What a Skeptical Parent Teaches about Religion
By - Karen Loethen
I am certain that one of the most-Googled questions by atheist parents is
How to discuss religion with my children as an atheist or skeptic. I know I
used to do it, look online for atheist parenting ideas, though I found the
internet quite sketchy fifteen years ago! I love it that the internet is around.
It makes it possible for us to share our questions and knowledge and ideas
so freely. I know I would have found atheist parenting far more difficult a
generation ago when lifestyles and points of view were more private,
isolated and insulated. I know I would have felt very alone in my doubt,
doubtful of my doubt, fearful of my doubt.
How interesting that this generation of parents is the first generation in the
history of humankind to have such resources available to them! We can get
to know intimate details about millions of strangers and how they live their
lives, how they make decisions, what they purchase, what they believe, how
they solve problems, what they struggle with.... It is amazing! And
fortunate!
So what does an atheist parent teach their child about religion?
Remember, raising a child is a process. It starts before your child is born
and it continues as long as you live. You will do fine. Start today and keep
learning. There is time.
Because our American culture is so very saturated in Christianity, religiosity
becomes an issue very early in a child's life. I remember my four-year-old
daughter pointing out to me religious references in the world around her, a
world that I paid close and deliberate attention to. "Did you hear that,
Momma? In God we trust." "Did you hear, Momma, One nation under God."
As a young parent it clutched at my heart. It helped to know, to remind
myself, that she also vehemently believed in fairies, Santa, and magic.
Those early years, among other things, are the years of magical thinking, so
our children are particularly prone to embracing unrealistic connections
between cause and effect, magical thinking, and illogical connections. (Think
Piaget's pre-operational stages of cognitive development, for one.)
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