I was recently asked how does one raise a child without religion. I recommended that we teach children:

- the story and science behind the Big Bang because the truth is so much more powerful than the Bible's Genesis story;

- that love is the noblest and most important element of human relationships;

- to never stop learning and experiencing new things because it keeps life fresh;

- to realize their are no sacred cows because all of life must be critically examined;

- to challenge dogma in all facets of life because no one way is the only way;

- to rely on their reason and inner strength because it will shield them against peer pressure and group think;

- to adapt their thinking when reason dictates;

- to live authentically and to honestly express themselves because the individual is more important than any ideology;

- to advance the human condition within their personal capacity to do so;

- to take responsibility for their actions;

- to connect with themselves, with other people, and with the universe;

- to deal with others honestly and justly, guided by compassion and respect;

- to teach others what they have learned because that is the best way to internalize the lessons for themselves;

- to live their lives as an example for others to follow because that is the deepest expression of their convictions.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and ideas.

I can't really argue with any of that

Could do without a submissive girl photo....

this works



or this



original is too patriarchal

Of course this too....



Content is good - I just sort of stayed out of the way of mine and gave them the opportunity to learn and explore.
Religion was something sort of weird for them that other people did....still is.

Nothing to it really. Just don't do any religious stuff. I've never had to think about raising my kids without religion

So you wouldn't bother mentioning your conception of the deistic god then?

Lots of good stuff so far.

I'd add this: because we only have limited control over things in life (not nearly as much as we'd like), what happens to you isn't as important as what you do with it.*




*Now, nearing 50, I find this lesson both harder and more important than ever before. I guess my midife crisis is right on schedule.

I disagree with this one...

- that love is the noblest and most important element of human relationships;

... but I agree the rest are well thought out.

So you wouldn't bother mentioning your conception of the deistic god then?

nope - not unless it came up

Macdoc wrote:

So you wouldn't bother mentioning your conception of the deistic god then?

nope - not unless it came up

And then?

ask then what they thought of it.
I'm not into inculcating kids with what I think.
They likely absorbed a reasonably amount of anti-theism but that's not hard to develop either

Macdoc wrote:ask then what they thought of it.
I'm in inculcating kids with what I think.
They likely absorbed a reasonably amount of anti-theism but that's not hard to develop either

Not sure what you meant there. Perhaps dropped a "not" and an 'into". I think I agree, regardless, my comment was directed at the OP who apparently believes in some form of deism but doesn't mention it above.

Shrunk wrote:Nothing to it really. Just don't do any religious stuff. I've never had to think about raising my kids without religion

I'm guessing you don't have any close relatives that tried to teach it to them?

Depends on the age but I think past 8 most kids recognize the bullshit for what it is and roll their eyes unless they are within a fundie community...then it's child abuse.

Macdoc wrote:Depends on the age but I think past 8 most kids recognize the bullshit for what it is and roll their eyes unless they are within a fundie community...then it's child abuse.

If I can just keep my parents away from them until age 8 I'll be all set

Why mention religion?

I never did when my kids grew up. My daughters best friend was a Welsh Methodist minister's daughter. I just told it is what they did. No problems.

Don't make a point about it. I agree dont bring children without religion just ignore it as it is not part of their lives.

UnifiedDeism, you sound more like an atheist all the time!

Arnold Layne wrote:UnifiedDeism, you sound more like an atheist all the time!

But his deism is tantamount to pantheism, which is just sexed up atheism anyway

I just treated religion in the same way I treated every other big question: I waited until they asked questions then either answered them truthfully, if I knew the answers, or bought a book for them to read about it. I gave them books, books and more books, and encouraged them to read anything they wanted to read. The Bible was on the shelf with all the other books, they could read it if they wanted. They didn't, said it was boring. There was also a book called "Cults and new religions" and a lot of books about history, I have one called "Vanished Civilisations." So by the time they were confronted by teachers at school preaching about the world being 6,000 years old, they were armed with information about civilisations that predated the biblical nonsense, and they argued about it. If you don't make it a big deal, they won't. I didn't actively tell them they weren't allowed to do religion, just didn't do it myself, so neither did they. When they were teenagers and were interested in the philosophical ideas of religion, I took them to a church service so they could experience. The reaction was "boring, stupid, nonsense."

Arnold Layne wrote:UnifiedDeism, you sound more like an atheist all the time!

I still believe in God, but I don't see the need to push it on anyone

Macdoc wrote:Could do without a submissive girl photo....

this works



or this



original is too patriarchal

Of course this too....



Content is good - I just sort of stayed out of the way of mine and gave them the opportunity to learn and explore.
Religion was something sort of weird for them that other people did....still is.

Great point. I wish I would have found those before I posted!