If you were agnostic or atheist, would you send your children to church?

Question

Do you believe the Bible teaches morals, if not truth? Would you want your child to grow up Christian (whatever affiliation you choose) and then determine their own personal religious truth, or would you raise them to be agnostic, like yourself?

In which case, would you celebrate holidays such as Christmas or Easter, since they have commercialized over the years?

Do you think that your children would be lonely if they did not have Sunday school and friends to see each week in their class, or do you think school classes and recess, each weekday, would be enough for general socialization?

I ask this as an agnostic who plans on having children someday... I'm just curious as to others' opinions.

sorry Patricia... I didn't mean that atheists and agnostics have no morals. I look back on my own days of growing up Christian, and I personally see the Bible as being a book which helps to instill morals, not as a 100% accurate view of history. I'm sorry if that offended you- I certainly didn't mean to do so!

I consider things like the 10 Commandments and the "Golden Rule" to be morals. No I don't consider rape and murder to be "morals".

Should it really be this difficult to ask a question, without fearing I'm going to accidentally offend almost everybody who answers?

Answer 1

I think you seem like a reasonable person, and fully capable of teaching your child morals. I think a lot of people take their kids to church even though they do not fully believe or participate actively in the church. Would you attend the church as well? If not then your child may question why you are having him or her participate in something you don't agree with. If you do attend, that kinda sends the wrong message. He will think it's okay to follow something you don't believe. It is a very tough question. As far as socializing though, school and after school activities like art clubs, sports, or chior should be more than enough. In the end, choose what makes you most comfortable, not what you think "should" be done. Your child will understand as they grow.

Answer 2

If you were agnostic or atheist, would you send your children to church? I was and I didn't. NO
Do you believe the Bible teaches morals, if not truth? NO
Would you want your child to grow up Christian (whatever affiliation you choose) NO
and then determine their own personal religious truth, YES
or would you raise them to be agnostic, like yourself? YES/up to them

In which case, would you celebrate holidays such as Christmas or Easter, since they have commercialized over the years? SURE WHY NOT?

Do you think that your children would be lonely if they did not have Sunday school and friends to see each week in their class, NO
or do you think school classes and recess, each weekday, would be enough for general socialization?PLENTY

Should it really be this difficult to ask a question, without fearing I'm going to accidentally offend almost everybody who answers? NO

Answer 3

Well, since I AM atheist, I would not have them go to church, I would teach them morals easily enough, without the need of a "holy" book. When they get old enough to start asking questions about religion, I'll start to try and teach them all religions, or whichever one catches their fancy. I would probably not celebrate them as Christians do, after all, I celebrate Christmas, not as the observed b-day of Jesus, but for the fact that it's pretty much "peace on Earth" and the whole spirit of giving, not receiving. I didn't go to Sunday school, and I didn't have any problems with making friends (but I was and am anti-social anyway...) and school will be enough to make friends, I know that the friends I have now I met in school and are more true than the Christian friends I had when I WAS a Christian. That's my opinion, and I hope this helps in some way! ^_^

Answer 4

No, I don't believe the Bible teaches morals. Have you read the Old Testament?

My 11 year-old son has never been to church. I did not try to teach him my religious views. Interestingly, he went through a period where he thought he was a Hindu, Buddhist and then Christian. Now he seems settled on atheism. The other day he asked "so, what's wrong with that"

He happens to be deaf (with a cochlear implant) and have Asperger's Syndrome. He is well adjusted and I would say a much better citizen then his friend next door who goes to Sunday School at an evangelical church. That kid is going to end up in prison ... sometimes you can just tell.

Answer 5

I'm atheist. I don't believe that the bible teachs morals or truth, except maybe for some historical events. I wouldn't sent my kid to church anyways. because why should I? If they wanted to be christian, sure. As long as they didn't go for creationism or become obsessed. I'd celebrate christmas, because it is just something fun to do.

NO I don't think so. They should be able to make friends in school, or any other classes, and each weekday or weekends (play dates) should be enough.

Answer 6

Of course not.

The Bible teaches that people should kill people, and that drowning, plaguing, and slaughtering millions (more than Hitler) makes one worthy of worship and praise. It's the most violent, immoral, filthy book ever written. Have you ever READ it?

"Christmas" and "Easter" started out as PAGAN holidays. I wouldn't want my kids celebrating the birth, life, or death of a person who was brought here by his alleged PARENT for the purpose of being beaten and killed for something he didn't do, so to save his other alleged children from a torture chamber that HE created. 'Jesus' is a truly horrible story.

My children will be taught the FACTS and HISTORY about many religions. If they want to join one, they will have to wait until they are grown. Missing an hour per week of a school that one has never attended in the first place doesn't make one lonely.

Answer 7

Im agnostic too. I dont think that you have to read the bible to learn morals. I've gone to church maybe 5 times and it was when my grandparents forced me.
As for holidays, I would just celebrate Christmas. I was never into Easter if my kid wanted to do something i would just take him to a place where they did some sort of bunny thing.
Sunday School is boring as hell and if you let your kids interact with other kids outside school (sports, music, daycare), you should be fine.

Answer 8

Well, I'm Deist, so that means, in part, that I do not believe in organized religion for myself. My husband is a lapsed Catholic. We taught our kids about religion as a whole. We bought two books that covered world religions without bias. Our children were given assignments to read those books at home and many open discussions were held where we were very careful not to try and sway them to any certain religion. They both requested, at different times, to attend various churches throughout their youth and adolescence and we always complied, going with them in most cases to whichever church they chose to attend.

In the end, they both requested to attend Catholic schools and both became Catholic. Ack! The expense of paying for those schools was horrific but it was important to both of them. There are a few different faiths evident on both my husband's and my side of the family but we always celebrated Christmas - some of us just have a commercial attitude about it and some feel their faith. But we value Christmas because it's the only time of year when our families all make that effort to get together.

It wasn't easy bringing up our kids without hitting them over the head with our own beliefs. But we had to find a way to do so since my husband and I differ so widely in ours. I think overall it worked out very well. Choosing a religion was the first really mature thing either child did, and they have carried forth that habit of researching everything before they make a decision about anything. So it really helped them overall, not just in the religion aspect.

Hope this helped, it's not easy to make those decisions.

Answer 9

I'm agnostic, and I would go to church with my future kids because faith does give people a set of values and gives people hope. Just because I'm not religious doesn't mean I don't see the value in religion.
I would celebrate Christmas and Easter because we family is all Christian and I think it's important to have an occasion to bring the family together.
Between school, music lessons, recess, and sports, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to have friends outside of Sunday school. As I child, I always found Sunday school classes boring. My best friends when I was young were my soccer teammates.

Answer 10

I would never send my child to church. I have no problem with ppl that believe in God, but church & religion are dangerous. I am an Atheist & NO WAY! I am perfectly capable of teaching morals & ethics to my child. I am also equipped to teach about myths, philosophy, religions & their impact on humans & history. I want my child aware & not brainwashed.

There are many other ways to socialize a child, school, sports, clubs, parks, & the list goes on. Why would you even think church? If you want your child to know of God a church is no place for that. Churches have agendas. Each presenting different beliefs according to their denomination & sometimes even the church leader, why confuse the child, teach them through history. A child must have non-bias info & since I am an Atheist & want my child informed, I intend on teaching them about religion as well, the good & the bad.

Xmas or giftmas is a Pagan holiday as far as I am concerned. Many scholars would agree, xians stole quite a bit from Pagan tradition. Same with easter. I do celebrate out of tradition, but have no religious reasons. These holidays, regardless of why we celebrate them are fun & bring family together & that is usually a positive.

ADD- You mentioned the big ten so I couldn't resist Here is a little play on xianity
Ten Commandments
I. Thou shalt not believe all thee are told
II. Thou shalt always seeketh knowledge & truth
III. Thou shalt educate thy fellow man in the laws of science
IV. Thou shalt remember the atrocities committed in the name of God
V. Thou shalt leaveth valuable contributions for future generations
VI. Thou shalt live in peace with thy fellow man
VII. Thou shalt liveth this life thy has to it's fullest
VIII. Thou shalt follow a personal code of ethics
VIIII. Thou shalt maintain a strict seperation between church & state
X. Thou shalt support thee who follow these commandments