how do atheists justify having children?

[jobhunter7]

Sorry if the question sounds banal... but it seems easier to rationalise having children if you think your children do the right thing mostly in life they'll end up beyond the pearly gates...

Hypothetical or not it's vile.

I didn't notice the date! It's clearly an old thread, but somehow it came up on my active discussions list... no idea how. Mumsnet moves in mysterious ways. 😅

Like the stars that were born, lived and then died then reformed in to us. Isn’t life about being born, living, dying then being reformed into something else.

I believe that we don't know what happens after death and that's okay. I think there is beauty in being humble enough to accept that not only do we not know but it's okay to accept that we will very likely never know. There are no tools or resources to know. Even those that believe in the Bible do not actually know. They are merely taking other humans' words for it. There is nothing wrong with that but you need to be honest.

The Bible even states it was written by humans. This humans claim it is the word of God. Believers take their word for it. That means something to them. That's fine. But should not be expected to be held as evidence to others who don't follow it.

In fact I think it makes life more meaningful that tomorrow is not guaranteed and even the after life is not guaranteed. I am an ex christen. My mother used to say it is sinful to assume that you know what God thinks.

I have issues that Christians come after atheists but do not question that their god essentially condemns entire countries such as China to hell based on their standards.

You know your God is so merciful into he isn't anymore. You know just casually boiling small children alive in the afterlife making is so they can never die or feel relief from their pain and torture. Their crime? Being born in a non-christian country.

Yep. This is healthy and normal thinking patterns.

A lot of people and animals enjoy sex. Children can be a consequence. As far as I'm aware you don't need to believe in God to enjoy shagging.

So having offspring is instinctive in most species - I don't imagine any of them believe in God.

Having children brings joy (and challenges of course) into life. It seems to be quite a natural instinct to enjoy caring for a child in the same way as one's own parents cared for us.

In fact as an atheist having children makes even more sense - I don't believe in delayed satisfaction, 'be careful today so you enjoy bliss in the hereafter'. So having children is about making the most of the here and now - it's all we've got.

I love my kids. They make me laugh. They reach me things about myself and the wider world. They made me less selfish and kinder. Caring about their well-being means a lot to me.

Following this argument OP why don't all non religious people just kill themselves immediately?

Shut up and take your Bible bashing back to the church

I had my child because I wanted to
it was purely selfish
I’m a nihilist

Never said I was a Christian so not sure how I can have passed off "children's fairy stories" as facts.

OP, quite a few posts back. You might want to go back and read them.

Dialogue from the new Netflix TV show, After Life, starring Ricky Gervais as Tony. Kath is a christian woman he works with.

Kath: If you don't believe in heaven and hell and all that, why don't you just go around raping and murdering as much as you want?

Tony: I do.

Kath: What?

Tony: I do go around raping and murdering as much as I want, which is not at all.

Other coworker: 'cuz he's got a conscience.

Babdoc spewing her hatred for atheists once again.

I just wanted one. I didn't justify it.

Why would you have children if you think hell exists?

I just think it's terribly sad that some Christians apparently seem to believe that there is no actual value in human life itself, other than it being some kind of weird transit that might give them access to something after death that might not even exist. What a depressing way of looking at the world!

It has never once occurred to me that I am "condemning" my child to death. I mean, obviously I know that she will die at some point, but I don't see death as anything to fear, it is just the end point of life. And in a sense, having an end point is what gives life its value... the idea of eternity to me sounds terribly dull!

For me, the value in life is here and now. I feel incredibly sorry for anyone who is putting all their hope into some mythical afterlife. What a miserable existence that must be.

I think a much more reasonable q (tho it’s slim pickings!) is how do Christians justify having children if they have a solid chance of eternal damnation after death? I’m being a bit facetious but you get the point

I agree about the here and now. Makes me think of the Wallace Stevens quote “Death is the mother of beauty”.

I dont think people feel the need to justify having children. Its a natural instinct which people follow.

We are just another species, animals in nature don’t believe in a god, yet they continue to reproduce.
You may perceive the possibility of an afterlife being your source of fulfilment but for others life is fulfilling in itself.

I am not an atheist but I find the idea that you have to suffer and/or behave well to ensure you go through St Peter’s doors repugnant, sorry.

I believe that hell and heaven are here, now, already, and whether you are in one or another one depends on the integrity and honesty of your own decisions and how you act towards and relate with other people.