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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Kollman on February 28, 2012 at 11:19am

I find that my 4yo boy/girl twins are not scared of monsters, feel empowered against "Bad Guys", and have a generally fantastically realistic view of the world.  How can you believe monsters and boogie-men aren't real if you also believe that angels (kind of like fairies) and devils ARE real?  We do celebrate Christmas, since it's commercialized and pretty much all of it is based on older pagan or cultural traditions.  I just LOVE the little thinkers they're becomming!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Kollman on February 29, 2012 at 1:24pm

It's so refreshing to "talk" to other atheist parents!  In my experience their kids tend to be absolutely delightful and thoughtful.  My son has been talking politics with his preschool teacher after seeing the Presidential debates (and asking us poignant questions).  He also educates his friends on the finer points of Star Wars.  At the age of 2.5, he cried when Darth Vader took off his mask.  Not because he was scared, but because as he said, "Darth Vader turned good again."  Rock On with your Bad Self for raising moral and realist thinkers!  You should post some of the funnier things you have encountered from your kids' interactions with religious pre-conceived notions!  Thanks!  

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Kollman on March 1, 2012 at 10:37am

At my Grandparent's house, my son pointed to a statue of Jesus and asked who the lady in the dress was.  My daughter asked over Christmas what angels were and decided they were a type of fairy.  Funny for me, but disturbing to my ultra-Catholic sister!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Kollman on March 6, 2012 at 10:38am

Fantastic! You can just see the wheels turning in your son's head!

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Permalink Reply by Jenn DeCicco on March 6, 2012 at 2:36pm

Promoting this. I'm all for raising kids without religion, as I was raised. I don't think I even knew what God was until I was in the first grade and a classmate kept mentioning God and Jesus. Needless to say I was confused by her perception, so I learned more about it from both her and when I would ask my mother about it. She herself is not for organized religions, and I believe considers herself an agnostic atheist. 

I'm almost 22 now, and I can still recall my childhood confusion in religion and why it even existed. Why people needed it, and gave it such praise. Regardless I'm glad I was raised without it in my life, however it was always offered to me. My parents never said I couldn't go to church or restrained me to their beliefs, rather encouraged me to see things in my own way rather than be influenced by my surroundings.

More to the point though, needless to say I prefer kids to be raised without being forced into religion, without having a sort of seed of belief planted into their head at an early age. I do however encourage education of religion, and options given to them - after all, kids are young, not stupid, and are capable of deciding for themselves what to believe in. I don't have kids of my own, nor am I trying for any anytime soon, but if the day ever does come, I'm not going to be pushing any religious views on them, not even my own. 

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Permalink Reply by Dana Loeblich on March 9, 2012 at 9:31pm

Being clear and consistent with your children without coloring their potential negatively is the primary battle. 

I am not much of an atheist. I do not acknowledge God in any way, nor do I acknowledge the absence of god. I am not one to proclaim my beliefs in the subject much. I was raised Mormon (pioneer, tabernacle choir, straight up Mormon). I had a fairly good upbringing. Good morals. Well adjusted. Etc. As an adult, the people in the religion got in the way, as I think most do in any organization, especially one predicated on a thinly proven commonality.

But I digress.

The message I teach my children? Some people believe in god, and some don't. When the question arises, we tell them that those people go to church for a sense of community and for comfort. We tell them that those people pray at mealtime because of tradition or because they truly believe in god. Who knows? Universally, my kids agree that god doesn't give a damn about the sporting event about to take place nor will he/she/it change the outcome of the lottery because someone really wants it.

More importantly, I teach my children to be open-minded and tolerant of others beliefs. As they get older, I have encouraged them to read religious writings and learn about basic religious art and history - just as I encourage math, science, and literature. It is still important for children to be educated in the world around them, even if they do not share the same views.

Lastly, I strongly encourage my children to be involved in group activities and grow friendships outside of the family and immediate neighbors. I want them to have that sense of community that I believe was a primary reason for organized religion to begin with.

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Permalink Reply by Monkey8MyFace on April 14, 2012 at 2:36am

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Permalink Reply by SoCooLBob on April 14, 2012 at 12:43pm

http://www.yourgodexperience.com

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Fitton on November 3, 2012 at 3:43pm

Why do we always let religious conservatives frame the argument in such a way that ethics and morality are unobtainable without religion?  There are plenty of opportunities to show kids how to be decent upstanding people without having to frame it in a religious context.  The simplistic argument of going to hell or doing something because the church told you it's right is outdated and doesn't have the individual use their own self-examination to realize that you shouldn't do something because of consequences rather that it's just the right thing to do.  At what point did we get to the point where only punishments and threats work?  I teach students in a low income area and for some students unless you literally scream at them, they won't take it seriously.  I've had conversations with kids over what the right thing to do was and have them give a very good answer and still not do it because they didn't want to.  I think that if you actually parent with the good of the child in mind (not with the focus of being your kid's friend) that raising a kid without religion is not only doable but will benefit that kid in the long run as an independent, thinking, and rational person.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Rosenbury on November 8, 2012 at 11:13am

My advice is don't.

If you want your children to grow up and fit into society, they need to know the myths common to their society. The Avengers movie makes more sense if you understand Norse mythology. Much of secular society makes more sense if you have read the Bible. 

Take you kids to Church. Allow them the opportunity to understand the ritual and community aspects of shared experiences. Explain your position of non-belief to them, but don't cripple them with hatred. 

I suspect that by inoculating your children they are less likely to come home one day and claim they've been born again. If not, at least they've made up their own minds. 

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Permalink Reply by Koolaid58 on November 9, 2012 at 6:32pm

I really need advice. I live in the bible belt and I am a secret Atheist in order to keep peace in my family. My problem is that our public schools are just awful and the only other choice is a christian school. I am pre-vet so i do not have the time for homeschool. What should I do?

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Permalink Reply by Koolaid58 on November 9, 2012 at 6:38pm

Oh and if it matters I would like to add that I am a single mom so there is no second person to discuss this with. By peace in the family I ment keep a good relationship with my mom and sisters.

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