Raising children without god?

I agree. My parents never forced religion on me. The only problem was I went to a Catholic school, not for the religious aspect but for the better education they offered. They never made me go to church and we rarely talked about religion in our house. When I was getting a bad grade in religion class my dad just laughed because he didn't care.

I chose after years of much thought to not believe in god. Now I am at a place my father was many years ago. I am a non-believer sending my children to a Catholic school (for the education) and trying to balance the dogma they are learning at school with what I believe. I don't know how my dad did it.

Well I do believe there is a god but I don't believe we have to go to a church in order to believe. I was forced into being a Jehova's Witness when I was young but will never go back.they just have too many double standards as do most religions.

always will imitate parents, you should teach How to love the and fear of God.

Religion never came up in our house until my oldest was in school. She was 5 and learned about god and heaven at her public school (from her friends). She says she believes but couldn't tell you why or what god stands for. She is 7.

The first time I talked about Jesus at Christmas time was that year, I think. She wanted to know why we didn't go to church like her friends.

Because we moved and have horrible public schools here my oldest 2 children now go to a Catholic school so religion is a part of their life whether I like it or not. I do not think they are old enough to make an informed decision about believing. My oldest daughter believes because she wants to fit in with her friends. My son (who is 6) says he doesn't believe but he changes his mind a lot.

They haven't really asked any questions about what they are learning in religion class. We discussed believing and I tell them why I don't believe and that they can make that choice themselves and they don't have to believe because their friends do. (I wish my dad would have told me that when I was a kid--would have saved me half a life time of trying to force myself to believe something that made no sense to me).

The biggest problem I have had in raising my kids this way is that Christian people I have met (mostly online) tell me I should take them to church and let them know god so they can choose for themselves. What they are really saying is I should indoctrinate them now and hopefully they won't change their minds later. I don't get why I should teach them something I don't believe in and let them choose later when I have yet to meet a Christian that will do the same (all the people that told me that would never consider not teaching their children about god and letting them choose themselves).

In the end, I am happy with the choice I made and hope my kids use their brains to decide what they believe. If, after logically thinking about it they decide to believe then so be it. I do not believe in blind faith and have little respect for those people that blindly follow anything. Research, think about it and make a decision. That is what I want my kids to do, when they are old enough to understand what religion is really about.

I think you have a really great point, and I think you kind of answered your own question too. To be honest, I kind of jumped the gun when I answered your post, by simply answering from the title of the post rather than taking the time to read that they already go to private school.

I too was brought up in a catholic family, and to be honest, it freaked me out. I am now, against any kind of organized religion, because I don't believe that you have to follow rules that don't even make sense, in order to go to heaven.

Anyways, something you said in your last post, was that they are still young, 5 and 7... and with time they will learn enough to make their own decision...

Considering they already go to private school, and they have the influence of friends who go to church, and they have the influence of you and your husband who let them learn and go with the ebbs and flows, I think naturally, you are already doing the best you can with the situation. You are not forcing them to*not* believe any more than anyone else is forcing them*to* believe. I think things will work themselves out naturally... they will be exposed to it both ways, and I think with that, your showing them that they don't have to make a choice, will make it easier for them growing up to feel like they have the freedom to choose...

I guess, in my last post, I didn't really mean that you should teach them about god, when you don't believe, even though it sounded that way. I guess, what I meant, was, teach them, what the religious 'meanings' of certain holidays are... and then, teach them what Christmas, for example means to YOU and your family. For me, Christmas is a time to celebrate family, and togetherness, and love, and all things we have to be thankful for (like thanksgiving)... so, as long as you teach them what*you* believe, and then they learn from others what*other's* believe, they will come out in the end with their own opinions.

The best thing you can do for your kids is to allow them to make their own decisions... and you're already doing that, so not to worry, and bravo, for giving them the power to choose for themselves.
;)

That is pretty much what we have been doing in regards to religion. It was just never brought up before they started school. Once it was an issue I started just mentioning what I believed. I don't think I have ever once told them there is no god or that they can't believe. When they ask about god I tell them that some people believe but I do not and leave it at that.

The remember now why we discussed Jesus at Christmas that year. They were talking about god and heaven and Jesus one day and since I had never mentioned them before I asked where they heard about those things and their honest answer was "The Simpsons". I was laughing so hard.

When it comes to holidays we don't celebrate any of the religious aspects. We don't pray or go to church. We do have a few angel ornaments left on our tree but they are there out of tradition. They have been on that tree for 30 years and will continue to be on the tree. I think holidays are very important in passing down traditions and binding a family together. Heck, they are important for binding a society together. Thanksgiving is important because when you sit down to dinner on that 3rd Thursday in November you know that millions upon millions of other families all over the country are doing the exact same thing and that connects us all.

When I put our Christmas tree up every December and spend 2 days getting the lights sorted out and the kids help me hang their ornaments and the ornaments I made as a child and the ones my parents bought me it connects us together. It connects us to my parents and some day it will connect us to their children because (I hope) they will carry on the traditions that I have given them. Traditions my parents started with me, some traditions that go back generations in our family. That is why I still celebrate Christmas and Easter even though I don't believe in god or Jesus. They are too important to let go of for our family.

If I had a choice, though, my kids wouldn't be going to a religious school. I would have waited to introduce religion until they were a little older and probably would have taken a more objective approach. Introducing each religion and what they stand for. But things didn't work out that way. The school is okay, though. They did ask if I wanted my kids baptized when they found out they weren't but I declined (my parents never had me baptized either). Plus I have gone through the system. I even chose to go to a Catholic high school when I could have gone to a public one. I loved my high school. It was very liberal (yes there are such things as liberal Catholics). I learned so much at that school and would be proud if my girls chose to go there (although we would have to take out a couple of mortgages to pay for it because right now it is about $7000 a year per child and I have 3 girls--2 that will be in high school at the same time).

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It all had to start by someOne. If there is a creation, then there is a Creator.

God bless.

There is no creator. Conception is just nature at work, biology, science. It just happens.

Sorry, but I will never see it your way. I don't believe in fairy tales as being real. They are fun to imagine but aren't real.

Never say never! God still works miracles even today!

He created the world and everything in it. It didn't just happen. If there is a creation, there is a Creator and the Creator is greater than the created.

I pray that one day soon you will come to know the Lord!

God bless.

I knew the lord. We didn't agree on fundamental things so I stopped talking to him. Thanks, but no thanks.

Did you really know Him? If you did, then you would know that He is totally perfect. No, we don't always understand why He allows bad things to happen, but He will get us thru them. He is a God of comfort and love. We need to trust in Him.

He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He keeps His Promises!

Well, I know god comforted me soooo much after my 1st child was born. He comforted me by taking my mother from me...what a great and loving being.
Sorry but I will never believe in your god because he is an a$$. He wants, wants, wants and gives little in return.

I'm sorry you went thru all that, 4. We all have gone thru hardships in this life. God is not to blame for it all.

We need to lean on Him when we are hurting. Blaming Him most certainly isn't going to solve anything. It only makes things worse because you become so bitter and angry. That is no way to live.

God wants you to know Him. He can comfort you as only He can. He knows you loved your little baby and your mother, but He loves them too.

Give Him your burdens. He will carry them for you. Trust in Him and let Him fill your heart with joy. Don't live the rest of your life filled with anger and bitterness.

God bless:)

I'm not bitter in my life and blame no one for my mother's death, except maybe for the incompetent hospital staff--but that is another topic all together.

I don't believe in your god and never will because I would not want that kind of god controlling me. There may be some higher power that created us...I don't know for sure one way or the other but if it turns out to be the Christian god then I will gladly take my place in hell because I want no part of Christianity.

Your god makes no logical sense and neither do most fundamentalist Christians I have met.

If you don't want to believe, I'm sure He doesn't make any sense to you.

I can't tell you the joy He has given me in my life. He blesses me everyday. He has given me new life. I have hope because of Him. Without Him, there is no hope.

I pray that someday you will come to know Him. He does love you and He wants you to be happy.

God bless.

I tried to believe when I was younger. I tried very hard and all it got me was a ton of guilt because none of it made sense so I questioned everything.

I will never understand the need for religion in this day and age when science can explain almost everything and even if it can't I have full faith that some day it will (faith in science and the scientists).

I hate bible thumpers. here's another fundamentalist who believes she can convince someone to believe god created the world in six days, created evil just for the hell of it, stuck all the animals of the world on a boat. wake up people, accept science, biology, nature. i know the idea of a god and afterlife is way more comforting, but why must you immerse yourself in a lie, a meaningless life. the truth will set you free. the truth is science

Funny, there must be a reason why the original question was asked. If you would never beleive, then why would you be concerned about teaching your children? Just asking, as it seems there might be a question of your own deep inside there somewhere.

"To say that every child has to know the Christian God is an insult to other religions"

Oh absolutely! I agree fully with you on that one, too bad more ppl can't grasp that reality though..

Children need to know the Truth...God's Truth. The Bible is His Word and everything in it us true.

God bless.

"Children need to know the Truth...God's Truth"

thats YOUR truth..not mine and should my children decide when they are older that it is their truth then thats fine...They'll decide for themselves what is best for them...Thats not up to me..Religion is a personal CHOICE that shouldnt be nor can be decided FOR US..we have to decide on our own..Anyone who can't grasp that is an idiot:-/

There is only one Truth and it is God's Truth. You cannot change that.

God bless.

Springlady--you are seriously delusional if you think your "truth" is the only acceptable belief.

It is not truth, it is merely your opinion, a theory at most. A theory can never be "truth" it is only an idea, a researched idea with some facts to back it up (which religion does not actually have).

Keep your truth, I don't want to hear it because I have my own truth--truth that is backed up by my 5 senses and science and that is all I need in life.

"It is not truth, it is merely your opinion, a theory at most. A theory can never be "truth" it is only an idea, a researched idea with some facts to back it up (which religion does not actually have). "

Very nicely said! Unfortunately fundies will never be able to grasp that concept so long as they have their heads crammed "up there" ya know....

There is only one Truth...that is God's Truth.

You cannot alter His plan. His will be done!

God bless.

She illustrates your point so eloquently, too.

I wish god would take his work somewhere other then this post.

That is so awesome! Your kids are very blessed to have you for a parent!

God bless!

"If your child is lying in the hospital dying and hurting are you going to pray to the God that you tell your kids isn't real?"

--actually I won't be praying, I will be pushing the doctors to do all they can with their science.

Let me ask you this? Do you teach your children about gods you don't believe in? Like the god and godess that Wiccans believe in or the Egyptian gods or Greek gods? They all have messages to teach, why not teach your children to believe those too?

You don't because you don't believe those are true gods just as I don't believe the Christian god is a true god or any kind of god. It is made up by humans to explain what they can't understand. Why would I teach my children something I don't believe in?

Teaching children to pray is awesome. Without God, where is hope? We have no hope without Him. He is our hope!

I feel so sorry for anyone who chooses to reject God.

God bless.

Children should be taught the Truth. There is only one God and that is the living God. We have His Word, the Holy Bible and in it tells us all about the Lord.

God loves your children more than you do. I know this may make you angry or shocked, but it is true. We cannot love as God loves.

Greek mythology was one of my favorite classes in college. I even named a few of my fish after Greek gods.

Wonder why they call it MYTHology?

As the old addage goes, "Myth springs from truth."

No. The only real Truth is from God.

Hope you are having a good day!

that is right Let His name Glorified, what ever the other people say.

One person's "truth" is another person's myth. Good example cleetus (did I spell that right?). Maybe in 1000 years Christianity will be just another myth.

Springlady--why do you reject the other religions as myths? How do you know they are not the truth?

In the words of Ingersoll .... "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all other possible Gods, you will then understand how I dismiss yours."

When they truly understand this quote, it will all make sense to them.

Yes, Ciniful, I love that quote (never knew who said it, though--just saw it on another site). That was exactly what I was thinking of when I asked her about other gods.

No, Christianity will be here until Christ returns.

God is forever and He never changes and His Truth never changes no matter how we may try to change it or alter it. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Praise be to God!

It's Cletus, 4, but is all good.

Does your name mean you have 4 kids, or are you possessed?=) My sister calls her two monsters and when she does, my 3 year old neice makes the cutest 'monster' face. She'll put my sister's shoes on her hands for effect, scrunch up her nose and growl.

Darn, I knew I would spell it wrong, lol.

Yes, it means I have 4 kids. My 4 little monsters. They are 7, 6, 5 and 1 1/2. They drive me crazy most of the time but are too cute to give away.

How do you do it! With them being that close in age, plus a 1.5 year old? My sister has 2 -- 3 and 4 months and they are plenty for me. My sister gets dissed when I come over. The 3 year old wants*me* to give her a shampoo 'howhawk.' I make her laugh so hard when I lather up her hair and give her spikes, horns and a mohawk with the shampoo.

I admire you. I know I could never do it full time.

Big families are making a comeback ... we will conquer the world yet!!:D

(I have five, lol)

I have noticed big families are coming back. When I was a kid I don't think I knew a family that had more then 3 kids (and that was because they had twins first) other then a few of my aunts who had 4 and 6 kids (but my cousins were all older then me).

Now I see it all over. I still get looks when I go out, though, and comments from my family. Like the classic "don't you know how that happens?" whenever they found out I was pregnant again. Blah.

I actually didn't choose to have them close in age. After my oldest was born I figured 3 years difference would be good. We would start trying for #2 when she was 2 1/2. HA. When she was 2 1/2 I had a 1yo and a newborn, lol. I was pregnant by the time she was 6 1/2 months old. Then again when he was 4 months old. The last one was sort of planned.

It is crazy most of the time. I get pulled every which way but they are so darn cute sometimes. And now my oldest 2 are in school so I just have the 5yo and the 1yo at home during the day. Next year the 5yo will be in school, too and it will just be the baby.

The funny thing is, I don't really consid