HOME | DD

Published: 2012-12-06 11:38:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 29989; Favourites: 939; Downloads: 21
Redirect to original
Description
Before you start whining and/or reporting my stamp(s) as offensive to your sensitive little head -I do not believe that it would be morally acceptable for me (me, myself, personally) to raise whatever children I do end up having to be religious in any way. I was not raised 'forced' to believe -- slightly suggested was more like it -- and I think I turned out just fine.
Now, that's not to say I'm not going to expose my children to the many different religions out there. Religions are very interesting things. I think they're worth having a look at. I would like to show them these different faiths, while at the same time making sure they know that people all over the world believe many different things, and that while these things are interesting and fun to think and talk about, they cannot all be true.
When my kids get to an age where they can decide for themselves what they want to believe, then I'll go on from there. If the end up Christian,Hindu, Pagan, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist... then that's their decision, and I will want them to know that I support them no matter what.
So don't think that I'm an evil atheist who is going to force my children to NOT believe, just don't think that I'm going to force them TO believe anything supernatural in particular, either.
As a side note - While I was taking a shower today I had a fun little idea - Science Sunday School! There really aren't any Sunday School options for... well. Atheists. But it'd be really neat to see someone put together a Sunday School program for children interested in science and stuff -- regardless of faith. How awesome would that be?
Edit:
I should also add that NO. I am not trying to make science into a religion. I can see how my previous wording could have been mistaken by someone not really paying attention the the whole paragraph. That's okay, I'm used to people taking quotes out of context and trying to use them to justify silliness.
Science is obviously not a religion. Sunday School, as I experienced it, was mostly about creating community and friends, while still learning and enjoying something that we had a common interest in -- in that case, yes, it was God. But the difference here is that I do not worship science, and that accepting children of other faiths into whatever science club would come would NOT be about religious experience. You can enjoy science while still being of X, Y, and Z faith.
The point of said school would be to encourage an interest in science - something that America desperately will need of its youth if it wants to continue to compete in the world economy in the future. That's the way I see it.
Additionally - I could call it a "Sunday Science Club," but you know what? Nah. I'm going to stick with School. Because Christianity does not have a monopoly on Sunday activities, they do not own the words "Sunday" or "School," and you know what? S.S.S. looks way cooler than S.S.C. It even sounds more bad-ass, like a snake or something.
You know what, I'm totally going to go through with this when I move back to the US. And our mascot will be the snakes. I'll make billboards and post them on the sides of the roads so that everyone will be forced to look at them, too. And if your kid is too busy going to Church to attend this bad-ass super sweet Sunday Science School, then that's too bad. The rest of the Super Sweet Sunday Science School Snakes and I will be doing Science and not giving a single damn, because that's just how we roll.
SCIENCE SNAKES FO LYFE (But only the one life, because the majority of us will probably not believe in an afterlife. Although some might, but still, it's worth mentioning that there is probably no God, just to piss you off.)
EDIT
Adding on some fun things for certain people:
The Jefferson Bible - Thomas Jefferson's version of the New Testament wherein he removed all sections of the four gospels which contain the Resurrection, most miracles, passages indicating that Jesus was divine, and most mentions of the supernatural.
Thomas Jefferson - one of America's founding fathers. Was a Christian in name, however held deistic views. Insisted on the separation of Church and State on several different occasions.
Deism - the belief that reason and observation of the natural world are sufficient to determine the existence of God, accompanied with the rejection of revelation and authority as a source of religious knowledge. Deism became prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries during the Age of Enlightenment among intellectuals raised as Christians who believed in one god, but found fault with organized religion and could not believe in supernatural events such as miracles, the inerrancy of scriptures, or the Trinity.
Christian Fundamentalism - a movement within Protestantism upholding a literal reading of the Bible. Fundamentalists fight against things like evolution because it contradicts their warm fuzzy feelings about God popping everything into existence as-is (despite evidence that supports the Theory of Evolution), and are viewed by many as intolerant, narrow-minded, and obscurantist.
Creationism - the religious belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, usually the Abrahamic flavour of God. Despite mounds of evidence that is in support of evolution, and an enormous LACK of evidence for creationism, people still cling to this way of thinking because, because God! And Jesus! Tide goes in, tide goes out! You can't explain that!
Atheism - the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. That's it. Seriously.
Texture Used: Knitwear 1 by ~Stocondil
Related content
Comments: 919
Kaltiaem In reply to ??? [2013-03-07 02:12:52 +0000 UTC]
My mom was raised Catholic and became Christian. I was raised Christian and became Shinto. I plan to raise my kids like kids and they can become what ever the hell they want to when religion comes into the story, and as long as they don't try to use some weird ass black magic to kill me I'm fine with it. xD
π: 0 β©: 0
LucyFaerie In reply to ??? [2013-03-02 18:38:12 +0000 UTC]
Not real techno brained here, would love to borrow/use/sticky your stampy thingy here on my profile. Not sure how to do that, though.
That said, I'm not sure if you've ever paid much attention to any of my few posts regarding the subjects of religion and morality, but as a married adult with grown and nearly grown children, I'd love to toss this at you.
My husband and I are both former preacher's children. We basically raised our children with the mentality of we were not going to choose their religious beliefs, their spouse, nor their vocation. We know what it was like to have that done to use, we refused to do it to our children.
One of my huge rage buttons is idiots equating morality and religion. It IS entirely possible to be a decent person with morals and standards of good behavior without being religious at all. Unfortunately most people don't get that, as in my family, but the ones who have been the worst about it has been people on my husband's side of the family. They finally, after several decades of my husband and I being married , STFU about the whole 'it's such a shame you won't take the children to church' garbage.
My children are well-rounded, intelligent, and whatever they choose to pursue, we encourage them to do so. For quite some time, the oldest said he was a Buddhist. That was fine with us. (It didn't go over too well where we lived, which was a small town in the Deep South.) He finally changed his religious "belief" to Jedi, which of course, the other two children happily went along with that example. If someone asks, they say "Jedi" and I don't bat an eyelash if I'm with them and the subject comes up. They've also answered "Pastafarian" when asked about religion a few times. I think it's pretty damn funny because they do love spaghetti.
Apologize for digressing. Love the stampy thingy. Would love to use it, but it's okay if I can't.
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to LucyFaerie [2013-03-03 00:52:34 +0000 UTC]
Please, feel free to use it on your profile if you like You can put it in journals or on your about you section of your page by copy/pasting the Thumb code on the right hand side of the page here.
Your children sound like they've got a great set of parents. The world needs more supportive parents like you!
I definitely agree about how wrong it is to equate morality with religion. Especially with all the scandals coming out of organized religions as of late. As for me, if I do decide to take my future kids to a church, it would be a Unitarian Universalist church for the purposes of teaching them about religious and cultural diversity - something I wasn't really exposed to growing up.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
π: 0 β©: 2
LucyFaerie In reply to Nekromanda [2013-03-05 01:17:21 +0000 UTC]
It finally worked! I finally figured out what you meant and it clicked in my chemo-addled brain!
Thank you! I now have a stamp!
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to LucyFaerie [2013-03-05 01:20:42 +0000 UTC]
Yay! I'm glad it worked for you! Thanks again for the support!
π: 0 β©: 1
LucyFaerie In reply to Nekromanda [2013-03-05 01:33:14 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! I'm so excited I finally understood what you were trying to explain to me!
And you're welcome. While I don't agree with everything 110% of the time, we have many similar views and you're very articulate, which I greatly enjoy!
π: 0 β©: 0
LucyFaerie In reply to Nekromanda [2013-03-03 03:32:00 +0000 UTC]
Thank you. I've tried to use it a few times and not having much luck, but I do absolutely love it!
Thank you--we have certainly tried to be good parents.
It is ridiculous to see how religious people equate morality and religion.
UU sounds like it would be an interesting thing to check out. I wasn't taught about anything different as a child. What little I was able to learn was from reading my grandfather's National Geographic magazines and Encyclopedia Britannica books. It was difficult for me to wrap my little child brain around the concept of much of what I read about, but I certainly tried to.
You're welcome and thank you for listening to me ramble. You're very kind.
π: 0 β©: 0
Dweenie In reply to ??? [2013-02-26 06:47:49 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! I've been waiting for this kind of stamp!
π: 0 β©: 0
Decepticon9000 In reply to ??? [2013-02-25 22:40:27 +0000 UTC]
I'm a strong Christian BUT, I'm not a crazed moron either. I do love Jesus but, I refuse to go to church. The reason being, the damn church is so judgemental of me and some other people. They say, if I like Harry Potter, I go to Hell but they let their kids watch SAW?! See, I hate our church. and theres this b!tch who bullies me.
The stupid kids there create snobby cliques, which I hate with a passion. I mean, the youth group is so damn annoying!! Well... Only a few people there I can tolerate.
Thankfully, our family does our OWN Bible stuidy at home. So we don't have to worry about anything bad. And I hate kids, so I'll never have any. Just me and my snake.
π: 0 β©: 0
AClockworkKitten In reply to ??? [2013-02-20 21:34:17 +0000 UTC]
I wouldn't either. Hell, some guys getting pissed at me for it right now.
π: 0 β©: 0
VocaloidCH-Ruko In reply to ??? [2013-02-12 00:54:53 +0000 UTC]
I don't believe in god, but my friend is christian. And she fricking ( sorry for cussing ) forces me to believe in God. She will even tell me false facts.
π: 0 β©: 3
LucyFaerie In reply to VocaloidCH-Ruko [2013-03-02 18:39:31 +0000 UTC]
Suggestion--smile politely, nod politely, and thank her.
She'll think she's getting her point across, you can let her think that, and not have to take anything she has said and apply it in your life.
Good luck.
π: 0 β©: 1
LucyFaerie In reply to VocaloidCH-Ruko [2013-03-05 01:15:08 +0000 UTC]
Hope that helps.
π: 0 β©: 0
Decepticon9000 In reply to VocaloidCH-Ruko [2013-02-25 22:34:11 +0000 UTC]
Fricking isn't a bad word LOL
π: 0 β©: 2
LucyFaerie In reply to Decepticon9000 [2013-03-02 18:40:01 +0000 UTC]
Nor is frakking, courtesy of Battlestar Galactica!
π: 0 β©: 1
LucyFaerie In reply to Decepticon9000 [2013-03-02 19:03:16 +0000 UTC]
Am I helpful or what?
π: 0 β©: 1
LucyFaerie In reply to Decepticon9000 [2013-03-02 21:33:45 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! Now I'm just not sure how to add it to my profile. Will go see if the help info has anything useful.
Thank you again.
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to VocaloidCH-Ruko [2013-02-12 04:10:05 +0000 UTC]
Don't apologize, that's not cussing, haha
If she is forcing you to do anything in order to remain her friend, she's not really that good of a friend, is she? Have you asked her to quit trying to force her beliefs upon you?
π: 0 β©: 1
VocaloidCH-Ruko In reply to Nekromanda [2013-02-13 22:52:27 +0000 UTC]
o0o no, but i will try~! thank you!
π: 0 β©: 1
Decepticon9000 In reply to VocaloidCH-Ruko [2013-02-25 22:39:14 +0000 UTC]
There's where the difference comes in. Like, I would never force Christianity upon people. I'm more laid back... Infact, I tend to act more Catholic. The don;t shove Christ down our throats. And I'm sorry that your friend is being forceful.
π: 0 β©: 0
N0XI0US--GLiTCH In reply to ??? [2013-02-04 23:52:32 +0000 UTC]
I hate how this is so accepted in society. It's "a part of life". It's disgusting.
π: 0 β©: 0
Shadi-Moonkeeper In reply to ??? [2013-02-03 21:27:37 +0000 UTC]
My dad forces me to believe in god. :T I don't think he is real at all, nor do I believe in any of the stuff the bible says.
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to Shadi-Moonkeeper [2013-02-05 01:29:14 +0000 UTC]
I'm sorry that your dad does that.
Have you had a chance to visit the #Ex-Christians group? There are lots of resources on the front page that might be interesting to you.
π: 0 β©: 0
Kolaida In reply to ??? [2013-01-29 03:46:58 +0000 UTC]
Yes. Speaking as a former VERY serious Christian (like I wanted to a missionary at the age of 9 and this was my goal in life until about four years ago @ 24), I agree completely with this. Also, I'm sorry to say and I'm sure others would find this offensive as I probably would have several years ago or more, but the stuff taught in Sunday school and youth bible studies does not really help set your child up to deal with the real world. I went Sunday mornings, evenings, Wednesdays, Bible drill (a panel of judges actually times you finding verses in the Bible and reciting them), all the church retreats and my parents even cleaned it on Saturdays. You're taught that you'll find someone with similar beliefs and maybe some people do, but the whole thing was awful to me. Practiced abstinence til 26 and the whole of dealing with it was awful and definitely something I wished I'd have come to terms with earlier in life, have had so little experience in relationships, I tend to sabotage them at the beginning and become mean spirited. Not only that, it doesn't really help you deal with failure. You can only listen to people bring up the story of Job for so long before you start feeling like you're going crazy.
But it really is a completely different mind frame. It's kind of crazy really how different my thoughts have become. But it's better because now I'm just dealing with this life and not trying to line up this life to be "rewarded" for the next life. Even so, after I lost my faith, I did act out and hurt a lot of people (not like in a murdering type of way, obviously, just with words). Even recently, I hurt someone I thought highly of. But that was part of it, too. My parents didn't believe in getting help for anxiety or any type of potential disorders, just to "pray" about it and let God deal with it. I've taken therapy and will be seeking more treatment for my anxiety/panic disorder that was always dismissed when I was young. I always thought it would simply fade with adulthood, but, boy, was I ever wrong. Only seemed to progress into something worse.
I probably won't have any children myself at this point, realistically, the odds of me finding someone and getting into a committed relationship and having kids is pretty slim. But it I did, I wouldn't force them into anything either. When I was a kid, I would get so anxious and even as a young adult, I'd have nightmares about my friends going to Hell and would pray and pray and pray and pray for them because it upset me so much. But, anyway, the point I'm trying to make is it just depends. I really feel like people who later come to Jesus/God later in life, feel so strongly in it because they believe that it'll change their life for the better. I prayed and felt some my prayers were really answered, but looking back, I believe it's just because I believed so strongly they would be that I found and actively looked for ways for them to be answered.
Anyway, I totally get this. But I doubt I'll tell my parents ever. They'll see it as the reason I'm not doing everything they think I should be doing or the reason that I'm single (God is punishing her), instead of recognizing it's because they had such strict rules, I could never experiment or learn until I cut them out of my life completely for over a year.
π: 0 β©: 0
Vyanni-Krace-ACE In reply to ??? [2013-01-26 12:09:20 +0000 UTC]
My parents have this opinion. They didn't baptise me and didn't preach to me (they're unsure about what they believe themselves but still), they didn't talk trash about other religions and allowed me to carve my own path.
π: 0 β©: 0
MikoPinkiePie In reply to ??? [2013-01-24 23:58:40 +0000 UTC]
Me too. If my kids doesn't want to belive in god, that's okay. If they want to, then I don't care.
π: 0 β©: 0
Sumi1978 In reply to ??? [2013-01-09 15:56:53 +0000 UTC]
I'm not going to force my boys into believing. If the end up doing so, I won't be too terribly upset.
I'm an atheist and I did not get along at all with their father. He was super Christian (Well still is but I'm not with him anymore).
π: 0 β©: 0
Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei In reply to ??? [2013-01-06 22:39:00 +0000 UTC]
....I was forced to "believe". Here's a hug for being a part of the big "family"!
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei [2013-01-06 22:51:43 +0000 UTC]
That's a shame. Have a hug back!
π: 0 β©: 1
Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei In reply to Nekromanda [2013-01-06 23:09:24 +0000 UTC]
Thankies! XD
How long have you been an Athiest? Or are you Agnostic? Or both?
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei [2013-01-07 00:30:30 +0000 UTC]
Well, I was raised to believe in God, though I didn't really take it very seriously so I was what you'd probably call "Christian in name only" for the majority of my childhood. I recognized that I was an agnostic by the time I was in high school, but decided to give Wicca a try after I graduated. I was Wiccan/an eclectic Pagan for about 5 years, until about a year ago when I realized that I was just fooling myself, and that I couldn't force myself to believe in the God and Goddess, let alone any other type of deity. So, I've been an agnostic atheist for about a year, and out to my family as an atheist for a few months now.
π: 0 β©: 1
Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei In reply to Nekromanda [2013-01-07 00:32:51 +0000 UTC]
WOW! What an amazing story!
I think a lot of people go through that Wicca phase... I mean, I know people...
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei [2013-01-07 01:05:47 +0000 UTC]
It is a pretty fun religion. A lot of people go through it for that whole 'rebellious' thing, trying to stick it to their Christian parents or something. I did it because I felt like I needed something new in life. I wanted something to believe in at the time, and as I read about it it just sounded like it fit my changing philosophy on life at the time.
π: 0 β©: 1
Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei In reply to Nekromanda [2013-01-07 01:39:03 +0000 UTC]
Haha, yeah I know what you mean. But alas, yet another form of helpless hope...
π: 0 β©: 1
MaiArikata In reply to Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei [2013-01-20 00:52:17 +0000 UTC]
Oh wow I'm really sorry your parents forced you to believe, my parents did as well. I think that by doing that it turns us off from faith instead of encourages us to believe. And I have the most perfect fiancΓ© in the world and they like him as we'll, besides the fact that he doesn't go to church and it drives me insane! I suppose I don't really know what I am, I do believe in faith in Christ so I guess I'm still a Christian, but I don't believe in converting people and going to church. I just live and let live, and my fiancΓ© is an Atheist.
π: 0 β©: 1
Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei In reply to MaiArikata [2013-01-20 01:23:27 +0000 UTC]
I recall a stamp somewhere that said it was rude, inconsiderite, ect. to shame a person for not believing when someone dies.
Anyways, glad you found someone like that and I hope you two have a happy life together!
π: 0 β©: 1
MaiArikata In reply to Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei [2013-01-22 03:51:14 +0000 UTC]
Thanks I wish you the best of lucky with family and life!
π: 0 β©: 1
Black-Rose-Wolf-Rei In reply to MaiArikata [2013-01-22 22:08:30 +0000 UTC]
π: 0 β©: 0
Milasery In reply to ??? [2013-01-02 11:11:43 +0000 UTC]
There should be more people like you
π: 0 β©: 1
Nekromanda In reply to Milasery [2013-01-03 22:49:23 +0000 UTC]
Haha awww, Thank you!
π: 0 β©: 0
MauEvig In reply to ??? [2013-01-01 04:46:03 +0000 UTC]
Although I don't plan on having kids, if I did I most certainly wouldn't force them to believe in God. I rather let them be free to discover what path is right for them.
My grandparents kind of pressured me into Christianity, especially with the guilt tales about hell, and the rapture and such. My parent's weren't so forceful about it, although they still preferred I believed in God over being athiest. It wasn't until I found an old journal of mine that I realized just how brain washed I'd been as a child, and just how religious I was. Was it the fact that God viewed women as inferior, or the fact that he wouldn't answer my prayers that made me challenge my beliefs? It was a long struggle for certain. All I know is, I don't want to ever get involved with any religion ever again.
But you know my stance, I'm agnostic and a skeptic. But I have to admit, the more I think about the whole God thing, the more I seem to be leaning toward the atheist side, but I still want to remain open minded. Knowing what I went through as far as my beliefs are concerned, I wouldn't want anyone to go through that, especially not any children I may or may not have. In fact I was so stubborn in the past, I never thought I'd actually consider the atheist side the true one. I fought it tooth and nail. But at least I know now that I'm far more accepting and tolerant than I was at one time.
π: 0 β©: 0
CryoftheBeast In reply to ??? [2012-12-22 19:56:18 +0000 UTC]
Indeed, religion is a big commitment. If they are not old enough to take on the responsibilities of adulthood, then they are not ready for religion,for the most part, i think.
π: 0 β©: 0
<= Prev | | Next =>