re: Deleted...

Quoting Masturkate TTC:" Members of religions teach their children about their own religion. I am an atheist and I reserve the ... [snip!] ... going to encourage in any way, shape or form a belief in some sort of deity because we think do not think it is a good thing."

So you are basically not letting your child choose their own path?

Quoting wombie:" I promise I'm not trying to be antagonistic...just genuinely curious   but why do you and your husband ... [snip!] ... is bad? Do you feel like in doing so, people absolve themselves of personal responsibility for their own lives and actions?"

Believing in a religion or god is a nice idea... but it isn't compatible with human nature. Humans use these ideas to manipulate and hurt others and even hurt themselves. Drawing the line is extremely difficult and while I do think that religion can be a good thing for some people I believe that these people are few. The risk of religion being a negative thing is far too high for me to want my children to have anything to do with it.

Quoting Dalek:" Not to me but I'll answer.   To an extent. The great thing about atheism is that anything that happens was either out of my control to begin with, the result of science, or my own damn fault."

gotcha

thanks for answering   I find all the different views and beliefs regarding spirituality and religion so very fascinating! Especially when people can discuss them in a positive way without arguing or condemning.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Dalek:</b>" Not to me but I'll answer.   To an extent. The great thing about atheism is that anything that happens was either out of my control to begin with, the result of science, or my own damn fault."</blockquote>


Truth.

Quoting Jas ♥:" So you are basically not letting your child choose their own path?"

My children can choose their own path when they are mature enough to make conscious decisions that are not influenced by religious fear and guilt. I will protect them from harmful people, places and influences until they are able to protect themselves.

Quoting Masturkate TTC:" Believing in a religion or god is a nice idea... but it isn't compatible with human nature. Humans use ... [snip!] ... few. The risk of religion being a negative thing is far too high for me to want my children to have anything to do with it. "

I think that religion can be dangerous.....like organized religion, for sure, so I can agree with some of what you're saying.

However, at the same time, I can't deny how exceptionally positive and uplifting it can be as well. There are so many lovely acts of humanity that have roots within various religions....and there are so many people who have found hope and overwhelming positivity through their spiritual and religious journeys. I have had my fair share of negative experiences with religion but most of my experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. Exposure to many different belief systems has led me to where I'm currently at spiritually and I'm so very content with that. The beliefs I hold are so non specific and I do not follow any particular religious text or teachings, yet I'm very secure in my beliefs. I think the reason that I've found such happiness is the fact that I don't believe in hell at all......I believe that evil is man made. I believe that our spiritual selves are pure......no "good" no "evil" just pure.

I digress   I would sit here all day long explaining my beliefs. Anyway, thank you for answering my question. I certainly can see where you're coming from and it seems that you are very happy and secure in your beliefs and what you're teaching your children and that is a good thing!

Quoting wombie:" I think that religion can be dangerous.....like organized religion, for sure, so I can agree with some ... [snip!] ... it seems that you are very happy and secure in your beliefs and what you're teaching your children and that is a good thing!"

I can understand that a personal spirituality that is devoid of rules and guilt and judgment can be a good thing for a person. It's not for me, but I get it.

Quoting Masturkate TTC:" I can understand that a personal spirituality that is devoid of rules and guilt and judgment can be a good thing for a person. It's not for me, but I get it."

it's definitely a very personal decision to make and certainly not for everyone  

Quoting Ryloonjimama:" My family is atheist, including SO, I classify myself as agnostic. My children are 3 & 5 and they know ... [snip!] ... a God, in the way that you are trying to let them make up their own minds or do you mould them into believing what you believe?"

My husband was agnostic when I married him. I am a christian. When I was pregnant we discussed this. My husband agreed we would have our son dedicated. (different then baptized.. my church doesn't baptize babies) My husband also would go to church with me and my son even though he wasn't a christian. So he didn't mind our son learning about God. My husband however changed his view and became a christian in 2010.

Quoting Jas ♥:" You can teach them about different religions without swaying them. I'm not very religious, neither is ... [snip!] ... and understand, I'd recommend that they take a world religion class that they usually offer in middle school and high school."

Your school had world religion classes? We have NOTHING like that around here!

Quoting Minion:" Your school had world religion classes? We have NOTHING like that around here!"

Yep.
Are you really in GA? I heard the education wasn't the best here.  

Quoting Jas ♥:" Yep. Are you really in GA? I heard the education wasn't the best here.  "

Yeah I'm up in Northeast GA, near SC.

The education really isn't the best here.  
I work at an elementary school in Franklin County and I saw in the teacher's lounge one time that the percent of children at that school who are reading at their grade level is only 12% in minority children and only 35% in white children.
That shocked me and make me really sad at the same time.

We teach them that it's something "other people" believe in and leave it at that.

My son is 6 and probably knows nothing about Jesus or religion. It what little he doesn't know hasn't come from me or my family.
I have no problem with him learning about it in school, what I don't agree with is that they only reach Christianity when there are so many other religions out there.
But me, personally, know absolutely nothing about it either.

If I have kids I will leave the deeper religious questions to them. I feel that's a more personal matter anyway.