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...

Of course, foxes only have sex after mass.

Weird to think that by having children you are condemning them to death if you don't believe in an afterlife. How about reversing that and thinking you are bestowing the gift of life on them, for them to make what they will of it.

I'm a Christian btw, but it's not hard to imagine how atheist values and ethics work.

I mean I eat most things, especially the parte of my life where I've had no money, but I draw the line at my children. Mainly because they're both lanky skin and bone and would be or no value

Entitled much? They could make good soup.

As an atheist, I don’t live my life for some unknown experience of an afterlife. I live in the here and now. My child gets to experience all the joys and sorrows of the full human experience.

You might as well ask why do people have children when they will never get to ride a dragon or walk on another planet. The question just has no bearing on my interpretation of life.

I initially read the thread as 'how do anaesthetists justify having children' and I was most perplexed.

@goldfinchonthelawn sorry you're right, I'm entitled and was taking my children for granted, you reckon I could get the famous mn chicken from their bones

Why do the religious have children when there are so many suffering? If 'doing the right thing' is 'helping others' then there are surely far more gold stars to be won preventing child mortality and abuse?

@goldfinchonthelawn isn't it better to adopt?

You’re not “condemning” a child to death… you’re giving them the opportunity of life! The chance to learn, experience, contribute, be part of the world. That’s pretty amazing and to be loved.

Are you Catholic and believe there is no salvation outside the church? That belief has shifted these days you know.

Weird question. My non belief in a mythical figure didn't factor at all into child bearing plans.

Why do we have to justify? It’s part of the life cycle to be born and then die, I know that and currently don’t think of my kids dying because I hope they don’t die before me.

😂😂😂

I'm agnostic, not an atheist and I've been to many boozy meetings of the Humanists in London and in my very subjective personal opinion (watered down by too many pints), what I gathered was: atheists are too busy whining about catholics and humanists are too busy whining about atheists to waste even 5 minutes thinking about this.

Please tell me you're from south London! Because I read that in my own voice!

Natural selection innit?

Meh - this is baloney !

Well, basically, if we're talking about traditional methods, the male ejaculates his sperm into the vagina of an ovulating female, allowing for conception and a following pregnancy to take place. At the end of the pregnancy, the baby is delivered and the parents go home and raise it.

There are also adoption and fostering options. I don't think they exclude atheists from their rigorous parental selection processes.

Weird. The question is idiotic. We have kids because that's what living beings do. We give our kids the one life they have, and do what we can to help it to be a good one. Live for this life, not an imaginary hereafter. Try to make this world a better place not a worse one.

What do people like the op do if they realise their kids might turn out to be sinners condemned to hell?

The answer is bananas.

It's never once occurred to me that the sole reason for having children is so that they can clock up religious brownie points and end up with a halo and a harp in heaven.

"Pearly gates"

Lol

Erm… what is wrong with you @jobhunter7 ?

Why's it bollocks? It's a good question - why would you make somebody who is going to die ? Its really cruel tbh. I'm not an atheist and I feel terribly guilty about this and I believe in an afterlife so it's not unfair for someone to ask why people who know their kids are going to die do it - especially when you now how awful life really is. I think it's an intelligent question really.

You're going to have translate that one.