Can atheists be good parents?

Question

Please explain your answer.

I'm an atheist who believes that they most certainly can be. (So thanks a lot to all the atheists who voted this a bad quiestion. Sheesh!)

Answer 1

Anyone can be good at heart no matter what their religion is. I don't think it has any affect on the well being of their child/ren as long as they allow them in the future to look into other religions if they chose. I'd say the same for any religion though. I have an atheist friend who is great with kids and she's an amazing person. If she ever does decide to have kids, they will probably be atheist as well because it is what they will know best. So they won't believe in god as children...they still have every right to chose their own religion as they grow older, and if they decide to stay athiest as adults, then so it be. I don't think it religion has much affect on a child unless the family in very involved with it. Same thing with any religion, not only atheism

Answer 2

I'm an atheist parent so it would be wrong of me to make generalizations....

Like A Rolling Stone above makes some interesting points. As an atheist parent I obviously will not prevent my own children from knowing about different religions - not just Christianity, but anything out there. I know about them - and it didn't stop me being an atheist. So no problem there. Now, all I wonder is, would a Christian Parent like LARS or someone like him/her be as open to their children knowing WITHOUT PREJUDICE the central ideas about atheism? I wonder...

Answer 3

Why should I explain my answer? Yes a lot better parent than my Christian parents were. I was 16 when I met this friend who invited me to her home. Her parents were Atheist. They were the happiest, kindest and most honest people I had ever met. I went home and told my parents I was an Atheis. My mom almost ruptured a gut. She had a fit and tried to take me to church that Sunday but I refused to go in and have never been to Church since. Though I am not yet a parent I am and always will be an Atheist. xx

Answer 4

Non-religious people presumably make much better parents than religious parents.

First, they are not bound by one track thinking. They are free to make mistakes, not dogmatically continue doing the same wrong things(spanking, controlling) because they believe "God" commands this of them.

Second, non-religious people may value things for the sake of valuing them, not to get rewards or avoid punishments;thereby instilling true ethics in their children.

Non-religious people tend to have fewer children than religious people. Therefore, they are probably less stressed emotionally and financially.

Non-religious people, in many studies, have lower rates of divorce than religious people overall. The more people there are to support a child(more like a tribe, not a nuclear family)the better off things tend to be.

Non-religious parents are presumably more open-minded, and would be better able to handle the normal developmental changes of their children, and the things that their children do to adapt to their world(piercings, wacky clothes).

Non-religious parents are more likely to support their child's individuality, fostering healthy self-esteem, instead of telling their children that they are "bad".

Non-religious parents tend to be more educated than religious parents.

Non-religious parents are probably more likely to use modern, proven text to help them in raising their children, not ancient speculative mumbo jumbo that can be interpreted however anyone chooses.

Non-believers have the benefit of believing that humans start off GOOD, not bad. They are not compelled to fix what was born wonderfully good. So non-believers start themselves and their relationship with their children on the right foot.

Answer 5

I agree, religion is not a prerequsite for good morals or good parenting. As a Christian I say that.

However I believe that as a parent who is an atheist it is best to give the child freedom to experience the possible religions around him/her and to choose freely for him or herself (a religion or atheism). I feel like encouraging this would be something that a good parent - any good parent would do!

Answer 6

Yes. What does religious belief have to do with the ability to raise children? Are you implying that Atheists have low moral character? Anyone has the potential to be a good parent. There are Atheists, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. who are all wonderful parents. There are also a number of them that are horrible. Religion has nothing to do with it.

Answer 7

Atheist function like any other human being opposed from religion and definitely can be good parents or bad parents. Their beliefs should have nothing to do with their life circumstances.

Answer 8

Of course.

I believe the only purpose of religion is to install good morals in humans.

If the athiest parents have morals that provide peace and happiness to them and their family, and those around them, then they can be better than some religious parents.

Answer 9

That is like asking can a christian be a good parent, or can a priest be a good christian..........I would like to believe that respect for our fellow man, country in which we live, each other and the law is the beginning to a good parent.....

Answer 10

Yes they can. My friend was raised an atheist and she had adequate food, shelter, clothing and love. A good parent provides for their childrens needs and her parents did.