I would say I do but some people don't and when you are older you can learn as much about as you can then make up your own mind, and that not to be surprised if you change your mind more than once as you travel through life, and whatever you believe is fine by me.
No, because that comes across as trying to make the child an atheist.
If answering a question honestly comes across as "trying to make someone an atheist" then that speaks volumes regarding the process of religious indoctrination.
If people wish to chose a deity to worship they can, but it would be incredibly dishonest to imply any particular god was real if a child asked the question.
I wouldn't be lying to a child because I don't know if a god exists or not. I'd be lying if I said a god didn't exist, because I don't know if that's true or not.
If a child thought there were monsters under his/her bed, I doubt you or anyone else on here would say "I can't see them, I can't hear them, there is no evidence of them, but they might exist, they could be watching you right now, sleep tight"
If any child asked me I would tell them that gods and religions are man made concepts from a time when people didn't know any better.
No, because that comes across as trying to make the child an atheist.
What about saying to the child that god does exist and must be worshipped? Is that coming across as trying to make the child a Christian?
Is either as good/bad (delete as applicable) as the other or is one good and the other bad (I'll let the reader choose which way round that is, based on their personal belief system)?
I'd say that I don't believe that there is, but some people do. I'd ask what they think and why. I'd also ensure there were lots of age-appropriate reading material reflecting both views, as my parents did (Bilble Stores for Children vs Origin of Species!! ).
My dad had quite a god-fearing upbringing but is a pure evolutionist, however he likes the thought of god and the moral compass he feels religion provides. And he knows the words to loads of hymns which he can sign beautifully
A few weeks ago my 3.5 year old was doing something she shouldn't have been and my Mum said to her "God's watching you". Child asked where God lived and my Mum replied he was in the sky. Wise child then replied "Well he's not going to be able to see me all the way down here then, is he?!!"
If a child thought there were monsters under his/her bed, I doubt you or anyone else on here would say "I can't see them, I can't hear them, there is no evidence of them, but they might exist, they could be watching you right now, sleep tight"
If any child asked me I would tell them that gods and religions are man made concepts from a time when people didn't know any better.
Agree, the monsters under the bed is a good example for when people ask these types of questions. The only reason a little more explaining is preferred in the case of a child asking about a god is that of course there are plenty of adults in the world who believe in such a thing. In all cases, I would want to encourage my child to learn critical thinking and analytical skills and make up their own mind about monsters, gods, werewolves, witches, ghosts and anything else. But fundamentally my answer to the question would be the same as my answer if they asked me about monsters under the bed, or if they asked me whether an invisible man called Timmy followed them around all the time - that it is pointless to believe something exists until you have some evidential reason to believe it exists.
So I'd say "no", but point out that often when we say "no" to questions like "Is there a god?", "Is there a monster under my bed?", "Is it possible that if I say bagel three times in a row I might die?", what we really mean is "there's no reason to think that's true, or to even live your life with any serious regard for a possibility that it might be true, so in other words, you can treat reality as if this isn't true until you have some solid reason to believe otherwise."
You don't think it might be an idea to leave them to make up their own minds once they are old enough to make a rational analysis? Or do you think indoctrination of children is serving the world well, overall?
You don't think it might be an idea to leave them to make up their own minds once they are old enough to make a rational analysis? Or do you think indoctrination of children is serving the world well, overall?
It is all going wonderfully well, especially with the youngest of the Abrahamic religions.
Yahweh would be so proud - He really loves violence.
I would - and have - said it depends upon what is meant by God. If its a god in whose name people kill, then no. But if god is another name for the living universe, then yes I believe in that.
I would say 'no-one knows, but some people believe there is a god; some believe there are many gods; and some don't believe there are any. It is something people have to make their own minds up about.'
I've had this with both mine and friends kids. I told them I don't know, it's for them to decide for themselves. Some people believe, others don't. I explained I'm agnostic, Mr Python is atheist and what those terms mean.
I would say no, he/it does not exist, it's just something that man made up.
Would you still say this if a child came up to you and said 'my grandmother is very sick. My mom says that if I pray hard enough to God then she'll get better.'
Would you still say this if a child came up to you and said 'my grandmother is very sick. My mom says that if I pray hard enough to God then she'll get better.'
If the grandmother dies then the child will believe it's her fault, because she didn't pray hard enough. >:(
Comments
If answering a question honestly comes across as "trying to make someone an atheist" then that speaks volumes regarding the process of religious indoctrination.
If people wish to chose a deity to worship they can, but it would be incredibly dishonest to imply any particular god was real if a child asked the question.
If a child thought there were monsters under his/her bed, I doubt you or anyone else on here would say "I can't see them, I can't hear them, there is no evidence of them, but they might exist, they could be watching you right now, sleep tight"
If any child asked me I would tell them that gods and religions are man made concepts from a time when people didn't know any better.
I also believe that imposing the notion of hell on a child is a form of psychological abuse.
What about saying to the child that god does exist and must be worshipped? Is that coming across as trying to make the child a Christian?
Is either as good/bad (delete as applicable) as the other or is one good and the other bad (I'll let the reader choose which way round that is, based on their personal belief system)?
My dad had quite a god-fearing upbringing but is a pure evolutionist, however he likes the thought of god and the moral compass he feels religion provides. And he knows the words to loads of hymns which he can sign beautifully
A few weeks ago my 3.5 year old was doing something she shouldn't have been and my Mum said to her "God's watching you". Child asked where God lived and my Mum replied he was in the sky. Wise child then replied "Well he's not going to be able to see me all the way down here then, is he?!!"
Agree, the monsters under the bed is a good example for when people ask these types of questions. The only reason a little more explaining is preferred in the case of a child asking about a god is that of course there are plenty of adults in the world who believe in such a thing. In all cases, I would want to encourage my child to learn critical thinking and analytical skills and make up their own mind about monsters, gods, werewolves, witches, ghosts and anything else. But fundamentally my answer to the question would be the same as my answer if they asked me about monsters under the bed, or if they asked me whether an invisible man called Timmy followed them around all the time - that it is pointless to believe something exists until you have some evidential reason to believe it exists.
So I'd say "no", but point out that often when we say "no" to questions like "Is there a god?", "Is there a monster under my bed?", "Is it possible that if I say bagel three times in a row I might die?", what we really mean is "there's no reason to think that's true, or to even live your life with any serious regard for a possibility that it might be true, so in other words, you can treat reality as if this isn't true until you have some solid reason to believe otherwise."
All children are, by default, atheists. It's only when the religious brainwashing kicks in that situation changes.
Why would a child ask if god existed if they were an atheist?
Depends on your definition of atheist.
Mine is someone with no belief in any gods which is presumably how children will be until someone tells them a god exists.
How healthy.
You don't think it might be an idea to leave them to make up their own minds once they are old enough to make a rational analysis? Or do you think indoctrination of children is serving the world well, overall?
It is all going wonderfully well, especially with the youngest of the Abrahamic religions.
Yahweh would be so proud - He really loves violence.
Because sometime after being born an atheist someone tried to make them a theist.
Not necessarily. The child could have heard talk about god and they then became curious.
I've had this with both mine and friends kids. I told them I don't know, it's for them to decide for themselves. Some people believe, others don't. I explained I'm agnostic, Mr Python is atheist and what those terms mean.
Would you still say this if a child came up to you and said 'my grandmother is very sick. My mom says that if I pray hard enough to God then she'll get better.'
If the grandmother dies then the child will believe it's her fault, because she didn't pray hard enough. >:(