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Would you raise your children religious just to fit in?

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406 comments (76 - 100)

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No.
I would tell them other people believe in Yahweh, Zeus and Thor, but I do not think they exist. But we should listen to the evidence and be willing to change our opinion. Same with unicorns and fairies.
LIked Neil deGrasse Tyson's solution to his daughter hearing about the tooth fairy. He told her other people think there is such a thing, while other thought it was a myth, and asked what she thought.
Apparently, she organised her friends to do a test. The next one to loose a tooth put it under their pillow without telling their parents, to see if it disappeared and money was left.

Allan Level 5 Oct 8, 2017
1

NO! I want them to be themselves and not feel like they have to be religious to "fit in".

I agree with you my mother did not make me religious just to fit in she left it up to me

0

My children (5 and 3) go to Sunday school sometimes with their grandmother - who knows I'm a very militant atheist. My wife is "spiritual but not religious" and thinks that I'm too extreme. When they learn stories in church, I just ask them if that sounds like something that could or did really happen.

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I don't want kids but if I had them I wouldn't teach them to be anything I would let them choose what they want to believe. I would teach them science and facts but I wouldn't teach them any mythology as a fact.

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I don't ever plan on having kids. I'm not really a fan of them, to be honest, but if I ever do change my mind(and that is a MASSIVE "IF" ), I would raise them to be critical thinkers. I might let them go to different religious churches and the like to experience them, tell them the beliefs of other people and so on, but I wouldn't enforce anything. I know I can be a real asshole when it comes to religion because of my experiences with being religious, and I wouldn't want them to end up like that.

0

Hell no. I don't plan on having kids, but if I did... I would not raise them religiously. If they came home asking about it, I would tell them about it, but explain why I chose not to take them to church. And if they decided they wanted to go, I would let them. Except, I would make sure they went with someone I trusted, of course.

0

I can't. I wish I could pretend or do the socially Christian thing because it would make it so much easier in my town but it's impossible. My kids beg me not to make a big deal of it if the teacher toes the church state line in class but it's really hard to bite my tongue

0

no

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No im not gonna tell my kid theres some guy watching them thats just creapy,think about it they say gods always watching well damn i don't want some random guy watching me in the shower and i don't want to have to deal with trying to tell them well he don't watch you when ur in the shower thats just plain stupid.

0

No. I raised them so they could think for themselves.

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No, I didn’t. I taught her about various religions and how they’re similar, and why some people need them. My parenting philosophy was to answer any questions she asks honestly and simply (without droning on). I found I couldn’t lie to her about holiday figures, sex, religions, drugs, etc., and then expect her to trust me on the bigger issues when she got older. Actually, it’s taken me years to control my Catholic indoctrination and I’m envious that so many things come to her more cleanly without all that background garbage cluttering up her thinking.

0

Unfortunately we were unable to have children, but I would of raised my children the way they were born — with no belief system! Remember everyone is born an atheist and then the programming begins

0

No. If I had children, I would not.

My sister's kids have thanked her many times for not raising them in the Mormon faith, as she and I had been raised. Her kids are happier than the children of my other siblings who were raised their kids with religion.

0

I would find that to be dishonest. I would explain to my children my belief system which is based upon facts and not myths and fiction. My children grew up without a church education and they have become outstanding ,honest and caring persons who give and share in their community,take part in local politics and practice their conscience instead of religious beliefs.

0

Never. As a teacher I was the one that had to excuse myself from morning service in Assembly, and had to sit outside with the Muslims, and Jahovah's Witnesses. This did involve me in some prejudice from other members of staff.

0

Abosletly not Why ppl teach thier kids not to lie while telling them lies and 1/2 at the same time..just boggles the mind

0

As long as you EDUCATE them on all-things religious... they'll make up their own minds on 'belief' as they mature.

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My children are raised, they were exposed but allowed to make up their own mind.

0

No. I did not. Religion was not pract5iced in my house. I gave my 2 daughters the choice of explorinf religion if they wanted to. Both are now college educated, successful mothers.

0

I would not have a problem with children learning religion but I would want the teachings to be balanced ie: I would teach them to think through what they were taught and to question why they should or should not believe

0

Clearly, the context is important. If you were to endanger yourself or your family by not conforming, then I know what I'd do. If I lived in a society that was more tolerant (and I do), then I would educate my children to think for themselves, and give them the tools to help them make their own minds up.

0

For an easily impressed young brain, being taught to believe what you are told to believe, as opposed to critical thinking, logic, science, philosophy, etc, should be considered mental and physical abuse. The thought patterns learned in school become hard-wired which can really block out any logical freethinking.

0

No. I consider that abuse.

0

I left the church when my youngest child was about 8 months old, although I was a doubter in high school. She is still non-religious. My other 2 have become religious. I believe it is because their spouses are religious. They are all over 50 years old now.

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