Comments on: How Should Atheist Parents Approach Religious Children? http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Mriana http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66599 Mriana Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:37:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66599 It's hard to be unique when others have fell for it before. :( It’s hard to be unique when others have fell for it before. :(

]]> By: PrimateIR http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66591 PrimateIR Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:58:49 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66591 Thanks Mriana. Poor kid. He just wanted to be unique. Thanks Mriana. Poor kid. He just wanted to be unique.

]]> By: Mriana http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66588 Mriana Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:48:21 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66588 ROFLMBO! That was too good, PrimateIR. :) ROFLMBO! That was too good, PrimateIR. :)

]]> By: PrimateIR http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66578 PrimateIR Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:24:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66578 <blockquote>My younger son also thinks there is some value in Creationism/ID and accused his older brother and me of being closed minded when we said there is nothing scientific about it.</blockquote> One day my youngest announced that he beleived the Bible. I said, "That's fine, but you know, you should read it before you make up your mind." and then I pulled it off the shelf and started to read Genesis. "That's what it says?!?" He said after a couple of paragraphs. "Well, I guess I don't, then."

My younger son also thinks there is some value in Creationism/ID and accused his older brother and me of being closed minded when we said there is nothing scientific about it.

One day my youngest announced that he beleived the Bible. I said, “That’s fine, but you know, you should read it before you make up your mind.” and then I pulled it off the shelf and started to read Genesis.

“That’s what it says?!?” He said after a couple of paragraphs. “Well, I guess I don’t, then.”

]]> By: Mriana http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66572 Mriana Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:19:10 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66572 My younger son also thinks there is some value in Creationism/ID and accused his older brother and me of being closed minded when we said there is nothing scientific about it. I think the other issue is to confront the teachers, after school, at parent-teacher conferences, etc, as to what they are teaching in their classes and if it is Faith Based, there are options on how to change that, but you may have to fight your particular state too with the help of FFRF, ACLU, and alike. I never had to go that far, thankfully. Missouri is backwards, but so far it is teaching Evolution, but I heard recently that schools got the right to teach ID too. :roll: If so, you know I will be saying something. The other thing is to be involved in their education at home too. Not just at school. Know their friends and their friends' family, if at all possible. I'm not saying choose their friends, but know who they are. Believe it or not, your kids learn things, even creationism from their friends. What to do about it another matter though, because you can't shelter your kids either, but you can talk to your kids and let them know your opinion of various subjects, esp when they are mentioned. As for resources, I've always relied on educational books and DVDs. We love Carl Sagan (Cosmos) around here. These things are great over the summer, but remember to have fun books and DVDs too. Not just educational or you'll burn your kids out of learning. My younger son also thinks there is some value in Creationism/ID and accused his older brother and me of being closed minded when we said there is nothing scientific about it.

I think the other issue is to confront the teachers, after school, at parent-teacher conferences, etc, as to what they are teaching in their classes and if it is Faith Based, there are options on how to change that, but you may have to fight your particular state too with the help of FFRF, ACLU, and alike. I never had to go that far, thankfully. Missouri is backwards, but so far it is teaching Evolution, but I heard recently that schools got the right to teach ID too. :roll: If so, you know I will be saying something.

The other thing is to be involved in their education at home too. Not just at school.

Know their friends and their friends’ family, if at all possible. I’m not saying choose their friends, but know who they are. Believe it or not, your kids learn things, even creationism from their friends. What to do about it another matter though, because you can’t shelter your kids either, but you can talk to your kids and let them know your opinion of various subjects, esp when they are mentioned.

As for resources, I’ve always relied on educational books and DVDs. We love Carl Sagan (Cosmos) around here. These things are great over the summer, but remember to have fun books and DVDs too. Not just educational or you’ll burn your kids out of learning.

]]> By: William http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66425 William Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:40:21 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-66425 Education is the key. Religion cannot stand up to knowledge. The more you know, the less you believe. Thought is the opposite of belief Education is the key. Religion cannot stand up to knowledge. The more you know, the less you believe. Thought is the opposite of belief

]]> By: Max Dionne http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64738 Max Dionne Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:20:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64738 The kids are much more likely to branch out to other ways of thinking of they come upon those ideas themselves or get them from peers. Make sure you keep them away from religious ideology and make sure they are exposed to as much secular ideas as possible -- especially if they come from a peer group. Camp Quest is a great idea for that reason. Give them lots of exposure to the world -- exposure that kids with religious parents would be sheltered from. Above all nurture their curiosity. That above all else will ensure the development of a questioning mind. The kids are much more likely to branch out to other ways of thinking of they come upon those ideas themselves or get them from peers. Make sure you keep them away from religious ideology and make sure they are exposed to as much secular ideas as possible — especially if they come from a peer group.

Camp Quest is a great idea for that reason. Give them lots of exposure to the world — exposure that kids with religious parents would be sheltered from.

Above all nurture their curiosity. That above all else will ensure the development of a questioning mind.

]]> By: Concerned Mom http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64630 Concerned Mom Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:42:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64630 I just want to say "thanks" again to all of you who've so thoughtfully shared your experiences and advice. We have definitely gained a lot of good ideas that we can hopefully put into practice over time. I just want to say “thanks” again to all of you who’ve so thoughtfully shared your experiences and advice. We have definitely gained a lot of good ideas that we can hopefully put into practice over time.

]]> By: Bad http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64495 Bad Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:20:34 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64495 Don't forget that by thinking all of this through as parents, you're already doing better than the vast majority of parents: even if you later decide that this or that approach wasn't the right one (though, how could you really know except in hindsight), the fact that you cared this much to really be thoughtful about it is worth a heck of a lot in and of itself. That's something else that, as they get older, your kids will be able to appreciate about you. Don’t forget that by thinking all of this through as parents, you’re already doing better than the vast majority of parents: even if you later decide that this or that approach wasn’t the right one (though, how could you really know except in hindsight), the fact that you cared this much to really be thoughtful about it is worth a heck of a lot in and of itself. That’s something else that, as they get older, your kids will be able to appreciate about you.

]]> By: Christine http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64493 Christine Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:13:09 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/26/how-should-atheist-parents-approach-religious-children/#comment-64493 Asking the kids why? is a great suggestion. Sit down with the kids and the bible. Show the kids all the things in the bible that have been proven false so far, such as a Flat Earth and that the sun does not revolve around the earth. If they see that there are other falsehoods in the bible they might be given the doubt they need to seriously think for themselves. In the book "Maybe Right Maybe Wrong", author Dan Barker affirms a child's ability to think, to seek information, and to ask ""Why?"" By using factually based information and the tools of critical thought, without recourse to dogma or holy books, the book's main character, Andrea, learns vital moral lessons. Her most important insight: Regardless of one's own beliefs, you should respect everybody's human rights." evolvefish.com Asking the kids why? is a great suggestion. Sit down with the kids and the bible. Show the kids all the things in the bible that have been proven false so far, such as a Flat Earth and that the sun does not revolve around the earth. If they see that there are other falsehoods in the bible they might be given the doubt they need to seriously think for themselves.
In the book “Maybe Right Maybe Wrong”, author Dan Barker affirms a child’s ability to think, to seek information, and to ask “”Why?”" By using factually based information and the tools of critical thought, without recourse to dogma or holy books, the book’s main character, Andrea, learns vital moral lessons. Her most important insight: Regardless of one’s own beliefs, you should respect everybody’s human rights.” evolvefish.com

]]>