any recommended books for atheist child on world religions?

[Jaq13]

Hi

Our DS will be starting school in september at a local catholic primary although we are atheists (... it's a long story).

from questions he's asked during the visits / introductory days ('that man doesn't look very happy' - said on seeing a large wall mounted statue of christ on the cross ) i've realised we've never talked about religion and so i'm wanting to start filling in the gaps pdq before he picks up any unwelcome messages from the school.

i want him to know about other people's beliefs but to be aware that there's lots of different faiths and the option of no faith at all and that all are okay.

has anyone come across a book aimed at pre-schoolers that covers religion in this way?

i'm finding myself having some tricky conversations at the mo and could use some back up!

thanks

We have a few, Usborne do various ones on comparative world religions, a page-to-a-religion sort of thing.

you could start by calling him "child of atheist parents" though rather than "atheist child". we are atheists but I tell my dc it's for them to decide, when they are older.

It's a bit sad treating atheism like a religion, i.e. needing books to guide you. If you're right for being an atheist it should be bleeding obvious to you.

Hi,

my late night posting probably wasn't terribly coherent! not sure tonight's will be better but, to clarify ....

Fennel i agree with your comments about the phrase 'atheist child' - i want DS to develop his own thoughts and beliefs as he grows, what i don't want is for him to be 'indoctrinated' into any particular religion.

the school seems to take a sensitive approach to this and has a v mixed intake but i'm trying to think ahead and find some resources to help me explain to him the different beliefs that are around.

there, hopefully slightly more coherent!

There is a book called What I Believe that deals with major religions in a young child friendly way. I can't remember who publishes it, but it deals with different faiths and their practices in fairly simple terms with pictures and what not and a "child" from each faith acting as a guide.

For something a bit more advanced Usborne's Religions of the world is good and internet linked.

Just out of curiosity: Why did you put your Ds into a Catholic School if you don't want him to be 'indoctrinated' by any relihion. Forgive my bluntness but I think it's like being a vegetarian and insisting to sit in a butcher's shop. My friends' children go to a CoE church which has lunch prayers, etc. You will be in for quite a few disagreements I think. Your child will want to 'fit in' with the crowd at school and I'm not sure if he can openly do that for fear of upsetting your atheist views. Good luck!

Try this book: www.amazon.co.uk/Usborne-Book-World-Religions/dp/0746067135/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=127694739 0&sr=1-2

Thanks stressedHEmum.

kittyonthebeam - it's a long story but, along with many other families in north central bristol, we're v poorly served by local schools, there are good schools around in the area but there are also a huge number of families with young children and so an undersupply of places.

as a result we were allocated to none of our 3 preferences but instead to the 4th worst in the city which in the last few years hit the national headlines owing to a sexual assault on a younger pupil by older pupils.

so, that's what led to us exploring all the other options - including this catholic school. compared to other faith schools it has a reputation for operating a 'light touch' around RE and has a v mixed intake of childrens from families with various or no faiths.

i suppose i'm beginning to realise that even a 'light touch' approach is going to involve some interesting dilemnas!

I think what the OP meant was that it would be useful for DC to have a book that's a basic simple guide to the main world myth systems but doesn;t push any particular one of them as better than the others, simply because this sort of thing is worth knowing from a cultural/social point of view. I am going to look out for something similar for my DS (and to an extent to educate myself about the basics of, for instance, Sikhism about which I know fuck all) - we live in a very mixed, multicultural area and it can;t hurt to know the ABC of the myths and any particular taboos etc.