Atheist Parents?

Question

This is a straight out honest question, I'm not trying to be a smart *** or anything. I am only looking for honest answers not insulting crap or people trying to push religion on me. All who try to need to, at least TRY to grow up. Please?

Anyways. What do you (an atheist parent) tell your child, when they ask what happens when they die? Obviously you are not going to say heaven but you cant tell a 3 year old that they are done and rotting in the ground.

Answer 1

I just say that theyre sleeping but they wont ever wake up. But just bc im atheist that doesnt mean I want my kid to be.In fact I want my kind to learn about ALL religions and when theyre old enough to choose which one they would like to be part of(if any).

Answer 2

I'm agnostic, so I do have a bit of an out on this one.

I do tell them that, when someone dies, their body stops working and is either cremated or buried. Either way, the cells that made up their body become food for other plants and animals, become part of the soil, stay with the earth & make it better.

As for what happens to 'you', the part of you that is not your body, if that even exists... No one knows for sure. Some people say you go to a place called 'heaven', some say you're reincarnated, some say nothing happens at all, that that part doesn't exist anyway & that when you die you just stop being altogether.

Since we don't know what happens next, what happens after we die, there's no point in worrying about that. But, because we don't know if anything happens next at all, it's best to love everyone as best as we can right now, every day - and to do the best things we can with our lives every day, right here, right now, in this world that we know for sure.

That's pretty much what we try to teach our kids. I'm sure atheists have a similar spin on it, without the allowance for the possibility of something more.

Answer 3

Well, when the child gets older you may want to explain to the best of your abilities all the beliefs held by the major religions, but for now you can just go with the "Circle of Life" analogue. You never want to lie to a child or tell them blatantly irrational things. So the explanation that that we are everything and everything is us is a good one, because even if you prescribe to the beleif that your eternal soul will join god in heaven and all that stuff, your body does still break down and decompose and return to the earth which in turn nourishes plants, and in turn animals, and in turn humans. The "Circle of Life" is a great way for children to begin to understand life and death. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I am not an atheist, however...given that I have never spoken to a person who has medically and scientifically died and come back to tell us what happened, I don't really know, I believe in Jesus, and I believe we go to heaven, but the truth is...I, we, don't know for sure, we won't know till we die, and well of course then...you won't be able to tell anyone, so I simply told my 6 year old...no one knows, no one has ever died and come back(I don't mean like where they resusitate, etc, I mean like fully died, buried, and then...back) I just told her ...no one knows for sure honey, there are all different beliefs, but no one knows for sure.

Answer 5

I'm not an atheist, but my friends who are atheists tell their children "Well these are some things that different people believe" or "We don't know the answer. What do you think happens?" and they allow their children to figure out for themselves what they believe.

Answer 6

That would be very sad thing for a child. All I can say is you don't want religion pushed on you, but make sure your child is also taught to tolerate other peoples views too

Answer 7

I try to be honest with my daughter. (She's 6). When she asks me if a shot will hurt, I tell her it will, but that it will be over very quickly. When she asked me what happens after somebody dies, I told her that when a person dies, it is over. Their body and their brain stop, and they are just not there anymore.

I asked her just now what she thinks happens when somebody dies, and she grinned and said, "They turn into zombies," and then giggled. (Thanks, Shaun of the Dead!) After we laughed, she said, "They just stay died."

Answer 8

for now I'd just say that we go to sleep for a long time. When she gets older and does her research, she'll know what happens. It is hard to do that when the child is so young.

Answer 9

I say "no one really knows." Although I'm agnostic, my kids can believe in whatever they want to. I don't force belief on them just like I wouldn't want anyone to force belief on me.

Answer 10

If you want a heaven you have to believe on it
And it's the only way to go to heaven when God decides.
If you want a heaven to your children
you have to believe on it. And it's the only way.