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Cake day: June 10th, 2023
  • hydrashok@sh.itjust.workstoAsk Lemmy@lemmy.world•How do Atheists raise their kids
    10·
    24 hours ago

    I’m going to assume positive intent with this question.

    You raise them the same way, teaching them right and wrong, critical thinking, and empathy, but without the invisible boogeyman always looking over their shoulder. Kids are smart, but the conversation needs to meet them at their level. And it’s ok to admit you don’t know something and find out together. I don’t understand what you mean about “no explanations about the world or comforts to be had”. There’s plenty to learn and be comforted by.

    If a rule being written in the bible/koran/torah/whatever is the only thing stopping you from doing something bad, you’re a bad person. You don’t need religion or promise of a reward to be a good person or to have a fulfilling life.

    In my experience, people don’t usually convert to religion later in life except via a trauma, like an illness or sudden loss of a parent/child, or conversion for a marriage. This is why it’s important for the church to hook them young before kids have the critical thinking skills to question it. By the time they are old enough, many are indoctrinated to “have faith” which just means “ignore all evidence and don’t look into this further” and perpetuate that into the next generation. Many leave. I was one of those that was raised in the church and left in my teens.

    As for what happens after death, no one knows until they get there. There is no authoritative source of information on this beyond what happens to the body. I personally believe there’s nothing after. But I would rather live as a good person for me, and pass that to my kids. If a good life isn’t good enough for whatever gods there may be afterwards, then I probably wouldn’t want to be there anyway.

    Plus, eternity would suck, even in a heaven. You’ve got time to do absolutely everything you want to do, as many times as you want, and when you’re done, you still have eternity to go. You really looking forward to your hundred millionth time watching your favorite movie or eating your favorite food?

    So, in the end, just be a good person for you and those around you. It’s really that easy. If you also want to be religious, go for it, but don’t ever make the mistake of thinking the two are linked traits. Celebrate the life you have, and live like there’s no tomorrow (or pot of gold at the end of the rainbow).