As an atheist do you raise your children to be Atheist? if you have them, or when you have them>?

Question

The next generation may have more knowledge technically in the world we now live in, but it's the core value they seem to lack...

Not all kids today but many many are very lazy maybe that is why you see so many obese kids? that or maybe they have a lazy mother that cannot cook them a healthy meal not sure...

How many times do you see children address men and women as s mam'n or sir, you do if they have been or come from a Military Family.

And if you don't teach them about GOD what one important thing will you teach your child about life?

Answer 1

I teach my children about love, honesty, knowledge, learning.

Evil, I know.

Answer 2

So all obese children automatically come from atheist homes? *rolls eyes*

If I ever have children, I want to teach them (first and foremost) responsibility. That actions have consequences. If you teach a child to be responsible for themselves and that they must always live with the results of their behavior, everything else usually falls into place. If you teach a child to have responsibility, they can act with respect, they can become a productive member of society, they can grow into honest, hard-working, intelligent individuals.

I refuse to undermine that sense of responsibility by allowing them to believe that there is either a 1)mythological creature governing their actions and helping to direct their behavior or 2)a mythological creature who tempts them to do bad things.

Also, I feel that it is more than possible for a child to be respectful towards adults without calling them "ma'am" or "sir". The quality and tone of how they address their elders is more important than stressing the use of generalized terms.

Answer 3

Are you suggesting that atheists raise their children to be theists? That doesn't work. Lots of nominally Christian parents go through the motions of sending their kids to church but if it's not sincere the kids see the hypocracy.

As for values, they can only be taught by example. I've been around for a long time and I've never seen any evidence that atheists are, on average, more or less ethical than theists.

Answer 4

My children get to make their own choice on what they believe and I will support them 100%, if that happens to be religion so be it.
Obesity is more due to the fact that most kids these days don't seem to get outside as much as they did in my generation, which has resulted in a lack of physical activity e.g. running around, riding bikes, that sort of thing. They seem to be more content playing video games.
I think kids learn respect from their parents and if the parent/s don't encourage their children to be respectful, who will?

The one important thing I try to teach my children is that you never give up or give in. Life is seldom ever fair, but you can never give up. Just brush yourself off and keep on going.

Answer 5

So what you're saying is that all xians are slim and healthy.

"what one important thing will you teach your child about life?"
How to think critically and to have confidence in knowledge.
I can't stop at one.
How not to follow the crowd; the majority is not always right.
How not to fall under the hypnotic spells of charismatic evangelists who just want your money.
I could go on but the most important would be ...
If someone tells you they love an invisible man, and you know they only say that cos they're scared of going to hell if they don't, bring it to their attention that Love isn't love if it's under threat or duress - that sorta love is always FEAR.

Answer 6

I seem to see most say they will teach atheism.
I get confused when they claim tolerance and want everyone tolerant of others.They then curse,mock,and want to silence anything biblical.Perhaps they need to understand to be tolerant isn't accepting and allowing only what they agree with.

Answer 7

"How many times do you see children address men and women as s mam'n or sir"

I'll teach my child to show respect based on merit, not chronology.
to be civil to all unless they prove themselves unworthy...

Answer 8

I raised my children to think for themselves, to make their own decisions because a child is a child for only a few years and then adulthood sets in.

Answer 9

Number 1: to love and appreciate life
Number 2: manners
Number 3: culture

I want them to be happy - hence 1
I want them to be polite and to respect and honour people - hence 2
I want them to know that "Handel" isn't a missspelling of a device to open doors, hence 3

Answer 10

I'll teach them to be good people for the sake of being good people. I don't need God to scare them into behaving.

I won't raise them atheist. I'll tell them what I believe and why I believe it. If they choose to believe something else that's their decision.