I'm in a good debate on what religion children are born into on Facebook. I am a proud Atheist, but don't want my children to be born into the belief of God, including no God , for that matter. Many atheists believe all children are born atheists. I don't believe that. I want my children to decide on their own when they become old enough, so they're agnostics. I think religion is a poison to the world. Don't get me wrong, Christianity, the only religion I know well is not necessarily a bad thing. I think Joel Osteen (sp?) sincerely believes in what he preaches and he does make you think about life in a positive way. But at the same time, you can replace the word terrorism with religion. Muslims believe just as strongly in Muhammad as Christians in Jesus Christ. I can't ever see even ground as there will always be Fundamentalists and hence war, so I'm Atheist. What are your children? Do you put them in Sunday school? Why?
To many, religion is a way of life. People have kids to pass down their seed, values, culture and also their misvirtues. Even parents with a lack of religion pass down their personal philosophies. So it's an impossible standard. Marx and Engels foresaw this and called for destroying families alongside religion, which is either insanity or far ahead of their time and ours.
Well, if your kid ask you, Dad, is there god? What are you going to say? Wait and find out for yourself? I think family upbringing has a lot to do with one's belief. My limited knowledge says it is harder to make a kid from an atheist's family a believer than the other way around.
I think you are confused with the atheist position. Atheism, is the rejection of religions beliefs --- it does not claim that there is no God. so technically, everyone was born an atheist(not believing/not knowing any religious claims). Agnostic and Atheist are 2 interchangeable terms, we often hear people mention the term agnostic-atheist, that is, in a sense, a weak atheism position. But don't worry about the labels we put on said concepts, I believe you are guiding your children in a way that is rational and reasonable.
Have you considered taking yyour kids to a UU church? I belueve they teach about different wworld religions and basic ethics as part of "sunday school".
Seriously? When I was young and naive about religion (10ish) I thought the same thing and kind of admired him, but as I got a little older (15ish) I realized the kind of life he lived ($$$) was hypocritical and against the true (in my opinion) message of the bible. That was one of the things that started to turn me away from religion. I think it's pretty clear that children are born atheists and then indoctrinated into whatever belief system, but if you think my opinion is biased because of my non-belief then....?
Google: Atheism definition a·the·ism /ˈāTHēˌizəm/ Noun The theory or belief that God does not exist. ----- At any rate - It's not a stretch to think that children could live their whole childhood without asking the question "why?", making them "atheists" according to the definition of this thread. However, it's also not a stretch to think they might wonder about some higher power when they do ask that question. I don't think it has to be insidious..
The more I think about it, it's just a silly question. A religion is an organization of some kind, right? I personally believe children don't belong to an organization until they enter in to it by their own will. On another note, does belief in God attach you to a religion by default?
I like the OP's frame of mind. Let the children decide and be there for them if they have any questions in any direction. I think many people get turned off from religion and by extension the idea of God existing because religion is forced on them to such a degree when they're a child.
I will tell them what I think. And make sure they understand that other people think differently, and that the answer is not mine, or anybody's, to give.
^That's the best one can do right? I would also go into the history and practice of religion. How from it came other non-secular versions of philosophy which in turn lead to the underpinnings of our society, and how each half-century in the last 300 years has been a byproduct of the philosophical debates in the era preceding it. Religion itself isn't always bad. It can be used to inspire or terrorize. Much like any other tool such as economics, law, philosophy, or science. I'm a big fan of paradox and if my future little b*stard is anything like me, he'd probably do that heavy lifting himself.
I think so. I truly despise the idea that a child is "born" a certain religion. Indoctrination is virtually abuse; children have zero concept of subjectivity and/or skepticism.
This. More specifically, an agnostic athiest. That is, one without knowledge or belief of deity, not necessarily one who denies god(s).
