I'm an agnostic and my wife can best be described as a deist, so we don't belong to any particular religion or go to church.

However, I was raised Presbyterian, and we talk to our kids about religion (covering the major tenets of all the major belief systems) so that they're not raised ignorant of the concept.

My 8-year-old loves stories of any kind, and lately has been asking me to tell her Bible stories. So I've been telling her some common Jesus stories -- the loaves and the fishes, the walking on water, etc.

Finally I asked her if she wanted to read them for herself. My Southern Baptist mother-in-law had given us a "Jesus loves me" kids Bible years ago, which we stashed on our bookshelf. I took it down and handed it to my daughter.

She disappeared into her bedroom, emerging hours later having read the whole thing. Now she's re-reading it catch all the details she missed on her first time through.

We've been asking her what she thought, and her response has been "some of it seems true, some made-up." She didn't find Noah's Ark all that believable, or most of the miracles. But she thought most of the rest of what Jesus did was plausible.

I frankly doubt she's going to experience a sudden religious conversion, but if she does that's her business. We have friends who go to church, and they'd be happy to take her along if she wanted to go.

Just thought y'all might be interested in how a family of unbelievers handles religion.

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Scarred survivor of the April 2008 Mod War.

I think it's a good approach. We do the same; I was raised southern Baptist and my wife a Methodist. Neither of us attend church, and classify as more spiritual than religious. We read the bible to our children, have discussions on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and any other religions they are curious about. They've attended several different churches with friends and family.

I figure we'll give a solid foundation and the knowledge to choose their religion for themselves.

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What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them.
Henry Ford II (1917 - 1987)

If she wants to attend a church, why don't you take her yourself?

my own uncle is like you, atheist. we always have arguments on religions, beliefs, even basic issues like morality, following the rules, etc. he's raising his boy just like you. I like them! the fact is, although he doesn't believe in God, but his so moral. I haven't heard a single lie from him yet.
I think that you can find God deep inside yourself. at least, God's supporting you through your life because of your good behavior.
say my hello to your daughter. tell her I'm glad that she likes religious stories. I wish the best for you and your family.

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Kinda funny, raytri. We didn't do much different other than specify what we personally believed. Mark was about 8 when he decided that there was a God, and we discussed different religions. Kids are way smarter than we know.

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Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive. - Theodore Roosevelt

An agnostic is not quite the same as an athiest.

An athiest says there is no god
An agnostic says the existence of god is unknowable

I would describe myself as agnostic. Though I didn't know what 'deism' was till I read raytri's post and looked it up - and yeah, that sounds OK too - maybe I'm one of them. Or somewhere in between.

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Have you ever stood toe to toe with someone that was intent on kicking your arse? C-D-P

I think what you are doing is admirable. If you want a child who thinks for herself, let her decide for herself. You don't have to encourage her, but it would be wrong to discourage her.

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"We should Invade Their Countries, Kill Their Leaders, and Convert Them to Christianity." Ann Coulter
There is a fine line between a subtle nuance and an extreme dichotomy! - PatriotNews

Because I have no desire to go. I'm not going to start attending a church I don't believe in simply because my daughter wants to. If there were no other option, I'd take her. But since our friends go anyway, that's not necessary.

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Scarred survivor of the April 2008 Mod War.

We do that. It's just that what we personally believe is different. My wife explains that she believes in God, just not the God of any organized religion; I explain that I don't know if God exists or not, but some people believe He does while others believe He doesn't.

Oh, agreed.

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Scarred survivor of the April 2008 Mod War.

That seems like a pretty good reason TO go.


Why would you allow people to infuse ideals into your daughter without being there yourself to monitor them? How will you be able to discuss with your daughter these things she is learning if you have no knowledge of them yourself? You will certainly learn many things and meet many new people along with supporting your daughter. She will certainly appreciate it.

I would encourage you to reconsider and take her yourself....and enjoy it!