atheist parents?

Question

would it be right for atheists teaching their beliefs to their small children (3-6)?? I'm doing a report showing how conservative/liberal the town I live in is compared to the nation as a whole.

believe it or not i took a class survey of 50 people and about 60% said it's wrong where i live.

and i am atheist.

Answer 1

It would be right for any parent to teach their child about all the world's religions and philosophies at an age appropriate level. That way the child can decide which path is best for them as they get older as well as ensure that the child has respect for those whose religion or philosophy differs from their own. That is how I raised my daughter.
Without ignorance, there would be no bigotry.

Answer 2

If parents don't teach their children their own beliefs and values, whose should they be teaching? Should parents teach children to follow something they themselves don't believe in or follow?

YES, it is right for atheist parents to teach their beliefs to small children. As children grow they will find their own way in any case. But it's the parents' responsbility to teach them the best they know, and that includes one's beliefs, whatever they may or may not be.

Interesting how there's even a thought out there that atheists are so bad we shouldn't be allowed to teach our own children what we think. The very idea is outrageous. Someone needs to be bonked on the head for that one.

Frankly I think Christianity is morally bankrupt, and yet I would never say Christians shouldn't teach their children their beliefs.

Answer 3

It's no more right or wrong than a family who teaches their children their Christian belief.

I will teach my children to think for themselves. If they want to be Christian or religious then that's fine by me.

I don't agree with some people above me who said that we are born atheist. We are not born atheist, we are born oblivious to the concept of god or religion. Not believing in god and not even having the knowledge of what a god is are two different things.

Answer 4

Well I have a four year old. I don't have to teach her anything for her to be an atheist. She just already is. I am only going to bring the subject up when she asks.

Now it did come up a few months back. She asked me what a church was for. I told her. She thought about it for about 30 seconds and asked me if god was real. I told her I didn't think so but some people do. She laughed about it and said that was silly.

Answer 5

There's nothing to teach. But if there were, why would it be wrong? You should write this from an unbiased standpoint, and from this question, it seems as if you are a Christian who believes that Atheists shouldn't raise Atheists.

But why should Christians raise Christians?

Answer 6

I think it would be okay for the parents to say:
"Some people believe in God, but your mom and dad don't. When you grow older and learn more about it, you can decide for yourself."

I don't know if that counts as teaching the beliefs to children or not. They shouldn't tell their children "There is no God" because the child is too young to really understand the concept and explanations behind it anyway.

Answer 7

I think you should teach your child what you believe is truth. As an atheist, why would I not tell me child about the truths behind gods and goddesses?

What good would come from saying nothing about deities, and waiting for the first friend or teacher to impart their "wisdom"?

Answer 8

Most atheists want to teach critical thinking skills to their children, then let them decide on their own. At the age you cite, the chances are that they would not be taught that Santa Claus is anything but pretend, they would hear nothing about God except as a myth, and they would get to evaluate commercials & advertisements for their manipulative nature.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 9

Teaching non-belief, huh? It's a sad, sad state of affairs when parents have to actively teach their kids not to believe in organized lies.

Answer 10

I am atheist but I will not teach my children that there is no god(s). I will allow them to find their own answers and if they ask me about my beliefs or are interested in my beliefs, I will be happy to share them but I will not force them down their throats.