Well I figured this out when I was 12 and raised Christian by two people who did indeed walk the walk. When plenty of others did not in spectacular fashion.

Church is where you are exposed to the worst of humanity. I credit the people and staff of the churches I attended growing up with teaching me that god does not exist in any form.

hypocrisy is seen by children, in every way.

Since, it was crammed down my throat growing up, becoming an atheist was the next logical step. Since, my mother implied I was going to hell if I became an catholic. (Most of my family are baptists) That was last straw and I deserve to live my life as I see fit.

Hypocrisy is the greatest advert against religious belief!

I was open with my sons about my atheism. Their mother believed in some vague idea of a deity and an afterlife but was not practicing. An aunt took them to church when they asked to go once but they quickly got bored with it. They got religious education in school. Both passed their exams in religious studies with flying colours. At this precise moment in time i could not tell you what their level of belief is, if any. They are grown men and that is their business, their journey, not mine. ? (They are wonderful, caring, empathetic young men ?).

I think a lot of religious parents leave the religious teachings to the Sunday School Teacher, etc., so it's not always mirrored in the home.

But even in non-religious families, I've got to wonder... When a child learns in school or even on tv in kid's shows, that it's not right to steal, for example, yet the family devises ways to cheat various businesses, by pretending the kids are younger than they are to get in free, and scenarios like that, it teaches kids that there is an ethical standard, but their family doesn't believe in following it, that knowingly breaking ethical standards is okay. There are no consequences. -- But if ethical behavior is modeled at home, then kids at a young age learn that "we" do the right thing.

spare the rod spoil the child supporting beat the kids