Atheists. Its time to turn the spotlight on you.

[pigeon_of_doom]

My child can choose their religion, or lack of. I have no right to force anything on them.

But would you at least give them the information to make an informed decision? Or support their choice (taking them to whatever place of worship, pilgrimage etc) Although at an early age their decisions are pretty meaningless and could easily just reflect the religious attitudes of their peers or family.

I can't help feeling that children brought up in an entirely neutral manner in regards to religion would just end up being consumers of it and would just choose whichever appeals to them superficially, demeaning the religion in the process. And, of course they cannot make a good decision and would be far too easily influenced by people trying to covert them. Interesting topic, but completely impractical. I prefer the idea of a child being brought up with some kind of consistent spiritual belief up to some point I don't know, then being allowed to make an informed decision.

Also, what's all this crap about parents having no right to force things onto their children? They're under their jurisdiction, so unless the kids want to emancipate themselves then the parents are fully within their rights to impose certain things upon their offspring. Religion is closely tied to a person's morals, so you cannot separate the values of a religion entirely from the values people may attempt to instil in their children.

 

[Chipperz]

I'll let them believe what they want... Are we going to do this thread one religion at a time?

Atheism is not a religion.

I'm actually getting quite sick of this. Atheism is not an organised religion. Religion is just choosing what to believe and what not to believe. Atheism is a religion, and it's a damn hypocritical one at that.

I'm gonna let my kids choose, but I'm going to introduce them to the cold, hard realities of logic and fact last, because I want my kids to be kids, and cold cynic isn't that.

 

[Gerazzi]

Spoiler: Questions & Answers

Do Atheist parents have the right to force Atheism on their children?
- All religious people get to, I was forced into Christianity for the first part of my life

How many of you will raise your child not to believe in a god?
- I will raise them that way, but when they can think for themselves, I'm going to let them pick theirs.

How many of you will raise your child with knowledge of God? (Without making fun of it while you teach it.)
- not me

How many of you will take your children to church?
- also not me

How many of you will raise your children to make their own decision, like you had?
- I think this would be the fairest way

How many think that your child will be Atheist?
- I'd like to hope so, but I'm not going to say it's definite

 

[strangemoose]

im christian but i will allow my children to choose and religion they choose

 

[TheLastCylon]

My child can choose their religion, or lack of. I have no right to force anything on them.

But would you at least give them the information to make an informed decision? Or support their choice (taking them to whatever place of worship, pilgrimage etc)

I would support their choice, no matter what it is.

 

[0thello]

Do Atheist parents have the right to force Atheism on their children?
- Yes.

How many of you will raise your child not to believe in a god?
- I dunno but which God? I got several in mind.

How many of you will raise your child with knowledge of God? (Without making fun of it while you teach it.)
- Not me

How many of you will take your children to church?
- Not me.

How many of you will raise your children to make their own decision, like you had?
- Me.

How many think that your child will be Atheist?
- My child will be born an athiest it's inevitable.

 

[A Weary Exile]

My parents never forced atheism on me or religion. My life experience has lead me to my belief system and if I ever have a kid I will raise him to think for himself and nothing more.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

But would you at least give them the information to make an informed decision? Or support their choice (taking them to whatever place of worship, pilgrimage etc)

I would support their choice, no matter what it is.

Even if they're adopting morals you completely disagree with? Advocating the murder of infidels (or any other radical ideologies that you may disagree with)?

 

[Dancingman]

Parents have to allow children to determine their own beliefs, don't care if they're athiests, or religious folk.

 

[yaik7a]

I Inspire people ... I feel so pround
But no but if its not enforced its okay

 

[Kpt._Rob]

My child will be free to choose any religion he or she wants, I intend only to teach my child science and reason, and if they conclude that the evidence of science and reason point them to religion, then that is their decision to make. I admit, if they do decide to be religious I will try to present them with evidence to suggest that God doesn't exist, but if they have sufficient evidence to say that one does they could just as easily convert me. And by no means would I ever "force" atheism on my child. Unlike the many Christians I knew who literally FEAR REJECTION BY THEIR OWN PARENTS if they reject their religion. My child will know they are loved regardless of their metaphysical beliefs.

 

[Macgyvercas]

My kids will be raised in a Catholic household, sure. But I won't force the ideas on them. If they want to choose another religion (or atheism), I'll be disappointed, but won't hold it against them.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

Lack of religion is the natural state.

Where'd you come across that idea? Some kind of religious belief is common to all civilisations I know of through the ages, whether it comes from some inbuilt genetic pre-disposition or part of some God's design, I don't know.

 

[Nimbus]

[HEADING=2]Its a child, it cannot choose its own religion. Stop saying that. It can when its a teen, but how many 5 year old converts do you know?[/HEADING]

Don't be stupid. Raise the child agnostic.

 

[Cakes]

Do Atheist parents have the right to force Atheism on their children?

No. I'll teach them to think for themselves, as everyone should.

How many of you will raise your child not to belive in a god?

First question applies.

How many of you will raise your child with knowledge of God? (Without making fun of it while you teach it.)

Why would an atheist do that? I guess at some point I'll have to mention "Hey, these people believe in this stuff, if you want to learn about it go right ahead".

How many of you will take your children to church?

'the hell kind of questions are these?
Hey Christians, would you take your kids to a Black Mass?
If they want to go to church, that's fine by me, but I'll sleep in thanks.

How many of you will raise your children to make their own decission, like you had?

First question applies.

How many think that your child will be Atheist?

It depends on the kid. I really can't say.

Let's be honest. No matter what you do, your child will almost certainly be Athist. Because thats the house hold they grew up in. So did you think you forced it on them?

???
This is stupid. You don't necessarily inherit your parents religious beliefs. No.

[HEADING=2]Its a child, it cannot choose its own religion. Stop saying that. It can when its a teen, but how many 5 year old converts do you know?[/HEADING]

I like how you refer to these hypothetical kids as "it" the entire time.

 

[Cogliostro]

Honestly, I would treat religion as the fairy-tales that they are to my children. I would tell them that, so long as they are alive and have breath, they are worthwhile individuals, just like everyone else.

I would explain that some people take these things very seriously sometimes, but I would illustrate the difference between some who really wants to better themselves, and someone who projects their own insecurities through the medium of faith.

I would explain that it is ultimately their choice what they believe, but that no one ever has the right to condemn them, or make them feel "less" and "damned" because of how they are or what they might choose ot be/follow.

Lastly, I would explain that this is a large and complex universe, and that every human being tries to find their place in it, and their own reasons for how and what life is and came to be.

Really, I do not believe it is a matter of forcing someone into aa mold, no matter how choice it may seem to you. I can only point the way in such a thing, but leave the walking up to whomever I am pointing for. I may not know the exact way, but I've got an idea for the direction insofar as I have experienced it, and that's enough.

Having been at one point a virtual racist, bigot, and hard-hearted individual in pursuit of "Faith most Pure and Resolute" in the Christian god, what I am more afraid of for my future children is being tricked into such a sick paradigm of thought as I was lead to believe.
I don't care if they believe in an invisible "Space God". What I care about is that they learn mutual love, acceptance, and open-mindedness towards their fellow human beings.

But, then again, that really isn't a matter of religion. That's more a matter of good parenting, and keeping in mind what is good for the child, and not a matter of the machinations of what the parent wants to turn their child into.

 

[Hybridwolf]

I'm going to say what I feel is correct.

Belive what you want to belive, Do what you want to do. But above all, be aware. If someone wants to be an atheist, then don't try and convert me. Because thats their choice, not yours.

Now, If I was going to have children, I'd teach them that. Because I can't choose what they want to do, and I shouldn't. Free will is what makes us unique. So don't supress the damn thing. That said, I would never encourage wrong actions.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

I'm going to say what I feelis correct.

Belive what you want to belive, Do what you want to do. But above all, be aware. If I want to be an atheist, then don't try and convert me. Because thats their choice, not yours.

Nice values, but a bit wasted on an impressionable child surely? They'll just pick up conflicting religious viewpoints from elsewhere.

 

[DaMan1500]

I wouldn't really harass my kid if he/she decided to be religious, but I'm not going to take my kid to church when I don't belive any of it. Yeah, they'll probably end up athiest, which I see as a good thing, as my parent's believed raising me Christian was a good thing. They can change later if they want, as I did, but I don't really care.