Is it ok to tell young children God doesn't exist/does exist?

[Tysonboss1]

Re: Is it ok to tell young children God doesn't exist / does exist

1. What kid would ask his/her uncle that sort of thing?! They'd be too busy enjoying themselves to even consider such a question. !

As I have said, to this point I have dodged the question using the old magicians trick of mis direction.

However these and other questions have come up.


Why don't you say grace at your house?
do you ask god to bless us when you pray before bed time?
How come you and nanny and poppy don't come to church?
Is Tyson in heaven?
Will the person who put the bush on fire go to hell?

 

[Miss Hale]

Re: Is it ok to tell young children God doesn't exist / does exist

As I have said, to this point I have dodged the question using the old magicians trick of mis direction.

However these and other questions have come up.


Why don't you say grace at your house?
do you ask god to bless us when you pray before bed time?
How come you and nanny and poppy don't come to church?
Is Tyson in heaven?
Will the person who put the bush on fire go to hell?

Maybe you could just tell them to ask their parents these questions.

Or, just answer honestly, saying you don't believe in God.

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Re: Is it ok to tell young children God doesn't exist / does exist

As I have said, to this point I have dodged the question using the old magicians trick of mis direction.

However these and other questions have come up.


Why don't you say grace at your house?
do you ask god to bless us when you pray before bed time?
How come you and nanny and poppy don't come to church?
Is Tyson in heaven?
Will the person who put the bush on fire go to hell?

oh right... that makes it awkward. I guess I'd agree with what Miss Hale is saying. You can be honest about what you think and still be pleasant (well I can't, but maybe you can).

 

[Tysonboss1]

Did you discuss with them if Santa exists or not

They were told santa exists, am not sure if they still actually believe in it. That hasn't actually come up in conversation with me yet. But I guess that would create some ackwardness to.

As far as my own opinion goes on the subject, I don't plan to tell my kids santa is real.

 

[moXJO]

They were told santa exists, am not sure if they still actually believe in it. That hasn't actually come up in conversation with me yet. But I guess that would create some ackwardness to.

As far as my own opinion goes on the subject, I don't plan to tell my kids santa is real.

You are too serious. Subscribe to the method of deflecting with $hits and giggles answers for a while. Rather then destroying the illusion and not letting them work things out for themselves. In the end it would be a hot day if you found out your truth wasn't the truth

Dude Santa is real, rips me off for photos every Christmas at the local shopping center.

 

[wayneL]

This is a real can o' worms TB1.

It could blow up in your face, I'd continue the evasion game FWIW.

 

[skc]

May be you can focus on a different issue.

Given that there can be no proof on whether God exists, one's belief is purely an opinion. The issue then isn't about who's right or wrong wrt the opinion one holds, it's about how one acts based on those opinions.

If the belief in God turns the children into loving, caring, compassionate people, does it really matter if God isn't real, or that they waste time saying grace before a meal?

 

[Gringotts Bank]

In the end it would be a hot day if you found out your truth wasn't the truth

I like it.

What if all beliefs were untrue... say, even the belief that i am sitting here tapping away at a keyboard?

 

[Gringotts Bank]

May be you can focus on a different issue.

Given that there can be no proof on whether God exists, one's belief is purely an opinion. The issue then isn't about who's right or wrong wrt the opinion one holds, it's about how one acts based on those opinions.

Belief = restriction. That's the real time waster. Doesn't matter if it's belief in God or belief in the non-existence of God. Both use up energy in the fixation of one's attention.

God can be experienced when the fixation is loosened. First it is experienced as experience, then as the end of all experience.

And with that, everyone agrees, GB has finally fallen off his perch.

Goodnight.

 

[notting]

If facts are true they never imprison, they liberate.
Truth is truth.
Check out these guys for some reasoned counter argument to the jealous and cruel creator.

http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/

On the other hand having the comfort of a grand poo bar in the sky brings many contentment and a sense of meaning so that should not be arrogantly dismissed as it comforts many and makes many behave better than they otherwise might!

Existence of ones being is likely to continue after death as there are many accounts of people who can vouch for experiences beyond or people who can perceive things beyond what the body alone is capable of perceiving with it's sense faculties.

That doesn't mean there is a God but it can mean that there are better and worse situations to be born into and that what you do to others could well determine your continuums direction!
Most religions are pretty similar in what they try to teach will lead to better or worse situations for oneself and others.
Horses for courses.

 

[Tysonboss1]

Subscribe to the method of deflecting with $hits and giggles answers for a while

.

yes, for now I will continue avoiding

Rather then destroying the illusion and not letting them work things out for themselves

.

Thats the problem though, it is an illusion that can have some nasty side affects and it's hard for them to work it out them selves if they are only ever presented with one way of thinking and taught from the cradle up they will go to hell if they think differently

In the end it would be a hot day if you found out your truth wasn't the truth

you can say that for any religion eg. whats allah going to say when the christian arrive on the other side etc.etc

 

[notting]

.
you can say that for any religion eg. whats allah going to say when the christian arrive on the other side etc.etc

"The fools that told you I would not love Christians distorted my message?" etc etc

 

[macca]

I wouldn't be comfortable going against the parents wishes. I would just tell the kids that they need to discuss their question with their parents.

My nieces and nephews were brought by devout parents and they kids are all normal adults. Some of them are religious and some are not.

I never said anything because I don't consider it my place to interfere in how they raise their kids.

I raised mine how I wanted and they did the same

 

[Calliope]

Explain "Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection" to them and they will work it out by themselves.

 

[lindsayf]

It is their parents right to do what they see fit.

It is your right to believe what you believe and in no way be apologetic for it. The kids will notice how you interact differently with the world, compared to thier parents, esp if they are quite strict doctrine followers. This puts you in a position to add value in their lives by exposing them to different opinions and perspectives...which they may not readily get elsewhere.

I think this kind of 'other modelling' can be done respectfully and tactfully.....it is just you living your life and sharing your perspective when the time is right and they are showing interest...its not like you are a missionary about it eh? Enough of them about.

 

[burglar]

.

yes, for now I will continue avoiding ...

I was raised Catholic and had to go figure.

Sad part is that parents, teachers, and clergy censor all information.
These kids will grow up and discover the truth for themselves.

PSS Anything David Attenborough is must watch TV at my house!!

Richard Dawkins is antagonistic with it.

 

[DocK]

Have you actually discussed your quandry with your sister? They are her children and she has a right to raise them within her faith. Unless her newfound religion is a radical one the kids will come to no more harm than the multitudes of people like myself who were raised as christians and made up our own minds once grown.

You have a right to be true to yourself and imo should not be made to pretend to believe something which you disagree with. If you see a lot of the kids I assume you have a reasonable relationship with your sister? Can you not have an adult conversation with her about the discomfort you feel and try to reach a solution to suit you both? There is usually a way to deflect questions such as those examples you gave with a remark along the lines of "lots of people hold different views about God, but the important thing is to try to be a good person" or something to that effect. Unless the kids are totally cut off from children raised differently they will see this for themselves before too long.

It's great that you have such concern for your sister's children, but at the end of the day they are her children and not yours, and unless she is an absolute fanatic they are unlikely to come to any harm by being raised to believe in a God. You may need to decide whether it is more important to you to remain silent on the subject and remain a part of their lives, or cause a rift between your sister and yourself that results in you seeing far less of the children.

 

[Tysonboss1]

"The fools that told you I would not love Christians distorted my message?" etc etc

Nice try.

 

[Tysonboss1]

Explain "Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection" to them and they will work it out by themselves.

I would love to have that discussion.

 

[Tysonboss1]

This puts you in a position to add value in their lives by exposing them to different opinions and perspectives...which they may not readily get elsewhere.

thats what I hope to do.