Did you try to influence their religious development? What do they believe?
I have been fairly careful not to offer unsolicited opinions to my 10-year-old. He went through a short-lived period of saying he was first Buddhist, then Hindu, then Christian (we live in Thailand). Now, he has said in his own words that he's agnostic. I for one think my laisse faire approach was the right one. He's a smart kid and seems to be figuring it out for himself.
2007-02-17 04:54:36 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Laptop Jesus: a 5th-grade atheist whose a "model of compassion". Wow, I wonder what the Bible thumpers will say about that! Congrats, btw!
2007-02-17 05:02:16 · update #1
ireland: he gets first hand exposure to many buddhists, hindus and christians. we have talked ABOUT religion. One thing is for sure, he gets a much broader education in religion than do 99% of "religious" kids.
2007-02-17 05:04:07 · update #2
I had the same approach. We talked about mythologies and belief systems. Exposed them to buddhist, christian, islam...etc. My kids are all atheists and very moral people. I'm proud of them. My daughter's 5th grade teacher said that she was "a model of compassion" for her class :)
2007-02-17 04:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by Laptop Jesus 2.0 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Coming from a girl who is fifteen and has finally given in to admit being atheist just a couple years ago, my parents never really.. tried to influence my religious beliefs. My family has never been BIG on religion. But they are all Christians. On Christmas, they pray before we eat. Do they pray on any other day we eat? No. Do they pray before they goto sleep? No. Do they read the bible or goto church? Nope. I know there are alot of families out there who`s parents like to shove a religion down their child`s throat ever since they were able to understand the concept but mine aren`t like that.
I don`t think it really matters how much a parent teaches their child about a religion being right. Because like you said, chances are it is probably going to change due to society and their influences in daily life, people they come across, etc. I was "born into" Christianity. Discovered other religions and read up on them. Then I decided you know what? Maybe there is a higher power but it isn`t necessarily "God". I slipped out of that phase. Now I just consider myself Atheist. Religion is NOT a part of my life at all. I live my life daily through experiences, setting my OWN limits.
2007-02-17 13:04:50 · answer #2 · answered by Blueyez 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all as a parent it is your job to raise your child as a christian I know a lot of you will not chose to understand this but your child has to be taught the way they should go now a lot of you think it,s OK to just let your kids figure it out for them selves that is a cower ts way of not taking responsibility for how your children turn out if you thin your helping them just read the news paper every day and I can show you what your doing to your beautiful children when we love our children as we should we want the best for them leaving it up to them to make a choice on weather to believe there is a God or not is just not responsible
2007-02-17 13:24:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have outlined to my children my belief system, if prompted. I have outlined the various world religions, their purpose, origination and cosmology from an academic perspective.
My children are free to choose religion or not, their choice. I am a militant atheist, existential nihilist actually, but do understand that others need a spirtual system to fortify them through life.
2007-02-17 13:01:36 · answer #4 · answered by Dane 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was raised Jewish; my husband was raised Protestant. Since my husband became atheist before I did, my children grew up knowing about Judaism, but not having to forced upon them. Two of them are Jews; one is atheist. And I love them all equally. They are loving, kind and thoughtful people.
Oh, Romeo, Romeo: According to you, I should have raised them Christian, right? That's what you seem to be saying.
2007-02-17 13:33:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have one child only. I have raised him to belief basically in something Oscar Wilde once wrote : "Every action of our day, makes or undoes our character"
Therefore be conscientious about everything you do . . or at least try to. With more of the actions which make, maintain or restore character, the better you help the world and yourself.
2007-02-17 13:02:52 · answer #6 · answered by skydancerwi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were brought up in a loving household and taught to act responsibly-religion has been a complete non-issue.
2007-02-17 12:58:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that's the best way. Keep it up.!
2007-02-17 12:58:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
does he have access to the tenets of all faiths?
...or does he have to rely on your...sources
2007-02-17 13:00:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋