Why are children naturally skeptical of God's existence? Why do some parents destroy their natural intellect?

Question

These are children/atheist questions

1. Who made God?

Common sense tells them that their parents violate their own argument by saying God came from nothing

2. Why I can't see God?

Children are basicly saying all this talk about god but he's no where to be found. They see that there's no evidence that he exist

3. Is God listening?

They're basicly saying that they could be praying for nothing. They're skeptical

4. Where is God?

Again, they see that there is no evidence that he exist. They know that not knowing how the world came about is not evidence

This is when the mental abuse starts. You christian child abusers start threatening them with hell, giving illogical answers, and telling them not to think

about me http://www.myspace.com/charliecheckm

Answer 1

I know exactly what you are saying but there are exceptions this rule. My youngest son started talking in complete sentences at a very early age.

It was quite a novelty and adults were intrigued and surprised by his ability to communicate. Even his doctors.

Early on he began telling us about the place he was at before he came to be in our family. At first I thought that he was just making up stories, but I listened just the same. Then one evening before bed he said something that really made me wonder. He told me about something that had happened to him before he was born into our family.

I asked him when this had happened and he said it happened when I was a man like you dad. He went on to say not as old as you are now, I was a lot older. My hair was white and my skin was wrinkly.

This was too much. I was sure that he was making it up.

I began to try to get him to make up a story for me but he seemed unable to understand what I was asking him to do. After several tries I realized that although he was fully capable of relating something that had actually happened to him he was not at all able to make up a story and tell it in a coherent lineal manner that made sense.

He had by this time made several references to the place where the babies where before they are born and about the time he came to see his mother and I before he was born to see if we were the ones he wanted to have for his parents.

He got none of these ideas from my wife or I because these are not ideas we believed in or had ever heard about.

Only later did I do research and find other references to the things that he was telling us.

He is 14 now and can still remember telling us about these things but he says that most but not all of the actual memories of what he was describing have faded.

I'm not sure what to make of this and I am not trying to lie to you or convert you to believe anything. It just happened.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

Not only do you put words in children's mouths but you also put motives in their hearts for them. Here let me try too.

Some ask "Where did God come from"? They don't assume God was "made". They want to know God's origins, a natural question just like the "Where did I come from?" Origins is important to understand.

Some ask "What does God look like"? Curiosity of the nature and attributes of God.

Some ask "Can God hear my prayers?" They again are curious if God is all knowing and is benevolent.

some ask, "Where is heaven?"

If you teach children about the love of God they learn to love others. If you teach them God doesn't exist...they believe they are an accident and unspecial and therefore unvaluable. What a shame you assume so much about children. Do you even have children? I don't see any on your myspace pics. Just nasty women and your own vanity.

Answer 3

I am a Christian so I dont tell my kids that they will burn in hell because the bible does not teach of a fiery hell torment.

A child's simple mind can understand heaven, a place apart from earth and that's the reason why God cannot be seen. They will understand that because of the beauty of nature, there must be someone who made them.

(To deny that there is creation but there is no creator is like denying the artist behind a great masterpiece who who transformed a blank canvass into such.-no i dont tell them that, i just commented)

Children know that in prayer, God is listening, but they know too that God cannot just talk to them just a parent would. Unlike other grown-ups who puts God to the test by saying they wont believe unless they see him...

Answer 4

Children do the same thing with scientific questions. Teach a kid about gravity, and they'll want to know who made that, too. Where is gravity? Why can't I see gravity? It is not skepticism. It is inquisitiveness. You tell them that no one created God, and they'll believe you. You tell them that space aliens are going to come and get them if they don't do their homework, they'll believe that, too. You are making a false argument.

You obviously have a narrow-minded view of Christians. I can't totally blame you for it, because there are definitely some nuts out there. The thing is that your view is generally wrong. 90% or more of Christians do NOT teach their children that they will go to hell. Most Christians do NOT teach their kids not to question things. Most Christians do NOT mentally abuse their children. My parents never taught me any of that crap. I never worried I was going to go to hell. On the contrary, I was taught to love and care for people. Arguing what you are saying is like if I were to say that all atheists were Stalinist communists.

It is a lie. Most atheists are really nice people, just like most Christians. Some of my dearest and most well-respected friends do not believe in God. I respect them for it, though I disagree. Disagreeing is ok. Unjustly accusing someone of child-abuse based on the actions of a few delinquents is not ok. You accuse Christians of "giving illogical answers." Well, you just made an illogical argument. You are a hypocrite.

But don't feel badly about it (not that you would). Your point-of-view is based on the irresponsible misuse of religion and Christianity by a small, but very vocal minority. There are some nutty people out there saying all kinds of crap, and a lot of them are supposed Christians. They are Christians arguing that gays shouldn't have rights, that feminists are going to go to hell, or that we should be fighting wars to spread our faith. Obviously that is a lot of baloney. The thing is that some people are just bad, Christian or non-Christian alike. Take religion away, and you'll just be writing about people misusing science to try to make themselves "better" than other people. Prejudice. Stereotyping. Racism. For some people, it is just human nature. That is a more worthwhile thing to fight against than religion.

Answer 5

You have asked a very important,very GOOD question. Children often sees things in a totally innocent, uncluttered way that cuts right to the heart of the matter.
In this case you are totally correct and I have often thought of what Christian parents do as a form of child abuse. They immediately start subjugating their children's natural beliief in the way the world works, in what they know in their hearts and minds.
When all else fails they turn to guilt and fear, the two major weapons of the Christian "faith". They are then taught that to even question is in itself a sin. Faith is to be blind and unquestioning. When you are taught that as a child it will stay with you and then you will in turn teach the same to your children and thus the ugly cycle is perpetuated.
Some of us are lucky enough to break away and if we can it is a beautiful thing.
I have to end by saying that I am deeply spiritual and yes I do believe in a divine being. My faith, however has no place in it for fear, sin or guilt. I believe in the power of love, the power of that which I can see and hear and touch. My spiritual faith does not leave me helpless.....I have learned skills by which I can protect myself and my loved ones. My faith does not have any room in it for guilt, we do not teach nor accept it. Very simply, what you send out comes back to you.
There is such a thing as faith without guilt and unanswered questions. Not all spiritual faith requires that you present yourself kneeling and repentent. We stand with our arms open and our faces turned up toward the stars.
I agree with you totally and think that you are indeed a wise man.
Thank you for posting this thought provoking and important question.
Bright Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 6

Well, I agree, children have more common sense than adults. But don't call Christians "child abusers" for telling them their own beliefs. I was brought up as a Christian. I heard I'd go to hell for doing bad things, and I'd hear stories of how God helps you throughout life... but I realized on my own it was all just basically mythology and stories. But my parents are loving, good people who were brought up with Christian beleifs. They are NOT child abusers for just wanting the best for me.

I say, let the children make their own choices. Christians should not force their own beliefs upon them, just as Atheists shouldn't force their lack of beliefs upon them. Parents should open their children's eyes to the world around them. Giving them the freedom to become whatever they choose. I don't believe in making my kids go to church, (well because I'm an atheist) but I will not hold them back from it if they want to go one day. If my daughter comes up to me one day and tells me she's Bhuddist (pardon me if I mispelled the word), I would be happy for her and I'd tell her I'd help her in any way to make sure she gets the best out of her searching.

Answer 7

I found quite the opposite to be true. Children should be taught about God and to know He loves them at an early age.

Answer 8

Children are naturally trusting, and accept what they are told. Most adults do not believe it YHVH, and tell stories about Santa Claus, tooth fairy, etc, so When (or if) children begin to think , they naturally deny the Almighty also.

Answer 9

cause when kids are born they dont have instinctive knowledge of God. Then, as they grow older the things that they learn are all there, (like they can see them or touch or whatever) but when parents teach their kids about God then they start asking stuff cause up till then they could only understand things that were in front of them

Answer 10

Children under a certain age do not have what is called "object permanence" and do not believe that you exist when you are not there either.