What is the best way to explain religion to your kids, without making them follow it?

Question

When I have kids, I want them to be open minded about religion. I want to explain them religion, but I don't want them to be trapped by it. If they decide to be religious, then that sucks, but I am not going to be mad at them. I just want them to look at things logically.

Answer 1

We show our kids every aspect of religion. The good and the bad. All religions have good points but mostly bad. We show them the hypocrisy, the corruption, the violence, the power struggles. Needless to say, they want nothing to do with religion. The internet is a wonderful place to learn of all of this and show to your kids.

Answer 2

Childrens copying, no matter how much you explain things what they see that's what they follow.
If you dont want your kids to be religious, it's not difficult :

See what your parents did to you.
Copy exactly with no difference, be exactly like your parents, asked them why they did what they did and copy it.
Make your kids behaving and thinking like you, axactly the way you're reacting against yr parents,
Find all of your friends you're closed when you're kid, let yr children be their children's friend as well.

Environtment; Give same environment like you have had .
You should behave like your father and find a wife like yr mother and have relation the way they relate each other.
For sure your kids gonna end up like you.

You've been through all of that, and you're happy the way you are :
Understanding religion the way you do,
Not being religious.
That's it. !!! Good luck.

Answer 3

Unless there are some drastic changes in the very near future, your kids are going to be exposed to religion, whether you like it or not.
If you try to force them to accept your stance, you will more than likely drive them to the nearest church or coven in defiance. Kids are like that, I'm afraid.
The best thing to do is to let them know why you feel as you do, and let them make their own choices, and love them for who they are.

Uh...why, exactly, would it suck if your child decides to be religious? Logic has not yet explained how the universe got here, or defined our place in it. Who knows...some religious kid's logic might yet convince you...

Or, as one wise philosopher once put it:
"Keep your words sweet...you may have to eat them one day."

Answer 4

Is that how you approach their health education? Let them be open minded about it? If they decide to eat healthy, get enough sleep and brush their teeth, fine, but don't make them do it. Just let them look at things logically, even though they are not capable of it as children, and who knows, maybe they will end up physically healthy. Or spiritually healthy. Or not.

Answer 5

Why would explaining religion to children cause them to follow or be trapped by it? From your apparent attitude toward religion I can't possibly see you teaching them anything positive anyway.

Answer 6

I've always said to my kid... "Some people believe this..."
I just answered the questions as he asked them. I also will let him go to church with friends if he wants but no one has convinced him yet...
He remains an atheist and I am a pagan...

Answer 7

Tell your kids what you believe and let them know what else is out there for them to look into on their own. I tell my kids what I believe but I don't force them to believe it. I try to encourage them to be as open minded as possible and to look into what they would like to study in order to set their own beliefs. I respect theirs and they respect mine. We need not agree. As long as they are forming their own opinions-they must be doing something right.

Answer 8

If they decide to be religious then that sucks? Rofl. Religion is the truth. If you want them to be logical, do not let them believe in evolution or nothing at all(definately not nothing at all because that just leads to people being idiotic).

Answer 9

Teach them several religions, and encourage discussion.