question about atheistic parenting?

Question

Wouldnt it be harder to be an atheistic parent raising a child. Wouldnt the main thing you can tell a child is do this because I you say so, not because it has some greater moral purpose.

If your 14 year old daughter came home at 2AM with a gigantic tattoo on her back, a chain that is connected to the rings of both of her newly pierced nipples, smelling of alcohol, marijuana, and sex, would an atheistic parent be upset or perhaps thrilled that his/her daughter is making decisions for herself and living life to the fullest. Even if this parent was upset, what could they say to the daughter? In an atheistic household, what makes one persons moral views and decision making better than anothers.

Of course I know there are many moral wonderful kids who come from the homes of atheist, but it seems like it would be more work and its more of a gamble on if they turn out the way you would hope or not.

Wow a lot of name calling from the atheistic side on what I thought was a very fair question.

But very few actually read carefully what I was asking. I never said atheist do not have morals. I never said the morals of a family that say they are Christian are better than those that are not.

Got it.

Now my only question is, would parenting be easier in a religious household since there is an easy source to explain your morals -rather it is real or imaginary.

Answer 1

You are truly an ignorant idiot. Just because somebody is atheist or agnostic does not mean we don't have morals, in fact I think in a lot of ways we have better morals than you do. Also, you need to quit stereotyping. Not everybody who has no relgion is the bad *** you make them out to be. I'm going to raise my kids agnostic, and you know what I would say to a daughter like that? I would tell her I'm upset because I'm worried about her. I'm worried that she's ruining her life and her health with drugs, and that if she doesn't go into detox right away, I would have to kick her out. I dont have to go to church to know what is right and what's wrong, that's common sense and being human.

Answer 2

Coming from an Atheistic household, I can say it's quite easy. I grew up in a neighborhood of Mormons and their kids were always breaking rules behind their parents' backs because as far as they know the only reason they wren't supposed to do something was becuase some dead guy didn't like it.
But when my parents told me not to do something they gave me rational explanations why I shouldn't do it. I shouldn't steal becuase it's unfair to the person who worked to gain the possession I take from him. I shouldn't swear becuase people around me don't like to hear it. I shouldn't touch myself in public because it makes people uncomfortable.
If my Atheistic (actually Satanic if I stay on my path) daughter came home with such piercings and tattoos one night sure I'd be pissed. And I'd give plenty of logical explanation why she shouldn't do what she does.
Thing is Atheists are most often just as moral as religionists. they just don't see the need to use Dogma to back up their morals.

Answer 3

Your post suggests that morals come only from religion, which simply isn't true. I grew/am growing up in an athiest household and I respect my parent's rules because it is in my best interest. tatoos, alcohol and sex are extremely unhealthy and harmful at the age of 14, so if my 14 year old daughter came home drunk with piercings I would be upset because she disobeyed me and because she is engaging in self-destructive behaivor. Not because she is going against God. Fear of displeasing God is not a good reason to follow morals. Do it for yourself because you love yourself, not because you are afraid of God.

Answer 4

Of course there has to be some sort of morality in a sense of an Atheistic household. Nobody wants a home with no sense at all and let everyone run loose.

We all need some sort of control and limitations to keep us in line, regardless of religion. Possibly, maybe, you need a balance in the house?

Haha. Yea, don't pay much attention to me. I'm too young to be answering religion related issues.

Answer 5

So... you seem to be saying, then, that the key to effective parenting is having god at your back, so that you can threaten them with hell and damnation if they flaunt his will by misbehaving... kind of having the bogeyman in your back pocket?

You intellectual dullards make me want to puke. Cooperation, altruism and ethical behavior are human traits, They are hard-wired into us via evolution. People conduct themselves properly because it's the right thing to do... not because some imaginary supernatural entity says so.

Culture establishes the norms for societal behavior. Religion has a role in this only because religion is (regretably) a component of culture... an unnecessary component, since a society can establish the expected rules of conduct without religion.

I find it very sad... and somewhat frightening... when I encounter people who who would have no idea how to conduct themselves without the oversight and threat of eternal punishment of a vengeful and murderous god. Why can't you do what is right just because its right?

Answer 6

Morals are not the singular domain of the church. Athiests have morals as well. Just because you are crushingly ignorant does'nt mean everyone else is. If someone who's, 14 gets tattooed, pierced nipples, smells of alcohol, and marijuana.........how would I know what their religious affiliation is? Some friends of mine are Catholic, and they have tattoos, piercings, and smoke marijuana. What you SHOULD do is stop believing, or listening to that grossly ignorant pastor of yours.

Answer 7

And Christians wonder why Atheists are so judgemental and narrow minded. Tell me, h_nitrogen, if you truly don't understand "what makes one person[']s moral views better than another[']s", how can you stand on your soapbox and make such proclimations?

BTW, aren't the Ku Klux Klan moral, upstanding Christians, with such a greater moral purpose to instill in their children?

Answer 8

In the first place if youll lie that god does exist, the child will be curious, and will find proofs for gods existence.
if the child sees the opposite side of which god promises, he or she will find out that you lied.

but

it depends on the child. he might not choose to be the problem but unconsciously he'll do things that will add to society's problems.

Answer 9

I would hope that any parent, athiest or not, would instill some type of ethics in their children. Every parent should be willing to let their children make thier own decisions when they are old enough. Not to the extent you described in your second paragraph, of course.

Answer 10

I know this might be a strange concept that religious people find hard to understand, but you might want to try looking up 'logic' and 'reasoning' in the dictionary. They can be very useful in life for those who understand what they are.