Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Atheists

I honestly didn't think I would have to revisit this topic so soon after that blog I did, but recent events deemed it so. I know a great many people disagree with me on my views and I have expressed to anyone who voices so that it's fine! The world would be so completely boring and mundane if we all had the same ideas and interests. In my last blog, and in life in general...I am very careful in how I word myself when it comes to religion. I will often proclaim Atheism and tell those who ask that I do not "believe" in God, a god, or gods. I teach my children that beliefs can be dangerous. It's far better to have ideas and interests than to trap your will inside a belief and to deny the ideas that lie outside of it.


My mother has torn a rift in our relationship by pushing her religious teachings off on my daughter without my permission. It's something I consider to be the biggest breach of trust. The act of her enrolling my daughter in vacation bible school without my knowledge was a personal attack on me. My mother has tried out just about every religion out there until about twelve years ago when she married and became "Born-again Christian". My father, only AFTER hearing about the incident, began needling me to enroll my children in classes at the Synagogue. (He is Jewish). Can you start to see why Atheism makes sense to me?

Im super tired of my own family even equating morality with religion. I'm tired of being called a satanist. I've decided to go ahead and appease everyone all at the same time. I have purchased these books for the holidays for my kids so that they are armed to the teeth next time this crap comes up.

First, I purchased, What Do You Believe? introduces readers to the many religions of the world and its equally numerous philosophies, from global religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, to lesser-known faiths, and from ancient philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, to modern thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Kant, and Sartre.

Next, Older Than the Stars, stunning illustrations and lively verse tell the story of the cosmic connections that tie human beings to the beginning of the universe. Simple, informative prose provides additional facts.



Last up for everyone, Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief -"Parenting Beyond Belief" offered freethinking parents everywhere a compassionate introduction to raising caring, ethical children without religious guidance. Now, for the more than 40 million people in the United States who identify themselves as nonreligious, "Raising Freethinkers" offers solutions to the unique challenges secular parents face and provides specific answers to common questions, as well as over 100 activities for both parents and their children. This book covers every important topic nonreligious parents need to know to help their children with their own moral and intellectual development, including advice on religious-extended-family issues, death and life, secular celebrations, wondering and questioning, and more.


I think this will cover all my bases now everyone can ....well....use your imagination.





8 comments:

  1. OMG! Troy and I just had a conversation about this the other night! Getting on Amazon immediately and ordering these books and any others I can find on the topic!

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    1. Perfect! I think it's really important to inform the kids and keep their views as open as possible. God is such an abstract concept for youngsters.

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  2. *Applause*
    I identify as Christian and attend a Methodist Church. My husband does not. After following a very Baptist path for a long time and then finding a comfort zone in paganism he is not 'practicing' any faith walk. I want my children to be exposed to every possible religion so they can decide what they believe AND WHY. They don't have to follow my path, or hubby's, or their sister's. My path is the right one for ME and I will not judge others.

    Blah blah--this isn't about me. It's about my respect for you and for giving your children the information to make their decisions while also arming them against those who will come at them.

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    1. Well put! And thank you and thanks to people like you who hold their beliefs without judging others! Now if we could just spread this message to MY parents...lol

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  3. Way to go!! I have always believed you don't have to polish a pew with your ass every Sunday to have a moral compass. Congrats for arming your kids with the information they need to counter the "well-intentioned" comments & actions of others.

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    1. Ha ha! Well put! And thanks. They usually get the facts mixed up, but at least I can say I tried!

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  4. Hi, Nice post thanks for sharing. Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. Please email me back. Thanks!

    Aaron Grey
    aarongrey112@gmail.com

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  5. You're a good mommy! Thanks for the book suggestions. I teach my kids that truth is within, and everyone has their own unique ways or path to inner awareness. God save the queen!

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