how does an athiest choose....?

Question

My husband and i are both atiest but i would like my children to grow up beleiving in a religion but would it be wrong to pick a reiogion for them to follow ever though i myself choose another path in life regarding religon, or should i wait till they get older and let them decide for themselves what they choose to beleive in?

Answer 1

I've given things like this a lot of thought, I guess the only thing to do is teach them to be open to all religions, but don't put them into a situation where they will be brainwashed. Keep their minds open until they're old enough to decide for themselves.

Answer 2

If you were "truly an atheist at heart", I don't think you would have a slight thought about God and religion in a positive way to such an extent of wishing your children to consider it. Such stuff is not for atheist. To an atheist such things are a waste of time and concerning yourself or worrying about how your children should view religion is a theist perspective - and a waste of time.

This shows that you guys are humans after all who are just denying the creator - but some how you do consider that "MAY BE THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY OF GOD EXISTING".

Answer 3

I like you am an athiest. I have 4 children who are grown up now that although my none belief I made sure they had all the religious instructions at school ect..... I was bought up very strict Catholic and when asked by my children anything religous, I could only answer quoting from the Catholic perspective. My children have all chosen to not believe in any high power but look within themselves for all answers. Some people look within and find God....others look within and find themselves. I commend you that you will consider to give your children a choice. Im sure with the moral guidence of life your children will grow up good people without having to rely on religion but to rely on what has been taught to them by you and your husband and experiences of life.

Answer 4

I think that what you want for your children is an opportunity to socialize on Sunday Mornings.

I would recommend Universalist Unitarian Churches which have services each Sunday celebrating a different brand of religion...from Hindu, to Wicca, to main stream pentecostal, to Native American Church. The only agreement U.U. members have is to respect everyone.

They have an interesting and non judgmental "Sunday School" for children that includes music and art from different cultures...practically a different culture every Sunday.

If you expose your child to many religions in one church, you child will see the interest in all but the absurdity of all of them. It will take all Dogma out of him and a peaceful child will reign. You will also find the church pretty easy to stomach inspite of being an atheist...you will find some of it annoying (and I don't choose to go) but it is interesting rather than prostilizing. If I HAD to go to Church, I'd go to that one.

Answer 5

Children are empty pages that we write on. I would not try and teach them anything you do not believe in, that would be like writing a lie on the page of your child.

On the other hand, it might be a good idea to just give up atheism and become a Christian. Bigots will always find a stereotype to paint on people and those stereotypes are never very accurate.

If you still are interested in Religion there is a group of churches called Unitarian that some of my family and friends belong to. Kind of an everything church they celebrate pagan holidays and Kwanza and Jewish Holidays and Christian Holidays. the complaints I hear about is that there is always so much to do because every other weekend is some kind of holiday to prepare for.

Just do not try and teach your kids things you do not believe in. Kids are great insincerity detectors and they will know something is wrong. You don't want your kids growing up thinking there is something wrong with you.

PS: Don't listen to the bigots. There are Christian churches who accept who ever comes in the door. And I know atheists who are much worse spellers than you are. I also know a girl who calls herself Kenny. Her name is Kendra. I don't know who you are, I just know Stereotypes are awful.

Answer 6

Look at the social aspects of the religion which are as important or more important than the theological aspects. If you have a neighborhood church which is philosophically compatible with what you want to expose your children to, I would suggest you start earlier. The sense of community should instill good values.

Answer 7

As atheists and having reached the only possible conclusion about the existence of a god, it would be child abuse to suggest that your children should be directed towards the same old myths that are wasting so many lives, that in itself being child abuse by religious parents. Forced indoctrination. Not nice at all.
Surely you knew the answer to this before you asked it and I am suspicious of the intent in the question or its veracity.

Answer 8

Why do you want your children to grow up believing in god? Surely you must have strong reasons for being an Atheist. I can't even answer this. They will choose what they want when they grow up anyway. I am an Atheist and my kids are grown. They are agnostic. I as an Atheist am totally against religion. Your'e question baffles me.

Answer 9

I'm questioning your atheism as you must believe that there's a higher power to want your children to believe. As far as what to choose, one doesn't choose their core beliefs, they just have faith. For example, Christians all have faith in God and Jesus Christ and they didn't seek that out as a choice. The choice is in whether to be Catholic or Protestent, which has more choices such as Baptist, Presbeterian, Lutheren and so on based on how they see Christianity and how each church represents their particular beliefs. I don't know how you can "choose" a religion without that core belief, look into yourself and figure out what's leading you to involve your children in religion.

Answer 10

I think you are a faker.....I've never seen an atheist with such poor spelling and grammar for one......nor have I ever seen an atheist wishing to teach their children what they are opposed to themselves....however for the sake of discussion I would recommend the Unitarian Universalist church to you as their youth program consists of religious education that teaches all religions without indoctrination into any particular one.

Answer 11

Pick any religion and the chances are good that they will learn to
wipe it off their shoe and step around it in the future .You are right exposure is the best vaccine as well as a matter of choice and with your example they have a fair chance to see both sides.My self I would stress studying all religions and both sides of the history that goes along and without.
congratulations