Like a holy ghost, parental religion returns to haunt. As age wearies, the solemn vow to resist everything your parents ever stood for crumbles.

The first sign of a return to religion usually appears upon marriage. All of a sudden the spiritually indifferent announce they will marry in a church, synagogue or temple. When the day comes, they promise the priest that they will raise their children according to the laws of God.

Typically, these choices are laughed off at first. It is only a joke. Nothing serious. The religious venue is only chosen because it was cheaper than hiring a marquee and all the stained glass and sandstone would look really classy in photos. As for the priest, well, he came as a package deal.

Don't believe it. Behind the nervous laughter, there may be more to these choices. You know the parties are not pretending when they start making comments along the lines of "well, not everything in the scriptures is perfect but the overall values are positive and life-affirming and should be encouraged". Christening gowns are extracted from mothballs for the first child. The transformation is complete.

More of the article here... Link

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It really is a wonderful gift to give a child.

As an Atheist I and my partner, do not raise our children to be Atheist. They know what Atheism is, because they live with me and my side of their extended family impart what it means to be Atheist, without a "How To 101" instructional. It's not a dogma, nor a philosophy in our lives, it's a lifestyle.

Rather what we do do is teach our children about all faiths. Particularly in this beginning, those religious practices of their peers in school. Christian, judaism, buddhism (new undertaking to begin in the fall), wicca. Our children know they can ask us any question about our lifestyle , they can ask my family about Atheism. And we have a myriad community of friends, that provide an eclectic opportunity to learn about those religions I mentioned, and many others as well. We even attend, as a family, their rites and practices, at their kind invitation. So for us, we do not teach our children to be Atheists. We teach our children to be open, because they are young and impressionable and as all children are, inquisitive. So we don't shut them in, to learn to be one thing. Rather we nurture their openness, to allow them to learn what there is to know about spiritual matters, and as such, what there is awaiting them, in matters of a diverse community of religious people, in this world we all share together.

Thank you for the Article Kratos. It was an excellent read.

Its funny how religion will come back into a person's life once they have children

Its what happened to me in my first marriage and why I wound up getting a divorce.

My mother felt as you do, and I'm very glad for it. I have been able to make informed choices because of the religious education she gave me. I think it's important to understand the events which are going on around us in society now, and what has taken place throughout history to lead us to where we are now, and religion has played a part in that history and plays a part in the here and now.

Also the information was invaluable when I took up certain classes at college.

I didn't return to a religion when I got married. My mother is a logical person, and I never moved away from that so there was nothing to return to.

I'm not married nor have children. I often claim that it is easy for me to be irresponsible when I'm only rersponsible for myself.

Once a couple has children the old religious teachings from their youth begin to echoe once again. Why is this?.....It is the fear factor that religion constructs in people.

A person only responsible for themselves is willing to live life free from religion. As soon as the child is born and parents are envisioning their newly born baby swimming in fire and brimstone in the depths of hell as a result of their non-belief........well........religion is quickly returned to.

This is a perfect example of the psychological power religion has over some believers, it is IMO a result of it's very design. The propagation of fear is used by religion in the same manner that it is used by CNN and other news reporting agencies........Fear causes people to alter their lives on many different levels, therefore fear can be used to force people to alter their lives in a manner that benefits the propagater of the fear.

I would agree. Proverbs 1:7 says as much, in fact. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

I found this article some time ago, when it was discussed in these forums, about the fear factor propagated by religions. I think it provides a great deal of insight into the subject. Of Fear In Religion

Excerpt:

THE point is often discussed whether the comparative absence from the modern pulpit of those appeals to fear characteristic of the earlier evangelism has not militated against its power. The question here opened is one that has to be faced afresh by this generation. Under the reaction caused by the crudities and falsities connected with earlier presentations of judgment and punishment there has been a disposition to give the whole subject a wide berth. But this can never be a permanent attitude. The Church, as trustee of the human spiritual interests, cannot afford to be in two minds on the question, still less to have no mind at all. And there is no reason for such a position The Christian consciousness, in its fuller development, has attained to a view of God, the soul and the world sufficiently precise to enable it to pronounce here with perfect clearness

The preacher of to-day, awake to the spiritual revelation that is going on around him, should have no difficulty and no hesitancy about the place he assigns to fear as one of the religious working forces. (Continues At Link)

I think those are very good points Chauncy and GW. I tend to agree.

Of Fear in Religion that was a good read GW.

Fear is the substratum to the Christian religion. The fear of not pleasing God and suffering for an eternity. Their entire teachings are fear-based, fear is one of the religious working forces......as stated in GW's link.

If the entire religion is held afloat via the propagation of fear........then what happens when that fear is dissolved?

I often say that the greatest trick mankind ever pulled on themselves is convincing one another that the Devil exists.

raise your kids? Gw I have known you to state you dont have kids. I once praised your kindness about mothering, when I told you that you would make a good mother some day..........you replied - BM its proof that one doesnt need to have given birth to know how to be a good mom <--something along those lines in the parenting thread

Unless you have just quoted something else above...if so..plz ignore this post

It's true. I have never given birth. It does not mean I do not have children, however.

AHA...so I wasn't doating lol

you have kids...pity you dont talk much about them (actually its the 1st time you have mentioned them IMO)...I love to hear stories of peoples kids...its one of the top things that brightens my day.....love kids...absolutely love em

love to sit in pm telling stories about becky..what she gets up to..Sheri tells me a lot about her boy ect..its great and relaxing

I grew up going to church, a lot of church but I have never heard of remedial Sunday School. Hell, some of the kids only came for Easter and Christmas...

In this day and age, it proves to be wise to be cautious. Some people don't want to mention their child(ren) not because they aren't proud of them and love the, but to protect them. There are quite a few crazies running around the INTERNET. So, I understand any reluctance on GW's part.

Be quiet or I'll feed your babies to the Pagans! (Yeah, I mean you Silver! ).

I think the article is pretty funny in a sad creepy kind of way. At the same time, I can almost identify with it. I remember the first time my kid crammed a watch, 2 hotwheels and a handful of Lego's down the toilet...I looked up at God, and said, "WTF did I ever do to you?" before I even realized it! It's like an automatic parental prayer!!

Ohhh yeaaaaaa in this day and age.........its dangerous to mention your kids...........talk about funny things and loveable things they get up to,,,,ohh the horror

I mention my kid all the time....I do NOT post up pics of her left right and center...and when I talk about her...I do so cuz I am one hell of a proud MOMMA...and I seriously doubt anyone is going to fly over to hunt me down to seek out my kid...all anyone knows of her is that she is called becky.. ...thats it!! People on here mention their kids all the time like I do.....as long as we all dont give out too much info...but I cant help but talk about my kid..and I love to talk about her..more so in PM

Back on topic. Thanks

WEll, I had a scary PM from a guy who did threaten that very thing becuase he disagreed with my post, so it happens.

OK. as to the topic, I know a lot of people who will start going back to church so that their children will not be ostracized by other kids and mostly by adults. I was picked on in school because we didn't go to church. So, my mom & dad packed us up a couple of Sundays and we went, WE (the four children) didn't want OT go back. It was boring and terrifying since we were told if you stepped out of line, you would burn in Hell forever. Even I considered this when I had my daughter. `

There is a specific reason why non-believer families are ostracized or picked on in these type religious communities.

Its because you can voice an opinion that contracicts what the religious parents have been telling their kids.

Imagen little Thomas coming home and saying to his parents "Little Johnny's parents said dinosaurs are millions of years old......how is that true Mommy when you said the Earth is only 4 thousand yrs old????"

LOL, too true. IF it is because they are scared that their children will be educated with the real world's scientific findings, well, then that is their problem. My daughter was told she was going to Hell by a little girl in her class because she doesn't go to church. I sat her down and told her that God is everywhere, you do not have to go to church to worship him. I want her to make up her own mind, not by me forcing her to my beliefs, and not by other's scaring the living crap out of her so that she believes what they do.

True spirituality comes from the exprience of life, it does not come from the halls of a church. Actually organized religion closes the door for many millions of kids to actually finding themselves. Religion is a Dogma, and much like the public school system leaves little room for thought or debate. In public schools children are forced to spell correctly even though they cannot put the words together, same thing in religion you are forced to learn to live a certain way with out really teaching you life. You must obey and not question according to the church, in real life with out those qualities you are a sheep led to slaughter.

That is a scary thought a little girl condeming someone to hell in that manner. A religion can be judged by it's fruit that is a fact.

It seems that the most effective way to convert someone to christianity or to bring them back ......is to emphasize eternal damnation for non-worship.

You can spout off "milk and honey" all you want. Damnation with eternal hell fire is what packs the pews!!!!

Im glad I didn't grow up in a place like that.............were I come from, at school if you didn't go to church, no one cared period...heck a lot of people I went to school with didnt care for church themselves

It was really ridiculous. But, that was children repeating what their parents told them, and the parents wanting to fit in, too. Obviously there was fear of not just Hell, but of the rest of the (religious) community in our town. And they were the business people and major employers at that time.

Yah! I can dig this.

count me in too ones spirituality is their life lived..life is the most beautiful wonderous, amazing , experince I look around all the time and think can it possibly get any better than this... i live in complete gratitude and joy and love with this wonderous gift of life...but I'm simple, put a child in front of me to delight in a partner to simply enjoy and share in their happiness (nothing like joyous folks) and a few good freinds to share dreams and visons of a new day with.. this is deeply spiritual....... I can make a spirit moment of anything and do, my freind and i were jsut discussing this today how blessed we all are.....

Interesting, I don't think I've ever heard anyone at my church even talk about eternal damnation, hell or burning anywhere (unless it's on a beach in Maui over Holidays and you forgot your SPF 30). Pretty sure none of the incredibly bright people at my church think the earth is 5,000 years old either.

And the generalizations run rampant.... again.

ridiculous<---Is the word for it...I believe in live and just lt live