Atheists, do/did/will you tell your children of science, or just leave it for them to study if they want?

Question

Many of you always say when it comes to religion you will just be quiet about the matter, which basically enforces atheism, but would you have the same silence when it comes to math or science? Would you tell them about evolution or that the earth is a funky sphere shape, or will you be totally silent about the matter and let them study it if they want?

Answer 1

What you are saying about atheists is untrue. You apparently misunderstand the message. If you only teach your child the bible as fact and leave out science and math, you are debilitating your child from the start. That is terribly wrong. In my experience atheists say they WILL teach (or at the very least, discuss) religions with their kid(s) - notice the plural (RELIGIONS). I discuss all things with my kids as openly and honestly as I can, based on their age and level of understanding. The idea is, I don't tell them what to believe or even what I believe, unless they ask. I don't berate religion either, I tell them the good points to ALL religions, as well as the facts as they are known and explain that anything beyond that requires a person to believe it without facts. I don't banish religion from our lives either. We own countless kids movies with obvious religion undertones or outright religious stories (Disneys: The Prince Of Egypt is in my TV console as we speak - my kids have watched it many times). We also own Narnia and just recently rented Evan Almighty. We use these things for our enjoyment and when conversation arises from them, we talk about it. They are welcome to believe whatever they want to believe... I tell them that. In fact, my 10 year old says that he likes to believe that dragons are real and comes up with reasons for why we don't have any dragon fossils... because he thinks the world would be a cooler place if dragons existed. They are kids, it's okay. I know he'll outgrow it!

The idea is that to force your child, by indoctrination, to learn and follow religion, before they can even comprehend it... to tell them to believe it with all their might and turn away from anything that may lead them to think otherwise and to fill them with fear and guilt so they hold tight to YOUR religion.... THAT is terribly wrong! You are doing your child a huge disservice and taking away his or her innate right to figure this life out through their own experiences.

Answer 2

While I agree that religion deserves no special place in public dialogue, I do accept that it is a matter which is best left to a gradual intellectual progress.

Science and math are just that. 2 + 2 = 4 must be learned, same as the theory of evolution.

Answer 3

Last time this was asked few atheists said they'd be quiet on the subject of religion. I certainly won't be - and I'll still leave it for them to decide what they want. As for science, it's essential. There's a hole in the head of anyone who refuses to engage with basic scientific ideas. And where there's a hole, any old junk can fall in.

Answer 4

I talk to my children about any subject they show an interest in whether that be religion, science, math or underwater basket weaving...

I have never found it productive to sweep a subject under the rug simply because I don't agree with it, that simply makes children more determined to find out what's being hidden from them....

Answer 5

When religion become factually based like science or math...then I think maybe you would have an argument. But seeing as how science and math are both based in facts...and religion is based on faith...you question really makes little sense.

Answer 6

Yes, I fully intend to teach my kids the tools they need to logically and rationally understand the universe around them.

To not do so would be irresponsible, and bad parenting - akin to not bothering to teach your children a language, or refusing to tell them about traffic safety. Without it, they would be unable to function in the world.

However, it is quite possible to live a full, happy, fulfilling life without ever having been told you're going to burn for all eternity because some rib woman ate some fruit.

Answer 7

1. Science is not a religion.

2. Math and science are required in schools, which are required by the national government.

3. Everybody needs to learn math unless their life dream is to be a hobo. And even then, they need to use math to see how much money they need for booze

Answer 8

The administration is overwhelming. whilst a Jehovah's Witness will become a fader (individual who gradually yet in secret slips faraway from the congregation) he/she gets to journey "worldly" exciting. some JW faders flow by using those thoughts before everything :anger, deception, melancholy, vacancy, thinking their concept gadget, guilt of dropping his/her family contributors. A quote from an former JW grew to become athiets; " I studied maximum religions in the time of my 'fading degree'. the end results of my learn substitute right into a generic dissatisfaction with all prepared religions on the muse that they have got been all interpretive, and are arguably the advent of adult adult males. This lead me right into a third area, the place I considered myself religious yet actually apposed to prepared faith and to three quantity thinking the character of a god/author". After the disfellowshipping/dissociation technique is done and the ex-member is loose, the "worldly" individual starts feeling responsible from his/her JW kinfolk, "Why did you flow away us?" "do not you pass over our family contributors?" ECC. the subsequent degree is mandatory and it actually relies upon on the psychological potential of the guy. questions approximately real of questions enter the techniques: does God exist? i'm on my own now, what could I do? I have no buddies, they gained't confer with me anymore, so what's next? consequences may be devestating for the vulnerable souls: suicide. no count what is going on on your techniques after leaving the JW Org, basically remember this :God loves you no count what and you at the instant are not on my own. in no way on my own ! There are human beings obtainable that care, basically provide them of project!

Answer 9

I will teach them about science. There is no reason to not teach them about things that we have actual evidence for.
There's a BIG difference between teaching kids about things for which there is evidence, and things that we have no reason to believe are anything but imaginary.

Answer 10

Are you really putting religion and science in the same ballpark of categories? Tell you what, I'll tell them the difference between evidenced beliefs and imagined beliefs and then send them off.