'God made us' -AIBU?

[KindergartenKop]

Ds1: 'God made us'
Me: 'Who told you that?'
Ds1: 'Grandma'

Grandma is quite religious, dh and I strongly believe children can make up their own minds when they are old enough. Aibu to be a bit annoyed? Do you reckon it's worth having a word?

I'm a staunch atheist but when my children ask about my views I always balance them by saying 'I believe X but [beloved family member] believes Y' - I made up my own mind, my kids should get to do the same!

I bet Noah must have had a few. Being 950 and all that. I bet he was gutted he didn't make it to 1000.

What do you buy a 1000 year old? (From Shem who only made it to 600)

And OP, your DS will have loads of influences aside from yours. He may decide, as an adult, to be the same religion as Granny. He gets to choose, not you.

Most DC in the UK have religious education. My DDs, now 15 and 13, tell me there were told bible stories in their secular school, as if they were fact, and not "this is a story some people believe". Both are atheists, now.

I would have a word. I believe that God did make us (huge clue in my MN name!) but I always present things as being what I believe. My DCs go to a church school and they are taught religion on the basis of 'this is what we believe in school' and are taught what other religions believe.
They were taught evolution which surprised me as the school is a very churchy school and religion is central in everything they do. It didn't bother me though as I also believe in evolution.

They were taught evolution which surprised me as the school is a very churchy school and religion is central in everything they do

Maybe - because it's in the curriculum and they're supposed to teach it.

There's a thing called scientific evidence.

I was brought up by two atheists, had a very religious grandmother, ended up going to a Cathedral school. I was completely comfortable with the fact that different people believed different things and have probably ended up with a bit of a pick-and-mix approach. Incidentally, I am one of four children and we all have very different outlooks and approaches on things spiritual - and to my mind, that means that my parents got something right.

Personally, I think the only thing that we really need to teach and instill is tolerance and interest, whether in others' beliefs, their preferences or their cultures.

If you strongly believe that your DC can make up their own minds, then you have to allow them all the information available so that they can choose what to believe, don't you.

So no, you shouldn't "have a quiet word" - you should let your DC choose as and when they feel like it, whether or not they believe Grandma.

I hope that people realise that parents who are atheists don't normally tell their children that God doesn't exist.

They sometimes say "I don't think God exists, some people do. They are religious people". Or God doesn't really get a look in.

Sometimes I get the impression some religious people think athiests actively indoctrinate their kids and tell them there is no such thing as God.

Orlando - I think it's pretty clear from some responses on MN that some atheists do indeed tell their children exactly that.

Often to counteract the daily act of collective worship expected in English State schools.

What kind of religion expects the children in schools in their country to have a daily act of worship?

(maybe religious children could be withdrawn for 15 minutes out of assembly to have their fix of worship. Or maybe they could worship in a church?)

Orlando I didn't know it was in the curriculum, that explains it then.
Scientific evidence and faith don't, IMO, have to be exclusive. I am a science graduate and a believer so obviously it worked for me.

It's incredible - schools even teach about fossils, DNA, mutations, survival of the fittest, how simple cells eventually become complex life.

Who'd have thought it They even do this in science as well.

Of course, there are some schools that seem to disregard this and teach that God made everything and ignore the sciency stuff. I think that when OFSTED start looking at what such schools teach (something they've decided to do now), there might be questions asked.

Very funny Orlando I knew that....I didn't know the curriculum said they had to teach evolution that's all. I'd expect them to teach it.

TBH - if there is a God, it's a pretty crap one.

Appears in a burning bush to a single man. Not in front of a big crowd.
Doesn't give a shit about humanity.
Expects people to worship it - and condemns those who don't believe to a pit of hell.

You'd almost think the stories were made up by men to control people - especially women.

"Those who are in the UK and atheist: do you celebrate birthdays and Christmas and just ignore the religious side?"

Presumably in the same way Christians seem to be able to celebate Eostre without even a passing nod to Ostara........

I'm surprised that while people agree that children should make up their own mind, they aren't bothered that grandma is only putting across her point of view.
He hasn't asked me any questions about who made us but has taken grandma's answer as gospel (excuse the pun!).
If he were older I would find it easier to approach I think but he's nearly 3 and finds it hard to assimilate several points of view but it's very important that he learns this.
Dh is quite pissed off because grandma has form! She expects her dcs to tow (toe?) the line regarding religion, it's a massive bone of contention between her and her daughter.

Grandma should not expect others to have her faith.

I remember at my Gran's house - she was a strong Catholic and always said Grace before meals. My family are not very religious - we would keep respectfully quiet whilst they said Grace. I would never question her views or argue about religion. Not my place. If someone has faith, that's great - I respect their view and I want them to respect mine and not force me to believe.