accepting that i dont understand life and i dont think i will by the time i die. I have a long way to come myself...i know this....i am just entering my stage of figuring out my beliefs. It's just sad....becoming so close to a person and having this very topic become the reason a good relationship ends. My ex, who is fairly religious is a wonderful person, but when it comes to this topic we do nothing but butt heads. He can accept that i dont believe in God just yet and possibly never, but he just cant think about raising a child with me. well sorry this is so unorganized and random. just thought i'd throw some of this out there.

lisha32

Oh and George, feeling like an outcast is something many children will go through, regardless of the reason why. So tell them the truth! just like you said. That is the one thing i wish my parents had done. They told stories upon stories....its no wonder why i became depressed, in addition to other reasons.
So when the child corrects another kid and creates a big fuss, we're just going to have to talk to them honestly and make sure they understand that not everyone has the same beliefs and that we are all different. Just because we have different beliefs doesnt mean we can enjoy the simple things that life has to offer together. As they get older, i believe children that have discovered their beliefs with a bit of guidance are 100 times more capable of dealing with life than a person who is forced into believing something.....they might tend to rebel against you, and that is not a good thing.

Piglet

George

Excellent question
Problems are ONLY solved by good questions.

You pose a doozy in the face of 4 billions ignorants all coveting the mind of your young.
They want your children.
As consumers.
As religious mindsets.
As fools.
How do you stop them...?

Educate your kids at home.
Hide them in the attic an say they ran away from home
ANYTHING
Just dont let them be 'processed'

Piglet

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techluck

I too want my son to form his own beliefs. I was forced to adhere to a certain religion growing up, just as I was forced to brush me teeth and make good grades in school and after I matured I found my own path.

Vfr

I would give the child spiritual values and expose him or her to most religions for the wisdom, but leave the faith as myth as it is not provable.

v

Piglet

Techluck;2045

Well, you are one of the very few.
You found your own path

One of the very few.
Maybe you could articulate your thoughts into something we could understand.

Piglet

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Piglet

VFR

Teach him to use a screwdriver first.
Then a pocket calculator.
Then get him to read 10 thousands fictions/biographies/histories

Just as piglet has.

Piglet

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Starlily

Well...despite having been brought up myself in a fundie environment, and knowing the benefits as well as the drawbacks, I am bringing my children up outside of church... I do home learn with them, although fear of religious instruction wasn't a factor at all. We read alot of myths, from every corner of the world. We read about Mohammed, baby Jesus, Zeus, Isis, Thor, etc. etc. etc. Many parents depend on religion to teach their children to become 'good people', which I think is sad. They don't go to church themselves, but send the children to bible clubs or summer camps... then their children come over with notebooks and try to 'teach' my children. At the first such incident I was a tad concerned, but had to laugh when I over heard my child interspercing their 'Jesus save me from hell' song, to her own 'Sun, we miss you in the winter, please come back at solstice' version... I think that honest conversation with your children about what you believe and why is really the only way... My first goal has been to instill a love of learning and a strong sense of self.