Raising children without god?

Oh packgirl! I'm so sorry! I want you to know that God loves you so very much! He send His Son, Jesus Christ to die in your place so that you may have Eternal Life. We are all sinners and in need of His forgiveness and He is so willing to forgive those who come and repent. I pray you will start reading the Bible, God's Word, and look for a good Bible-believing church to attend. Pray that God will show you the church for you! I will request you as a friend so that you can PM me if I can ever be of any help to you! God bless you!

Thanks so much!

Hi!! I was not brought up as a believer either. I started believing when I was 18, like you I could not put it all together. I felt it, I was being helped the first time I praid to Jesus my life changed. My fear was taken from me, something to this day I cannot explain. I found my answers praying (talking to Jesus) and reading the new testement. I read it first in the easy language, because that was easier to understand. And as I would read, it was as if something was explaining me what I was suppose to know. I opened the bible , just opened it to a page, not kowing what to find. And when I looked at a sentence, it was as if it was meant for me. That is how I became a believer. I had been to many churches afterwards, for 9 years. But, I could not find the real truth there( sorry no disrepect here) I found more true believers outside of the church. That truly believed, with there heart and soul. I am not saying that church is not good for you. Maybe you will find a church for you that can make you understand. But, for me I Love the Lord, and noone can take that away from me. Take care and God Bless.

I agree. My parents never forced religion on me. The only problem was I went to a Catholic school, not for the religious aspect but for the better education they offered. They never made me go to church and we rarely talked about religion in our house. When I was getting a bad grade in religion class my dad just laughed because he didn't care. I chose after years of much thought to not believe in god. Now I am at a place my father was many years ago. I am a non-believer sending my children to a Catholic school (for the education) and trying to balance the dogma they are learning at school with what I believe. I don't know how my dad did it.

Well I do believe there is a god but I don't believe we have to go to a church in order to believe. I was forced into being a Jehova's Witness when I was young but will never go back.they just have too many double standards as do most religions.

always will imitate parents, you should teach How to love the and fear of God.

I agree about educating children in religions. They do play a significance in history, hence why we learn about Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythology in schools. I also learned the history of the Catholic church (the gory details--torture and corruption) while going to a Catholic school. Definitely gave me much to think about as a kid. My problem is finding the correct age to introduce religions. I wanted to hold off longer--wait until they were maybe 8 or 9 when their critical thinking was better. It is a very abstract concept to grasp. I wanted them to be able to objectively look at the religions and compare and contrast and learn all the basic tenements to each. But, alas, things don't always work out and now they are in a Catholic school be indoctrinated. All I can do is try to counter the damage and support them in their choices.

Yes, that is the same reason my kids are going to a Catholic school. They are 7 and 6 (2nd and kindergarten). We had a lovely discussion last month about heaven and hell. I forgot how it got started but we were talking about if they believe in god, the devil, heaven and hell. I told them that I did not and that some people do and that is okay as long as they learn all they can about it. My son (the 6yo) said he didn't believe any of it but that just proves he is too young to grasp religion because a month before that he believed, lol. He doesn't know what he believes yet which is fine by me. At least he is thinking about it. My daughter, who is 7, said she believed in god and heaven but not the devil and hell. There is hope for her yet. Last year she told me she believed in god and was upset we didn't pray (that lasted a week before she finally understood why we don't). She is a very smart girl but a natural follower. She wants to fit in so desperately that she will agree to anything the other kids say. So I was afraid she was believing just because her friends were. I have no problem with her believing IF she has some good reasons and now it seems she is putting some thought into the subject. She said she believed in heaven because it seems like a nice place to be but the devil and hell were not and so she couldn't believe in that. She just likes the good stuff. I think, maybe, I will go to the library and get some books on mythology for them so they can see there are other ways of believing.

Actually, my kids were introduced fairly young, because I sent them to a catholic school. NOT for the religious content, but for the higher educational degree in my area. However, while the school taught one set of ethics during their hours, I countered it with objective evidence at home. ;) My kids and I have discussed all religions, past and present. Granted, the conversations are tailored to the age ... my 6 year old understand that there are many Gods worshipped throughout history, and that his mother believes in none of them, but that's about the extent of his grasping at the moment. He's on a Zeus kick, lately. Next week he'll likely be talking about Mithra. My 11 and 12 year old, however, we've had rather indepth talks. At this point, my 12 year old, very aware of the bible and it's content (since we've discussed it together many times) has chosen to adapt the title of atheist. He's much like me .. it just doesn't make sense to him and he relies on what can be proven to him. My 11 year old has grabbed the agnostic title, claiming she believes SOMETHING is there, but has no idea what and really isn't all that concerned with what it is ... although she's sure the Christian God it isn't, small thanks for that! LOL

There is no creator. Conception is just nature at work, biology, science. It just happens. Sorry, but I will never see it your way. I don't believe in fairy tales as being real. They are fun to imagine but aren't real.

Never say never! God still works miracles even today! He created the world and everything in it. It didn't just happen. If there is a creation, there is a Creator and the Creator is greater than the created. I pray that one day soon you will come to know the Lord! God bless.

It all had to start by someOne. If there is a creation, then there is a Creator. God bless.

You can learn respect for all things without bringing a god into the picture. I teach my kids to take care of our planet...well so far that just entails cleaning up the mess other kids leave at the park before we start playing. I teach them to respect their elders and other people in authority (like the police), but I also emphasize that if they feel those same people are not respecting them back that it is okay to question and/or go a different path. They will not be mindless sheep following the crowd because someone in a position above them says to. It may cause them strife but at least they will be true to themselves. I also teach them to respect each other and themselves and to love each other because we are a family. My kids are still little and they fight a lot over petty stuff but when no one is looking I see them being the most caring and loving beings I have ever met. They are compassionate without reserve for each other. When one is hurt, they all hurt. I look at them and know they need no god, they only need each other to get through the bad times. I see the same thing between me and my brother. Through all the bad times in our lives I always knew I could count on my brother to be there for me. We fought endlessly as kids but when he was needed he was always there, and still is.

I meant "mindless sheep" in anything, not just religion. I don't want them to blindly follow anything. If they think the rules are unfair I encourage them to stand up against that and not just follow along. I see what you are saying, though, but I guess I don't agree because I see non-belief as the default so I'm not exactly forcing it on them. It is just how things are. I'm not saying they can't believe in religion or explore it. If that is what they want they can do that. Religion just isn't brought up in the house. Religious people, on the other hand, rarely give atheism as an option to their children. They may not care if they choose a different religion as long as they choose any religion, but atheism is off the board. I haven't met many Christians that will say to their children it is okay to not believe. They want to push their religion (or the idea of a generic god) onto school aged children but if I were to go into the same school and try to tell the children my belief that there is no god and it is okay to not believe then I would be thrown out for trying to corrupt, or spreading lies or interfering with their right to teach their children their beliefs. This obviously overflows past home life teachings, but it is something I think about. Especially when my child went to a public school and was learning what I consider hymnals in music class. But the idea is the same. As an atheist I am not supposed to teach my children my beliefs but let them choose their own path (according to most Christians I've discussed this with), but Christians don't think they should do the same with their own children. Instead they believe in instilling their values and religion into their children and not giving them the choice to not believe. So how is an atheist not wanting their children to know about god different from a Christian not wanting their children to know not believing in a god is an option? Maybe I should start another discussion about this: why is it seen as instilling values when a Christian only teaches their children their beliefs but it is considered robbing a child if an atheist only teaches their children their beliefs (ie that there is no god)? I just don't understand the double standard.

Excuse me? Do me a favor ... define parents. And while you're at it, how many children are you raising? I have 5 children, all intelligent, well spoken, well mannered kids. They're inquisitive, hungry for knowledge, sarcastic and hilarious. I have raised them free of religious interference, religious dogma and 'religoius morality'. Parents are people, blood related or otherwise, who PARENT the children in their care. They teach them how to be compassionate, sensitive to the feelings of those around them, open and honest. We teach them how to hurdle the obstacles presented to them, how to fight for what they want, how to succeed in the face of failure. We teach them kindness, how to get back on your feet after falling, how to react in any given situation. We give them the intelligence, understanding and capacity to make well thought out decisions FOR THEMSELVES. We do NOT teach them to behave through fear, but through respect for mankind and themselves. YOU fear God, if that's your choice. My children will not be taught to live their lives in fear.

Ciniful, I agree. Why do people need to "fear" god? Isn't he supposed to be the savior? I do not want to teach my child to fear god. I teach him to respect other people, whether they believe in god or not.

Ciniful, you are my new hero, lol. You say the things I want but with such elegance. I am pretty sure I am a parent in more then just name. I gave birth to my children and I am teaching them to be good, caring people. They will be well-raised, thank you very much.