Atheists & Children: Problems, Conflict, Family, Advice
Of all of the problems that atheists might experience with their families, those involving their own children are perhaps among the most emotional and difficult to resolve. Many people honestly believe that children require religion and God in order to be raised morally and properly - so if atheist parents don't offer that, they will feel compelled to intervene and replace what they believe the parents are failing provide.
Infants and Uninformed Children are Atheists
Do infants and very young children qualify as atheists? Most atheists will say so, working from the definition of atheism as 'lacking belief in gods.' Theists tend to reject this definition, even if they don't use the narrow definition of atheism as "denial of gods." Why? If infants lack belief in the existence of gods, they can't be theists - so why not atheists?
Do infants and very young children qualify as atheists? Most atheists will say so, working from the definition of atheism as 'lacking belief in gods.' Theists tend to reject this definition, even if they don't use the narrow definition of atheism as "denial of gods." Why? If infants lack belief in the existence of gods, they can't be theists - so why not atheists?
Raising Godless Children: What Should Atheist Parents Do for their Children?
Christians raise their children as Christians, Jews raise their children as Jews, and Muslims raise their children as Muslims, so doesn't it make sense that atheists raise their children as atheists? That might seem to be the case, but it doesn't make much sense after all. Children are already born as atheists — they have to be taught to believe in gods and to adopt religious beliefs. If you don't tell them that they should believe those things, then you are simply maintaining the status quo.
Christians raise their children as Christians, Jews raise their children as Jews, and Muslims raise their children as Muslims, so doesn't it make sense that atheists raise their children as atheists? That might seem to be the case, but it doesn't make much sense after all. Children are already born as atheists — they have to be taught to believe in gods and to adopt religious beliefs. If you don't tell them that they should believe those things, then you are simply maintaining the status quo.
Godless Children and the Future of Atheism: Raising Godless Children
It's a simple fact that the godless children being raised by atheists today are likely to be at the forefront of atheism in the future. What's not so simple is what godless parents are going to do about this - what do they want for their children, what sort of atheism do they want their children to express, and what sort of atheism do they want to see develop in the future. This, by extension, should affect what sort of community and society they live in in the future as well.
It's a simple fact that the godless children being raised by atheists today are likely to be at the forefront of atheism in the future. What's not so simple is what godless parents are going to do about this - what do they want for their children, what sort of atheism do they want their children to express, and what sort of atheism do they want to see develop in the future. This, by extension, should affect what sort of community and society they live in in the future as well.
Teaching Kids About Skepticism & Science: What Should Atheist Parents Do?
Parents raising their children without gods or religion should teach them how to be skeptical, how to engage in critical thinking, and how to fairly apply the standards of reason and skepticism to religious and paranormal claims which they might encounter. They should also learn how to do so without necessarily attacking those who hold these beliefs. Sometimes there will be people who should be criticized personally, but it should not be the first or only tactic adopted.
Parents raising their children without gods or religion should teach them how to be skeptical, how to engage in critical thinking, and how to fairly apply the standards of reason and skepticism to religious and paranormal claims which they might encounter. They should also learn how to do so without necessarily attacking those who hold these beliefs. Sometimes there will be people who should be criticized personally, but it should not be the first or only tactic adopted.
Godless Children & Family Religious Traditions: What Should Atheists Do?
A difficult issue for godless parents raising their children without religion is the religious traditions in their extended families. If the parents themselves were raised without gods or religion, this isn't an issue, but most come from at least marginally religious families which have at least a few religious traditions, even if it's merely to attend religious worship services on major holidays. The more devout a family is, the more difficult it may be to exclude yourselves and your children.
A difficult issue for godless parents raising their children without religion is the religious traditions in their extended families. If the parents themselves were raised without gods or religion, this isn't an issue, but most come from at least marginally religious families which have at least a few religious traditions, even if it's merely to attend religious worship services on major holidays. The more devout a family is, the more difficult it may be to exclude yourselves and your children.
Do Children Need Religion? Are Religious Beliefs Necessary for Children?
Religion and gods play an important role in how many parents raise their children. Even parents who aren't very ardent in their faith and don't go to religious worship services very often seem to believe that religion is a vital component in any upbringing. This is not justified, however. A child can be raised without religion and without gods and not be any worse off for it, though. In fact, a godless upbringing has advantages because if avoids so many of the dangers that accompany religion.
Religion and gods play an important role in how many parents raise their children. Even parents who aren't very ardent in their faith and don't go to religious worship services very often seem to believe that religion is a vital component in any upbringing. This is not justified, however. A child can be raised without religion and without gods and not be any worse off for it, though. In fact, a godless upbringing has advantages because if avoids so many of the dangers that accompany religion.
What Should I Tell My Kids About Religion?
When children are raised in a religious environment, what they are taught about religion is relatively obvious and organized - but what about kids raised in a non-religious environment? If you aren't specifically teaching your kids to believe in any gods or to follow any religious systems, then it may be tempting to just ignore the topic entirely.
When children are raised in a religious environment, what they are taught about religion is relatively obvious and organized - but what about kids raised in a non-religious environment? If you aren't specifically teaching your kids to believe in any gods or to follow any religious systems, then it may be tempting to just ignore the topic entirely.
Should I Raise My Kids As Atheists?
Christians raise their children as Christians, Jews raise their children as Jews, and Muslims raise their children as Muslims, so doesn't it make sense that atheists raise their children as atheists? That might seem to be the case at first glance, but in reality it doesn't make all that much sense after all.
Christians raise their children as Christians, Jews raise their children as Jews, and Muslims raise their children as Muslims, so doesn't it make sense that atheists raise their children as atheists? That might seem to be the case at first glance, but in reality it doesn't make all that much sense after all.
My Kids Have Been Invited To Attend Church Services
There is no easy way to answer this question because the most fundamental response is 'it depends' - and it depends on quite a lot of things which necessarily change from context to context. Some general ideas should, however, help in making a decision should you ever find yourself in such a situation.
There is no easy way to answer this question because the most fundamental response is 'it depends' - and it depends on quite a lot of things which necessarily change from context to context. Some general ideas should, however, help in making a decision should you ever find yourself in such a situation.
My Child Wants To Start Regularly Attending Religious Services
You may not be raising your child to follow any particular religion and you may in fact be encouraging your child to learn about many different religious beliefs on an equal basis, but that doesn't mean that she will never become interested in actively participating in one particular religious faith. You may at some time be faced with a request to regularly attend a church...
You may not be raising your child to follow any particular religion and you may in fact be encouraging your child to learn about many different religious beliefs on an equal basis, but that doesn't mean that she will never become interested in actively participating in one particular religious faith. You may at some time be faced with a request to regularly attend a church...
What Happens When Your Family Pushes Religion On Your Kids?
If you are trying to raise your children without also forcing them to adopt a particular religious faith, there can be a lot of conflict with other family members who honestly believe that religion and God are key factors in a good and moral upbringing.
If you are trying to raise your children without also forcing them to adopt a particular religious faith, there can be a lot of conflict with other family members who honestly believe that religion and God are key factors in a good and moral upbringing.