Why don't atheists teach their children about Jesus?

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   Eric Newlandposted 12 years ago

   Since asking a person of faith why they would raise their children in the same faith seems to be a perfectly valid question to ask with an air of snobbish outrage, the inverse question must be equally valid.
   
   So why don't you atheists teach your children about a God you don't believe in? And while we're at it, why did you breast feed? Or not breast feed? Or immunize? Or take them camping? Or feed them animal-based foods? Or tell them that love conquers all? Or that fairies paint the sky blue? Or tell them about the birds an the bees the very first time they asked where babies come from?
   
   I demand that you defend every aspect of how you raise your own children because it's totally my business.
   
   Make sure you put a lot of thought, research, and respect into your replies too, so it will be extra infuriating when I ignore everything you say and just respond with "lol."

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      Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      lol

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      Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You're the pagen guy! LOL To be honest, I do teach my children about Jesus (the man, not the son of god myth) and Christianity, Islam, and Judism. I first have them learn about the ancient Greek and Eqyptian philosophies and beliefs in the ancient world which is very evident in the Bible. For instance, in the Book of Genesis, there's strong evidence that the world was believed to be flat, the sky is a huge canopy, and the earth was the center of the universe when it was written. I have them fully understand the Roman Empire and how they ruled in order to understand the occupied Jews point of view and how they relates to their stories. From looking at the "big picture" outside the Bible, one understands how the Bible is just a teaching aid and not to be taken literally - minus all the bigotry and death threats. They read not only the Biblical story of creation and flood story, but other creation and flood stories from other cultures around the world. By the way, they're nice stories. Of course the Big Bang makes better sense and since it was produced on a small scale in the lab. People don't need religion to figure out htat murder is wrong, they can figure that out by themselves.

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      Jesus was a hippyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I dont have any children but I would happily teach them about any and every religion should they want to learn about it.

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      A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Many atheists do teach their children about gods, they even teach them about the gods YOU yourself don't believe.
      
      
      
      Sorry, but I have no idea what you're on about.
      
      
      
      Yes, it is your business to indoctrinate your children to believe in the same god you believe and to reject all other gods you don't believe, that is, if you actually even mention or talk about them. Why you would ever want to do such a thing is baffling.

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         Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I don't question that it's my business. My question is: Why is it YOURS (or anyone else's)?

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            A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Indoctrinating children is a form of child abuse and others are concerned for the well being of children in general. There are many organizations that are concerned with children in general and they aren't the parents of those children.
            
            Unfortunately, religion is taboo in the sense of anyone having the ability to do something about it, yet many other forms of child abuse aren't taboo and are dealt with.

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               Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               You guys who insist that  instilling a simple belief in God is abuse need to get a grip. Or, a life. I suppose it depends on what is motivating such an irrational obsession.

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                  A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Yes, I understand believers wish to be free to abuse their children in that manner and wish everyone else would just leave them alone with their indoctrinations. These are probably the same believers who claim religions have never done harm to anyone.

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                     Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     That is simply ridiculous. Which is why I'm not going to stoop to argue  against your asinine point.

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                        Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        +1

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                        A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        Of course, the real reason is that you're unable to argue it and would much rather stoop to emotionally charged responses.

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                           Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           Again, that's ridiculous. How is pointing out the asinine nature of your post 'emotionally charged'? I don't really care one way or the other if you believe something silly. But, am I obligated to pretend your asinine beliefs warrant discussion?

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                              A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              Yes, you are very good at pretending, but extremely poor at logical discourse.

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                                 Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                 Offer some logical discourse, just once ATM. It would be a refreshing change from your usual offerings.

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                                    A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                    You don't recognize or identify with logical discourse.

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                                       Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                       Right. If I thought you knew what it was, I'd be offended. As it stands, I think you are simply scrambling to divert attention from your asinine assertion which started this exchange.

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                                          A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                          For someone who keeps saying my posts are asinine but doesn't have the ability to argue them is the one who is actually scrambling to divert attention.
                                          
                                          Of course, the first thing I expect from you is just how many words you'll put in my mouth to support any argument you might conjure.

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                                             Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                             You have to first support your assertion. I haven't seen any statement from you on the subject that wasn't borne of emotion. No facts. Don't give me obscure examples of back woods religion. Explain why a simple faith is abuse.
                                             
                                             You can't say it is abuse without backing it up with fact, not opinion.  But, all you have is opinion and condescension. I have never seen you settle down into a productive conversation. It's always either bait and run, or insult anyone who doesn't agree with you.

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                                                A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                                Simple faith? We are talking about religious indoctrination of children. Where have you been?
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                You know that to be entirely false.

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                                                   Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                                   Where have I been? Reading your posts. By your argument, all religion is indoctrination.
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   No, I'm afraid I consider it to be true. So, since you prefer blanket condemnations to intelligent thought....I'll leave you to it.

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                                                      A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                                      For the vast majority, it is indoctrination, and it is abuse to children to indoctrinate them into religions. And, I understand why you believers reject that.
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      Intelligent thought?

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      psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Mine did.  Also Buddha and Mohammed.

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   RooBeeposted 12 years ago

   Duuude. OMG. LOL!
   
   Really, though, point taken. I'm not religious, but I'm also not an atheist - and the term gnostic doesn't quite fit the bill as far as describing my beliefs, either. So, as a happily non-affiliated, uncategorized, and generally friendly to everyone chickadee, I will do my best not to condescendingly grill folks about bringing up their kids in any religion (or lack thereof). I say (without sarcasm, which I have to specify, because you may find that I am often kind of a - hopefully loveable - smart ass) that it's a good practice to live and let live in this arena.
   
   In other words, I hear you. There are few things that have the ability to tick off a parent (yes, I am one) like snobbishly insinuating that they are raising their kids "wrong." If you love them and take care of them, you're doing a bang-up job, imho.

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      Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. I truly do appreciate that.

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   BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 12 years ago

   Atheists generally don't breastfeed because that would be cannibalism.
   
   You know, feeding the boob the boob.
   
   lol.

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      RooBeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      My word, your wit and wisdom leaves me breathless. lol Okay, I'm leaving. This WAS a nice thread.

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      Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That is the same thing said about Christians.

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      Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      lol
      
      Wait, I mean
      

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   ElizaDooleposted 12 years ago

   Eric, rofl.
   Just saw this ... not that I'm wading in.
   I agree that perhaps more than one type of thinking needs to be taught to all.
   
   

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      Mark Knowlesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Gosh you religious people are ignorant. You think that is what not believing in a god means?
      
      No wonder your religion causes so much ill will.

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      A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      While that placard is silly, it invites an interesting subject of the 'something from nothing' misunderstandings many believers have. Laurence Krauss, a professor of physics has written a book on the subject that explains how nothing MUST produce something. Here's a little insight into his theory...
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PLIo

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      Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Bible Thumpers
      The idea that the universe was nothing and a bunch of nothing then God created the universe and Earth within 7 days and produced a Garden of Eden with a talking snake. Makes perfect sense.

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   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   My children are taught many beliefs. Christianity is my husbands faith and he teaches them that. I have given them book of mormans and give the the books the people give me that knock on my door. I make it very clear all people have different beliefs and that it is their right to choose what they wish. It is not my job to judge Christians for teaching their belief but I do wish everyone would teach their children that just because someone believes something different than us does not make them less of a person

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