All you atheist parents wondering how to broach the religion topic to your kids listen up!

[Rhubarb]

I'm a catholic and I teach my kids about all religions. I explain that some people believe different things and some people don't believe at all. I tell them what the Bible says about creation and what science says.

I tell them what my personal beliefs are but I encourage them to make their own minds up. I answer questions with "well this is what I believe but you might think something different".

I take them to Church and they know about the religion we follow, but I do encourage questions as far as I can bearing in mind their young ages.

So what I say to you is this. Don't put a barrier between yourselves and religion when it comes to your kids. Arm them with information and let them make their own minds up. If you push them a certain way, chances are that they'll reject it later on in life. Whereas if you add your support to whatever they decide to believe or not, it will give them the confidence to choose their own paths.

You may be disappointed in their choices but don't try to influence them too strongly one way or the other.

So says me.

I think it's great that you've read the Bible, it is very heavy going in places and I particularly dislike the OT. But my perspective on it is that the OT is full of parables, not to be taken too literally. Just as Jesus told stories in the NT I think the prophets told stories in the OT to illustrate their point.

Actually I'm going to change my mind here and say that I think it's helpful even if you don't believe to visit a few religious services. I don't believe in Hinduism or Buddhism but I would eagerly take my kids to these services if allowed, so they can experience how others choose to worship and what they choose to worship.

I think it's an important part of culture and life and even if you disagree with it, you do need to understand it and the impact it has on humanity as a whole.

I've tried reading the Koran but it's difficult because I really don't like their prophet Mohammed and I strongly disagree with his way of life and his message. The Mormon book is just silly imo. But again, I'll tell my kids about them and encourage them to read these things for themselves.

"Actually I'm going to change my mind here and say that I think it's helpful even if you don't believe to visit a few religious services. I don't believe in Hinduism or Buddhism but I would eagerly take my kids to these services if allowed, so they can experience how others choose to worship and what they choose to worship."

Yes, I do that kind of thing or rather will do when my children are older as part of a trip, here or abroad.

Course the catholic ones are the best!

Well, we went to a Catholic Christening a few weeks ago. Can we cross that off our list now?

Ah yes the book of Mormon

A budhist ceremony would welcome you with open arms Rhuby, as would amny Hindu services- the one in Carmarthen is multi faith (but wait until they get rid of the TB bull eh?) yet welcomes all comers to its Hindu ceremony.

One set of texts that I adored were the gnostic gospels- esp. Gospel of St Thomas. I really enoyed studying those.

If I were pinned down to my beliefs I wouldn't know where to put myself tbh. Iw ould desperately love to reclaim the faith I had five years ago (before Dh got ill, we lost the house and the boys were dx'd) but its not gonna happen. i think uddhism ahs a similar love based philosophy but then again the realist aspect of my personality jumps in.

The Prof suggests I should try the local Quaker ceremony- I'd love to, as their tolerance message and faith through pece approach really appeald, I wonder sometimes if that would be a way abck for me. Trouble is ytou actually need toa ttend the meetings and threin lies the issue.

ds reading over my shoulder because he should be in bed but I am being lazy
he just read that as 'The Book Of Norman' and I a roffling like mad

LOl

(Aloha I live in Norman Street LOL- but the ancient type not the nerdy type )

still roffling

still roffling

aloha, is this the book you wanted?

I can imagine taking DS to religious services to mark friends' rites of passage (weddings, funerals etc) and discussing what's going to happen, and why, beforehand. And I do intend him to have a cultural and historical understanding of the main mythological systems he's going to encounter: the Greek, Roman and Norse pantheons as well as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Santeria, Vaudon, Sikhism, Shinto, Buddhism - we live in a pretty multicultural area and I apologise if I've missed anything out.
For one thing, it's interesting to compare and contrast the main myths of each one, and what concepts they all have in common as well as where they differ.
And when he gets a bit older, if he's interested, then we can discuss other ways people define themselves culturally, such as football fandom and regional/tribal identities. Because from this viewpoint it is all quite interesting and useful stuff to learn about.

I did go to a Hindu ceremony once, very nice it was.

I too like the Quaker philosophies and I really want to go to their services but apparently their services are conducted in silence and I just know that I'll fart and then piss myself! Then I'll be banned and they'll never want to hear from me again for taking the piss. Which I wouldn't have meant to do, it's just that silence gives me the fits of giggles and for some reason when I'm trying to be silent, either I fart or my tummy rumbles really noisily.

I like the Amish people, I don't know exactly what they believe in but those black suits the men wear are well cool and didn't Harrison Ford just look bloody good as one!

Madamez, you put it so nicely.

In our house, we teach them that it is impossible that God exists, that people who believe are weak and brainwashed.

We do not want them to 'make up their own minds' and feel it is our duty to teach them that it is all phoney.

However, we also teach them to respect those who do believe. We don't particularly differentiate between religions because for us they're all one and the same, ie they all worship some supernatural being.

The older ones now look at people who are religious with a look of half pity, half surprise at their gullibility. If the word exists

caterpillar, I completely appreciate that way of doing things. I wouldn't expect someone to have respect for a belief system they didn't share.
It's perfectly possible to respect a person and not respect what they believe.

We have a similar approach, but obviously, from a specifically christian theist perspective.

Message withdrawn

Caterpillar, can you accept that what you are doing is as much putting over a faith position? Because I think that is what you are doing. I think it is impossible that God does not exist. My kids are have same reaction as yours to people who dont think there is a God.

Just coming at the same thing from the opposite side?

Harrisey: knowing that there are no gods, fairies, or flying teapots isn't a faith position, it's an evidence-based position. There's no credible evidence that any such thing exists, no matter how much the superstitious bleat and protest about 'keeping an open mind' (ie buying whatever snake oil they are peddling this week) so believing in them is something that merits about as much consideration from the rational as a person's preference for green underwear, one football team over another, or what catchphrases they use in conversation. Ie it's no big deal until it starts interfering with other people's lives or affecting one's own life to a negative extent.

anything to do with God is a faith position as there is actually no way to prove it one way or the other.

I suppose we'll all find out one day, hey?

It's no more a faith position that not believing in genies in bottles. It's not a part of our lives. We just respond to them when they ask questions. Or when they have been teased at school for thinking there is no god

SueBaroo, I like your attitude. I wish more Christians shared it. Unfortunately a lot of them don't.

hmmm I find it a bit uncomfortable to think I have to let them 'make their own minds up'

The bible is a great fairytale. It's nonsense BUT my children will respect that some people feel they want to beleive in it.

Exactly Trinityrhino!

Lucky you that you can be so sure in what you believe! Do you not have an open mind at all? Do you never consider the fact that you might be wrong?

And in teaching your kids that it is all nonsence, are you not indoctrinating them? What happens if they want to explore religion on their own in a few years, will you support them?

I find it disconcerting that parents can teach such narrow attitudes to their children. Are you not open to any other opinions at all or does whatever you say rule and that's the end of?

Rhubarb you say it so much more eloquently than me.

I would be disappointed if my children dont have faith, but it is up to them. It should be the same for those with no faith - they shoul be alowed to make their own minds up. I would hate to think I would ridicule my children for what they believe, or not, but there are some people of the atheistic position ere who have pretty much said that is what they would do with their older children. I think that it sad.

These are the same people who tell them about Father Christmas no doubt.