Atheism for Kids


My ex-wife began to take my children to a Christian mega church on her weekends. This church openly discriminates against gays and represents just about everything I cannot stand about organized religion, including other typical Bible based beliefs which I find anti-Humanistic. I realized that while my kids are growing up constantly surrounded by religious belief in America (notably the Christian/Born Again variety common in CO), they have no concrete inputs or resources for atheistic/humanistic belief. There is no equivalent "atheist sunday school" I can take them to they could attend to let them know there are other ways to believe than in Jesus and Santa.

I'm starting to think seriously about starting a local branch of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. However until I have the resources and time to do so, this page will have to do. I hope it is a useful resource to other logically minded parents who would like to prepare their kids against the onslaught of religious brainwashing the True Believers are so eager to foist on them. I'm highlighting good stuff that's useful for me to share with my kids here, mostly stolen from links at the bottom.

Everyone's an Atheist They Just Don't Know It

Ricky Gervais popularized this. Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6,000 years ago, historians have cataloged over 3,750 supernatural beings, of which 2,870 can be considered deities or gods. So when someone tells you they believe in God, they really are saying they don't believe in the other 2869 gods that other people believe in. That makes them only slightly less atheist than a pure atheist!

Greek: Zeus, Hermes, Hades, Hera, Aphrodite, and so many others
Chinese: Shangdi, Mazu, Shou Xing, Tu Di Gong, etc.
Roman: Juppiter, Mars, Terra, etc.
Norwegian: Odin, Thor, Loki, Njordr, etc.
Hindu: Krishna, Vishnu, Kali, Ishvara, etc.
Shinto: Izanagi-no-Mikoto, Izanami-no-Mikoto, etc.
Celtic: Cernunnos, Damona, Epona, etc.
Egyptian: Ra, Isis, Anubis, Osiris, Horus, etc.
Sumerian: An, Ki, Enlil, Enki, etc.
Babylonian: Sin, Marduk, Ishtar, Nabu, etc.
Persian: Simurgh, Rostam, Gaokerena, etc.
Aboriginal: Bunyip, Kurreah, Mutjinga, etc.

Children are born atheists. They are born without belief; their belief in a god comes ONLY from their parents’ and caregivers' beliefs.

Divorced Parents with Joint Decision Making

In most states, if you have joint decision making, your ex does NOT have the right to take your children to any church they want. Both parents must consent, within reason.

Here's a good explanation of Colorado's version of this. Bottom line, if you are uncomfortable with your ex's choice of religion, especially if it is drastically different than how the children were raised prior to divorce, you have every right to veto it and protect your kids.

More Links to Good Stuff


http://www.atheistparents.org/

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