71 replies to this topic

[sam12six]

I think a big part of the statistic is the fact that there are no roving bands of athiests actively seeking to recruit more athiests.

[ShadowSot]

sam12six, on 13 July 2012 - 01:00 AM, said:

I think a big part of the statistic is the fact that there are no roving bands of athiests actively seeking to recruit more athiests.

Nope, we have the internet. Much more effective.

[ZaraKitty]

In an atheist household, nobody is indoctrinated. They are free to think what they want. Atheism is simply not believing. People who go from Atheism to a relegion as usually more informed and know what they're getting in to, rather than indoctrinated children just doing what they only know.

[ShadowSot]

ZaraKitty, on 13 July 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:

In an atheist household, nobody is indoctrinated. They are free to think what they want. Atheism is simply not believing. People who go from Atheism to a relegion as usually more informed and know what they're getting in to, rather than indoctrinated children just doing what they only know.

To add more anecdote on top of anecdote, most of the atheists and theists I know raised in a secular or atheist household I've met tend to be both very relaxed and very knowledgeable about religion.

To what I was saying earlier about China,there's a difference between not being religious, and having your faith taken away from you.What we're seeing in China is people's faith being restored to them. I dunno if I'd count it as atheists converting to theists,these people were supposed to follow the will of the State. Who knows what their private thoughts might have been.

[Seeker79]

ZaraKitty, on 13 July 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:

In an atheist household, nobody is indoctrinated. They are free to think what they want. Atheism is simply not believing. People who go from Atheism to a relegion as usually more informed and know what they're getting in to, rather than indoctrinated children just doing what they only know.

I started off in complete disagreement.... But your last sentence overridded my opposition to the first.

Am I allowed to completely disagree with one statement and fully agree with the next?

[Arbenol68]

I don't raise my kids to be non-believers, but will answer honestly if they ask. I'm quite happy for them to attend Bible classes at school and they've all done this. Although each one said it was really boring and they only went because they got sweets!

As to the OP: Hi Mark. That's pretty interesting but I'm not sure how significant it is. I recall a post you made in the last couple of days where you stated that some people may be atheists due a rebellious streak. Could be something similar going on here.

[Beckys_Mom]

Arbenol68, on 13 July 2012 - 04:48 AM, said:

I don't raise my kids to be non-believers, but will answer honestly if they ask. I'm quite happy for them to attend Bible classes at school and they've all done this. Although each one said it was really boring and they only went because they got sweets!

Pretty much like my Becky...When they stopped giving sweets.. she lost interest lol

[ShadowSot]

Beckys_Mom, on 13 July 2012 - 05:14 AM, said:

Pretty much like my Becky...When they stopped giving sweets.. she lost interest lol

I always enjoyed it. I didn't quite get in trouble, but I often left with questions unanswered.

[Arbenol68]

Beckys_Mom, on 13 July 2012 - 05:14 AM, said:

Pretty much like my Becky...When they stopped giving sweets.. she lost interest lol

Ha ha!

I was surprised they all found it boring though. All those stories of murder, mayhem and cataclysms - better than 'Transformers'.

[Paracelse]

I was raised as a catholic got punished extremely severly for leaving the church at the age of 12, and when my ex wanted to send our kid to Mormon religious class I said it would be OK as long as we would send him the regular Christian stuff; Buddhist school, Rabbinic school and Wiccan school and Zoroastrian school... Our kid never went to anyone of them and the Mormon Elders of Boulder County CO got pissed.

[Beckys_Mom]

ShadowSot, on 13 July 2012 - 05:21 AM, said:

I always enjoyed it. I didn't quite get in trouble, but I often left with questions unanswered.

It was the same for me but only during religious studies at school.. Many unanswered questions..and the occasional angry teacher not liking the questions  lol

Arbenol68, on 13 July 2012 - 05:22 AM, said:

Ha ha!

I was surprised they all found it boring though. All those stories of murder, mayhem and cataclysms - better than 'Transformers'.

Well Becky wouldn't understand much about that.she is only 6 yrrs old.... At her Sunday school they get the watered down version...lol

Edited by Beckys_Mom, 13 July 2012 - 06:30 AM.

[Leave Britney alone!]

The results are not that surprising. Historically atheists remained in the closet for fear of social marginalization. That fear also extended to sharing their perpsepctive with their children. Luckily that is all changing.

[Rlyeh]

Indoctrination is super effective.

[Emma_Acid]

Seeker79, on 13 July 2012 - 12:16 AM, said:

Ooooo reeeeaaalllyyyy??!?!?

Yeah actually I was "raised an atheist". My mum didn't let me go to church with the rest of the school, and took me out of all religious classes.

[Paracelse]

Rlyeh, on 13 July 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

Indoctrination is super effective.

No it isn't ... my parents punished me extremely severely (three days in a row I had to kneel on gravel with bare knees) to force me to finish my catholic thingy .. I think it was called confirmation, the last dudda to become a good christian and I never did ... always refused, til this day