re: Raising a child with no religion (athiest, agnostic, etc)

Quoting awesomebrandi:" I plan on exposing and explaining multiple religions to her so she can be well educated. Lack of belief ... [snip!] ... belief doesn't mean lack of education (not saying you think it does) so I think it's important to arm her with the information."

How do you plan on bringing it up though, and how do you explain that there are all these religions and you dont buy into it? I guess that's where I'm lost. I'm all for educating her, I just dont know how

When DD is old enough to ask, I'll probably tell her about evolution, how babies are made, etc. Then I'll explain all the greek gods, the Christian god, and other religions. I'll tell her they're stories, just like Santa or the Tooth Fairy, but that some people believe in them.

I was am and was raised basically atheist. My parents let me ask questions and they would answer them to the best of their ability. They told me about all different religions also. They wanted me to be able to chose what I wanted if I wanted. I went through a phase where I was reading a kids bible and went to vacation bible school and church with my neighbor and her family. They were always supportive of my interest and decisions. In the end I decided on atheism and I plan to raise my kids the same way.

Just let your kids naturally be curious and if they have questions I'm sure they will ask you.

Quoting Ellie.:" Neither me or DH are religious. I'm atheist and DH is agnostic. For those of you who are there as ... [snip!] ... about jesus and god from different sources. How do I go about addressing that with her? Do you explain different religions?"

I'm not religious at all and neither is SO but our grandparents are and they talk to my son (4) about God sometimes (just the basics) and he comes to me and want me to explain things to him like who is GOD, Jesus and how they dies ect. I just tell him what I know (which isn't much let me tell ya lol) so I have a bible kids book I read to him which educates us both lol

Quoting Ellie.:" How do you plan on bringing it up though, and how do you explain that there are all these religions ... [snip!] ... all these religions and you dont buy into it? I guess that's where I'm lost. I'm all for educating her, I just dont know how"

I just plan on explaining that it is part of life; that everybody has differences. For example, we're vegetarians. Some people choose to eat meat, some people choose to believe in God, and we do neither of those things. Their choices are okay, and our choices are okay. As far as all the reasons I don't believe, that will be whenever I feel she's old enough to take that information without it sounding like I'm being hateful toward other people's religion. I want to make sure she is respectful toward others beliefs.

I found this book with a quick search: http://www.amazon.com/One-World-Many-Beliefs-Nonbelievers/dp/0615641482/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338558879&sr=8-2

we dont really have talks unless he asks... hes watched veggie tales before which will mention god and others, which cam will then ask us more about them. or when my dad and stepmoms dogs died we told him she went up to the sky to heaven to be with god. hes always content with anything we tell him and doesnt go too into it

My husband and I do have religions but we aren't raising our kids to be a certain religion. We believe in letting them choose when they are older, and allowing them to explore themselves.

Right now since they are so young we don't mention religion as we do not want to brainwash them into a religion. As they get older we will explain our different religions, as well as expose them to others. I mean once a year we go to different festivals sponsored by different churches, temples, and what not. Also festivals of different cultures. These festivals gives a little insight to different beliefs, and our kids can ask us anything they want.

Me and DH arent religious people. I wasn't raised in church or anything like that. Coralynn is 4 and she goes to a baptist pre-k. She loves it. I want her to be exposed to it and if she wants to live a life in church and loving god then she can. I wont tell her no. We all need something to believe and it isn't wrong for her to believe something i don't. I want her to learn about different religions and know what me and her father believe. my SIL is johavah witness and even though i dont agree with it and its not my cup of tea, i try not to make her feel bad for the decision she made.

I want to do the same with my girls. I want them to be able to choose believe whatever they want and no feel ashamed.

So as of right now she learns about god in school. She doesnt really ask questions. She blesses our food. But the school is not really shovy about religion.

after reading through the replies i have a couple thoughts - one is that churches and religious organizations can provide a great community and some good resources for families. why not get your kids involved for those reasons? if what they are taught in that environment isn't "truth" then what are you worried about? compare it to santa - well then let them believe, don't confuse them and maybe even hurt them by telling them none of its real. would you tell a little kid santa isn't real? eventually they will grow up and make their own decisions - and if religion and god are as fake as santa then you have nothing to worry about....

Quoting Alicea Gatlin:" after reading through the replies i have a couple thoughts - one is that churches and religious organizations ... [snip!] ... grow up and make their own decisions - and if religion and god are as fake as santa then you have nothing to worry about...."

That's actually a great comparison, and I don't believe in teaching a kid Santa is real either.

Quoting Alicea Gatlin:" after reading through the replies i have a couple thoughts - one is that churches and religious organizations ... [snip!] ... grow up and make their own decisions - and if religion and god are as fake as santa then you have nothing to worry about...."

There are other organizations that have great community resources that have no religious affiliation what so ever....

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" There are other organizations that have great community resources that have no religious affiliation what so ever...."

I agree. Sports, arts, even regular school can offer children a sense of community and belonging.

<blockquote><b>Quoting awesomebrandi:</b>" That's actually a great comparison, and I don't believe in teaching a kid Santa is real either."</blockquote>




Neither do I.

DH doesnt believe in teaching kids about Santa either. I do though, it was fun growing up with it and honestly I dont even remember when I found out he wasnt

i didnt have to teach my 3 year old about santa. my sister didnt have to teach my nephew either but they both believe and while my sister tries (in vain) to correct my nephew i am not going to crush my little girls imagination. i guess my whole point was that it doesnt hurt them to believe in something and it can in fact help them in some ways so wait til they are older to explain yours and others beliefs.