People who.....

Chijj

Slightly related to the communion thread I suppose.

A lot of self proclaimed atheists give out about children being forced into believing in god(s) without choice.

Are the parents who tell their children that god doesn't exist and its all nonsense any better than the religious people who bring their children into a faith ?

smash

Chijj wrote: »

Are the parents who tell their children that god doesn't exist and its all nonsense any better than the religious people who bring their children into a faith ?

Well yea. They're not blatantly lying to them.

noway12345

Atheism is one of the most scariest religions out there.

Chijj

smash wrote: »

Well yea. They're not blatantly lying to them.

That my friend is a matter of opinion, without anyone knowing the "facts" as such we can all but take an educated guess coupled with life experience.

Also the question was in regards to pushing a child down a certain path and the hypocrasy some people have.

smash

Chijj wrote: »

That my friend is a matter of opinion, without anyone knowing the "facts" as such we can all but take an educated guess coupled with life experience.

Also the question was in regards to pushing a child down a certain path and the hypocrasy some people have.

If you were to take an educated guess, then you know the answer.

Also, telling a child there's no God is not pushing them down a path. The only reason people know about 'God' is because people tell them about it in the first place.

DareGod

Chijj wrote: »

Slightly related to the communion thread I suppose.

A lot of self proclaimed atheists give out about children being forced into believing in god(s) without choice.

Are the parents who tell their children that god doesn't exist and its all nonsense any better than the religious people who bring their children into a faith ?

I don't think they're telling their children that. They're telling their kids that for all intents and purposes, it's all a fairy tale.

And yes they are right to tell their children that, since by definition that's technically all it is.

eviltwin

Chijj wrote: »

Slightly related to the communion thread I suppose.

A lot of self proclaimed atheists give out about children being forced into believing in god(s) without choice.

Are the parents who tell their children that god doesn't exist and its all nonsense any better than the religious people who bring their children into a faith ?

A lot of them don't tell their kids anything and let them make up their own minds.

kneemos

smash wrote: »

If you were to take an educated guess, then you know the answer.

Also, telling a child there's no God is not pushing them down a path. The only reason people know about 'God' is because people tell them about it in the first place.

It is pushing them down the path of disbelief.
The right thing to do would be to tell them the basics of what billions of people believe in and give them the choice to make up their own mind.

LDN_Irish

It depends really. If they were bringing them to some building on every week where they were told all about how there isn't a god that created the world and sent them to an atheist school where they actively taught them that there isn't a god then they'd be kind of comparable levels of indoctrination. I don't know anyone who does that but in fairness I don't know anyone who goes to church either.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I told my 2 year old all about Darwins theory of evolution and described in great detail the concept of God and the Bible story of creation and Jesus and so on. I told her that as part of many religions we are taught different things, different theories about God and creation and explained how not everyone was part of the same religion, how some believed in no God etc etc. I asked her if she understood and she nodded, I asked her if she had any questions and she asked me for bicky and burped.

MRnotlob606

I just wish people could keep their beliefs to themselves whether they are atheist,theistic,polytheistic,pantheistic or deist. We have seen how countries have imposed their beliefs on people to the detriment of the people living there. For example many Lutheran countries promoted Lutheranism over other Christian groups and banned churches that were antithetical to the state religion

.Likewise in Communist Albania, State atheism was promoted and religions were banned, Albania was the world's first Atheist state,but today the country is pretty irreligious.

Peregrine

kneemos wrote: »

It is pushing them down the path of disbelief.
The right thing to do would be to tell them the basics of what billions of people believe in and give them the choice to make up their own mind.

Between those billions of people, they have thousands of gods. Which one will I have to tell my kids about?

I wouldn't tell them anything. If there is a god, surely it would tell children about itself and its religion rather than relying on people who don't believe in it?

cloud493

Mine goes to a catholic school, I don't know if she knows about that sort of thing yet, but I will make sure she knows at some point. Different perspectives are a good thing.

Lollipops23

I'll make sure my kid knows the difference between real and make believe. Even as a small child I knew fairy tales were make believe (didn't stop me loving and enjoying them). I'll let them know the bible is another fairly tale that some grown ups think is real. I'll explain that, while we don't believe it, it's ok to not agree on it.
I'd so much rather raise a tolerant and critically thinking child than a devout one.

EoghanIRL

Yes 100%.
I would rather not be brainwashed into a cult anyday.

smash

kneemos wrote: »

It is pushing them down the path of disbelief.

Sounds a lot better than telling them they're going to burn and suffer in hell for eternity unless they do what the sky fairy wants them to do.

kneemos

Let us pray.

Huntergonzo

You should never force your superstitious beliefs on a child, be they religious or otherwise, why should anyone have to tell a child there is no God anyway, they shouldn't have been taught that there is a God in the first place when there's not a scrap of evidence to support that extraordinary claim, so please keep your unproven beliefs to yourself, don't indoctrinate children with them.

If when they grow up they can decide as adults to become catholic or jewish or muslim or whatever then that's their right and everybody should have a right to practice their religion once it doesn't harm or interfere with anybody else. This also means that religion has no place in schools or constitutions and should be removed as soon as possible.

MRnotlob606

We should listen to Enya more.

LDN_Irish

kneemos wrote: »

Let us pray.

Prey*

Fleawuss

Such a variety of gods. So hard to choose. It's Monday so I'm Mormon.

circadian

Is there anything to be said for another mass?

jimmycrackcorm

smash wrote:

Well yea. They're not blatantly lying to them.

while telling them that Santa is real for the first decade of their lives.

EuropeanSon

Chijj wrote: »

Slightly related to the communion thread I suppose.

A lot of self proclaimed atheists give out about children being forced into believing in god(s) without choice.

Are the parents who tell their children that god doesn't exist and its all nonsense any better than the religious people who bring their children into a faith ?

What does the bolded bit mean? Who else would proclaim them?

Are you suggesting that you don't believe that they don't believe in your magic stories?

smash

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

while telling them that Santa is real for the first decade of their lives.

Santa brings presents. God brings fear.

circadian

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

while telling them that Santa is real for the first decade of their lives.

A bit different to be fair. Usually they'll find da downstairs half asleep with a half eaten mince pie and it'll click, you'll have another year of so of them milking it then.

Also, it's once a year. Religion is taught all year.

omerin

If people want to believe in God, let them. If they want to pass on this belief to their children, so be it, they are their children after all.
People need something to believe in, a standard to aspire to, light at the end of the tunnel, religion gives this to some people.

Huntergonzo

omerin wrote: »

If people want to believe in God, let them. If they want to pass on this belief to their children, so be it, they are their children after all.
People need something to believe in, a standard to aspire to, light at the end of the tunnel, religion gives this to some people.

But isn't life the gift itself, I mean it's an enormous pleasure and privilege just to be alive so I don't understand why people need 'something to believe in'. Believe in what is known, enjoy the company of your family and friends, enjoy your hobbies and your work (as much as possible) etc but I don't understand why people need imaginary things to believe in.

Also I completely disagree with forcing religion on their children, allow the children to grow up free from religious dogma and allow them to chose a religion if they wish to as adults.

redbel05

I'd say that the most important thing that a parent can do is to teach a child tolerance + respect for other peoples beliefs or lack thereof. There's waay too much belittling of what is for many people a way of life .
I think most atheists don't really understand that liking religious belief to believing in faiytales is just as offensive as if a Christian were to say " all those atheists are going to burn in hell for their sins" or some other such drivel. I guess what I'm saying is that you can't just lump all parents who are atheists together or all parents who are religious together. Its more if a spectrum of good and bad for both...

Cold War Kid

noway12345 wrote: »

Atheism is one of the most scariest religions out there.

Sure it is.

Where do people pick up these inane soundbites?

noway12345

Cold War Kid wrote: »

Sure it is.

Where do people pick up these inane soundbites?

The atheist fundamentalists are scary, you can't deny it. The crazy look in their eyes when they start discussing their new found light and how awful other religions are. I'd have no problem with them preaching to themselves but they try to force others to believe the same as them.

Cold War Kid

noway12345 wrote: »

The atheist fundamentalists are scary, you can't deny it. The crazy look in their eyes when they start discussing their new found light and how awful other religions are.

Never encountered that myself but that's different to what you said. Atheism by itself is hardly one of the scariest religions out there (it seems to be in vogue to pretend atheists are on a par with religious fundamentalists).
No religion is scary in and of itself actually; only when it's practised by fanatics.

RonanP77

My wife is Catholic so she'll teach our daughter about religion. I'll teach her about evolution and she can make up her own mind. Nothing will be forced on her and she won't be pushed down any path.

FionnK86

When I've got kids I'll want them to grow up Catholic and then they can change their mind when they reach maturity. I think it gives them a hand to reject things like drink and drugs until they are fully aware of the consequences (with the pledge).I sponsored my little brother last week in his confirmation, and it's cool knowing i've to look out for him (not that i wouldnt already) a bit extra now that he's getting older. Also, it teaches the differences between good and evil. It's nice to think there may be someone up there judging me, provides me with a moral compass not to steal or hurt someone to get my way. I think religion (not just Catholicism) in general is a good backup to parental teaching about right and right. Sure the priests did some ****ty things in the past, but to say that religion is f**cked because of it is not true.

Still I believe the Catholic Church needs to really up it's game, they look sh*te in comparision to other churches. I went to a mass while I was doing charity work in Kenya. So cool. The dancing was crazy, like a 2 hour mass thing and felt like a gym workout! Wanted it to go on longer! Didn't preach any of this fire and brimstone stuff either! Last time I went to mass here the priest gave out stink about the church toilet seats being broken in his sermon.Yup...desperate!

Lia_lia

I went to a Catholic school, but wasn't really brought up as a Catholic. Was baptised when I was about 8 so I could actually be allowed into the local primary school. I just remember never believing in any of the religious stuff we were told in school, and I assumed that none of the other children believed in it either.

I guess I just didn't really realise that other children were taught about Catholicism outside of school... Thought it was just a school thing that I had to get on with. Which is all it was to me, really.

Chijj

EuropeanSon wrote: »

What does the bolded bit mean? Who else would proclaim them?

Are you suggesting that you don't believe that they don't believe in your magic stories?

No Bucko, meaning no one else gives a **** but somehow they work it in to a conversation after any meaningful amount of time, you know the type I'm sure ?

Canis Lupus

Like the joke goes. Religion is like circumcision. Wait till they're older and they won't be as interested.