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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

there is no god, as pronounced by ten year old ds.

69 replies

stitch · 30/04/2008 18:22

how to answer that?
he is too young for scientific arguments
too old for baby reasoning.
and the only reason he is saying this it to wind me up. fortunately i did not fall into the trap this time, but i have done so previously, when i was found to be uttering incredibly stupid things like, 'stop blaspheming' or words to that effect.

OP posts:

RosaLuxembourg · 01/05/2008 11:50

Ten is not too young to decide what you believe in. My DD decided she was an atheist at 8. She wasn't doing it to wind anyone up, it seems perfectly logical and obvious to her that there is no god, and why shouldn't it? I think you are in danger of gravely underestimating your son's intelligence if you think he is not capable of making this judgement for himself.
Are you sure this isn't about your own issues? It sounds like you feel the need to prove something to your family about how you are bringing up your children. You made your choices and you can't allow any ambivalent feelings about how they impact on your familial relationships to colour your reaction to your DS's beliefs.

OrmIrian · 01/05/2008 11:51

obm - I'm afraid I gave to differ there. I know many supposedly committed Christians who blanch at hearing my frankly atheist children state their views - not rudely, just honestly. I treat it now like swearing - fine but make sure of the company you are in

nervousal · 01/05/2008 11:55

Orm - why shouldn't your athiest children be allowed to state their views in front to christians? Would you complain about the Christians stating their views in front of your children?

If some people are ignorant enought to get offended when someone else expresses views different from their own - then that is their problem

Cappuccino · 01/05/2008 11:58

he has hit a nerve and he knows it

all your guilt about not being a good example is coming into this

just back off

OrmIrian · 01/05/2008 12:02

No I wouldn't nervousal. Because I don't care as much. I think it's so much nonsense as do my children. I don't like causing offence uneccessarily.

Greyriverside · 01/05/2008 12:14

Stitch the only thing that matters is what others have said. Anything you do to press now will only make it worse. Kids go through phases like that and if it isn't this it will be about what clothes to wear or what time to go to bed. Just be laid back and wait for it to pass.

OrmIrian, you treat it like swearing? I hope that means that you require your christian friends not to mention their faith in front of your children. If it's right for one it's right for the other.

OrmIrian · 01/05/2008 12:18

No. As I said it doesn't matter to me. I have no faith, those that do tend to feel more upset by these matters than those that do not.

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:05

But OrmIrian, it;s not only about whether you or they have faith or not, or how strongly you feel respectively.

I see it as one of my parental responsibilities to encourage intellectual fearlessness in my children, and also that they should expect to be able to explain any political/intellectual/religious position that they hold. I can't do this if I excuse others.

If the religious are offended, then - unless they have been treated unkindly - so be it.

Intellectual honesty (and a respect for the truth ) is more important.

Greyriverside · 01/05/2008 13:08

Orm, I meant in the interest of fairness/justice. If it's rude to reveal to christians that one is not christian then it is rude for them to reveal that they are.

harpsichordcarrier · 01/05/2008 13:10

stitch I agree with Cappuccino you really have to back off here.
tbh I think 10 is perfectly old enough for expressing an opinion one way or another.
I think it is absolutely wrong in every way to seek to prevent someone from expressing their beliefs simply because they are in the presence of someone who believes something differently.
the more fuss you make now, the more this will turn into the focus for teenage rebellion tbh.

harpsichordcarrier · 01/05/2008 13:11

"If it's rude to reveal to christians that one is not christian then it is rude for them to reveal that they are"
yes, absolutely GRS.

OrmIrian · 01/05/2008 13:12

Do you really think so?

Whilst I approve of intellectual honesty I'm not sure that it is more important than the simply job of getting through life without p*ing people off. The Christians in question are my MIL and SIL and DH's neices. And their various friends who visit MIL all the time. We sit and drink tea, eat and chat. I can't help thinking that launching into a long discussion about the existence or not of God and the total illogic of such an idea, would be inappropriate. DH and I have reached a situation where we don't mention religion at all. It's simply easier and TBH no big deal to us. If I wanted to really upset my MIL I could set DS#1 onto her. But I don't. I also don't discuss politics with my parents.

There speaks someone who many years ago would invite JV's into the house for a discussion

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:14

christ - you invited JeremyVile into your house?
Madness!

OrmIrian · 01/05/2008 13:15

No no no no....He'd probably have a field day! I meant JWs...obviously .

Blu · 01/05/2008 13:16

I think Cappuccino has identified the heart of the issue.

girlfrommars · 01/05/2008 13:27

I'd just say breezily, "Well, you might not believe in God, but He still believes in you!"

He's looking for a reaction- don't give him one.

RosaLuxembourg · 01/05/2008 13:33

That would tend to infuriate an atheist GirlfromMars.

harpsichordcarrier · 01/05/2008 13:35

infuriating atheists is entirely acceptable

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:38

yes indeedy

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:40

(I would respond, then He is mistaken, gfm. I am a figment of our collective imagination.)

girlfrommars · 01/05/2008 13:40

He's a 10 year old boy. If he truly is/is becoming an atheist, it won't alter his opinion. It's not lecturing/agressive. It's just a standard pat response that will help his mother keep her cool when he tries to wind her up.

fuzzywuzzy · 01/05/2008 13:40

well if he doesn't know the rudimentaries of prayer etc by the age of ten, then I'd leave him alone.
He'll decide in his own time. He's clearly taking his cue from you guys anyway.

onebatmother · 01/05/2008 13:44

Stitch, to speak to your OP (sorry for all the hijacking), he sounds like a clever boy.

I have a good muslim friend who has become very intellectually involved and devout (though still questioning) in the years since his kids were born, despite having had a very sketchy and nationality-bound version of Islam at home during his childhood.

Iklboo · 01/05/2008 13:44

I was a confirmed atheist from about 10 too -so much so I was 'excused' RE classes.
When I announced to my gran I didn't believe in god (she was quite religious) she just said "That's OK love, he believes in you" which I think was quite nice looking back on it

Original poster

stitch · 01/05/2008 13:46

when i came back to this thread, and saw the number of messages, i thought, oh no. what have i got myself in for now! but fortunately nothing terrible.

yes, not rising to the bait is, i also feel th ecorrect approach. and yes, i think cappucino is also spot on. i also agree with oi says about it being better not to discuss certain topics with certain people. it makes life smoother.
nervousal, i would be happy for ds to discuss his opinions, but unfrotunately atm he does not have enough information about this to carry out a reasoned discussion with someone.

OP posts:

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