My parents are atheists and they raised me as one, but I guess I felt like they were imposing their views on me, so I went ''religion shopping'' and ended up being a Muslim. Now that I'm out of that mess, I'm a confirmed atheist (long story and completely irrelevant now). The thing is I have a 5-year-old son who is already asking questions about universe and I don't want to do what my parents did. I don't want to tell him straight away that there is no God, I want him to come to that conclusion himself. But I would also like to spare him the pain I went through while rejecting the concept of God which I adopted later on. So my question would be how does one acomplish that?
~is panicking already~
2007-11-28 01:38:02 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When he asks questions give him an overview... Tell him this group of people believes this, this other group believes this other thing etc., Also tell him "You get to decide for yourself what you believe.. I will help you find any information you are interested in."
Then ask him some questions and really listen to his answers even at age 5 he will have some idea of how he thinks it all works..
When your son was learning to walk you couldn't spare him a few bumps on the butt it's part of the learning process, you can no more spare him the possible bumps that come with rejecting of an idea...
Simply give him a good foundation to think and reason for himself and he won't be devastated when he rejects an idea he will see it as one more bump on the butt in the learning process...
2007-11-28 01:50:19 · answer #1 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am not an atheist, however I'm no one to judge. The only difference between atheism and religiousness is the concept of faith that there is a God. For the most part the atheists I've met are decent people with morals and values and live otherwise modest lifestyles, and that is something to be respected. However, if you truely 100% believe in the stand that you take, then I feel that you shouldnt feel any "quams" about explaining your beliefs to your son. I can promise you that if you fail to ensure he clearly understands the basic reasoning behind your belief, that when the topic comes up at school or wherever, he will not fair well against the other kids. It may not have mattered to you, but it will to him. To believe in God and reject the "religious" lifestyle is one thing, but to reject Gods existence is a completely different ballpark so be careful in explaining to him why and how you came to this conclusion. I would like to talk more about it with you if you dont mind, not to judge or "convert" you but to better understand the stance that you take.
2007-11-28 09:46:59 · answer #2 · answered by thomas.stanley22 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wow that's a tough one.
As a parent, and a member of a non-mainstream religion, I would tell your son that the universe IS. I would explain that some people believe that there is a Creator out there who made everything happen, and that some people think that it happened just because it was meant to happen. When he asks you what YOU think, tell him honestly.
Eventually he'll have more questions, both religious and scientific, and the best thing to do is to answer them as honestly as you can. When he gets older, you can take him to the library for books on science that explain how the earth was formed. Let him decide whether or not he wants to research creation myths.
The most important thing to stress, I think, is that nobody really knows for sure.
2007-11-28 09:48:03 · answer #3 · answered by Jewel 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I recommend tell him about a "force of nature", if you induce a picture of a god he'll have preference when choosing s religion (if he decides to do so). The "force of nature" aspects leaves more doors open to paganism, satanism, Hinduism, and Buddhism among others and also the more popular ones like Christianity, Muslim, and Judaism.
Its not bad to raise a child believing on imaginary beings, with proper education he'll come to realize the truth. But a door must be kept for his spirituality.
2007-11-28 12:48:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are many religions to choose from. It seems you are only thinking about the ones centered around the Jewish~Christian~Muslin god. Get him all the religious books you can find with descriptions of the religions in it. Don't forget about Buddhism, Zen, Pagan, witcan or many of the other lesser known religions. I disliked religion and considered myself an atheist until I stumbled upon Taoism. I enjoy Taoism immensely. It is another good religion to look at. Let him make up his own mind.
2007-11-28 09:53:57 · answer #5 · answered by Slowburn 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi, Poppy.
My suggestion would be to tell your son what YOU believe, but make sure that he knows other people believe differently. Have plenty of books handy on science and various religions so that he can think for himself, and do his own research.
And just remember that experience really is subjective. Maybe he'll wind up an atheist like you, or maybe he'll wind up converting to a religion later, and find fulfillment from that. There's just no way to know.
Maybe for him it won't be a painful process. Maybe it was only a painful process to you because you thought your parents were imposing their views on you. Don't impose your views, and I'm sure whatever decision your son makes later, he'll be happy.
2007-11-28 09:47:21 · answer #6 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If your an atheist and you believe that your views are correct, then it should be you to teach your child what you hold to be truth. Imagine one day your child walks in and tells you that he believes in God. How will you feel about allowing someone else to help in leading your child to that belief? Would it really be okay for him to believe one thing and you another? Would you honestly be able to support him in his belief? You can teach him what you want. As he grows older, he will be shaped by others around him. Even you admitted that your parents were atheist but you eventually chose a religion. My belief in God was a result from loving parents, family, teachers, friends and church. Never by force or threats. It was my choice and regardless of what you teach, eventually your child will make his own choice about religion as he grows older.
2007-11-28 09:56:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just tell him that some people believe in a God who created the universe and everything in it but that there is a huge amount of scientific evidence to suggest otherwise. I have thought about how I will approach this subject when my 2 year old is a bit older.
2007-11-28 09:43:57 · answer #8 · answered by penster_x 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It almost sounds as though you are unsure in yourself as you have explored religions as well. I think you should encourage him to do the same. There are many quacks out there even in churches but there are just as many wacko scientist as anything else. But here is a question what will you do when you son wants to go to church? what when he asks you to go to church? will you then impose your beliefs upon him or will you submit for the sake of his independent choice. you will ultimately shape his life whether you come out and say anything directly or not.
2007-11-28 10:40:43 · answer #9 · answered by John A 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I plan to tell my children the truth, I don't know. I think that children need to find this one out on their own. The only thing you have to teach him concerning religion is logic, it will help protect him from proselytizers ;)
As for protecting him from harm, sometimes it cannot be helped. Confucius said that man's greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising each time we fall. Sometimes it is best to let children stumble, because experience is the greatest teacher. Let him fall, so that he learns how to stand up :)
2007-11-28 14:18:56 · answer #10 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋