Do atheists really want to risk thier children to the belief that there is no God?

Question

Shouldn't they have the chance to hear the Word of God for themselves while they are still young and impressionable before they become hardened to everything as their parents are? Let them make their own decision.

Suffer the little children to come unto me. Jesus said this.

Imressional- meant as open minded, which we are not when we grow older and jaded so to speak. Oh, and sorry for misspellings. I forgot to hit spellcheck.

For everyone's information, my children were raised with the Bible. Being a good parent I introduced them to other religions and what they believed. I even told them there were people in the world who did not believe in any Supreme Being. We even studied mythology. My children have decided that there is a God. They believe Jesus is the Son of God but they have not made the decision to place their lives in Jesus's hands yet. They are still in the phase of-I can do this thing called life myself.

Answer 1

all children should be given a choice, the problem is, when their parents cant really explain things logically, the kids are thinking, just another adult lie.do as i say, not as i do. when kids are in school, they are taught idealistically, the adult factor hasnt entered in. they come home with the knowledge, and lay it on their parents. they in turn are pissed off because they know the kid is right, they are wrong, and they refuse to accept it, because thats not the way it is. kids are smarter than you think and will eventually figure things out. most times, the only ones they get hardend to is thier parents.

Answer 2

There is no risk, as there is no god.

You make an interesting point, though. Let's look at the opposite. Shouldn't your children NOT be brainwashed into your religion before they grow old enough to make their own decisions? Aren't you getting to them while they're "young and impressionable", and indoctrinating them into your own personal fantasy?

I exposed my children to logic and critical thinking. They know all about religion and god, and have even taken classes in religion. They chose atheism, the only logical, rational choice.

It is not my "hardening" of my children that is the problem, it is your indoctrination of the young and impressionable that is the ultimate child abuse.

Answer 3

I don't see why a young child needs to know about God. Why not wait until the child is old enough to understand the concept of a God and make his or her own decisions?

I don't have any kids yet but when I do I'm not going to teach them to be little atheists. I don't think religion is important for very small children to learn about and I would wait until my children are old enough to do their own research on the different religions and scientific theories and let them decide for themselves.

Answer 4

If I were a parent, I would not want my children indoctrinated with the so-called "word of God" before they had reached the age that they can think reasonably for themselves. Letting people make their own decisions before they have facility to makes no sense.

Answer 5

there is no difference between allowing a child to believe in god at an early age or not. that child will learn from that experience and that will stick with them. supposing i get a wife i would wish her to be religious so my children would know both sides of the belief system at the same time. that is the only way of being as fair as possible that i can see.

Answer 6

I actually intend to teach my future children about the Bible and the Quran. I will also teach them a bit about Paganism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Besides that, I will also, of course, use logic. I will also tell them there is a change all gods are just invented.

So, yes, my future children really will have the chance to make up their own mind. And I honestly wouldn't care what they decide. As long as they are happy.

That's the 'hardened' parent I'm gonna be.

Now, how about you? Did you read to your children from the Quran? Or teach them a little bit about what being a Pagan means? Did you tell them it could maybe all be fake and invented by humans?

Answer 7

You used the word "impressionable". That was your first mistake. Well actually your first mistake was "thier" but I'm not gonna call you on that. If I ever have children I will raise them to be open minded and informed. They can make their own decisions on faith and religion when they are mature enough to do so.

Answer 8

If you really want them to make their own decision then why do you want them to learn when they are "impressionable"? Why not wait until they are old enough to make their own decision. Furthermore, atheists don't feel they are risking anything, if they did, they wouldn't be firm in their beliefs. Also, if you believe that people should choose their beliefs for themselves than do you support this for everyone or only for Athiests' children? I'm not trying to insult you. I was only curious.

Answer 9

I think that raising a child as an atheist is equally as bad as raising them in any other religion. Children should be raised void of all religion and encouraged to explore them all and taught tolerance for all religions. When they are old enough, they will choose what is right for them. Religious beliefs should come of one's own free will. It's not a parent's right to frce their beliefs on their children and I am a firm believer in that.

Answer 10

Should Christians train their children to believe in God? Let them decide on their own I say, which is what I will do when the time comes.