6. The flying spaghetti monster. There are billions of people on Earth with hundreds of religions and sects that trickle off each other. I will never tell her what to believe in. I know parents are very influential on kids' spiritual beliefs and that can be a positive or negative thing. I can give her a basic understanding of religions when she starts showing interest and asking questions. But I will remain silent otherwise. How can I make a young mind believe this is the truth for them when they don't yet have the capacity nor the cognitive desire to delve into something like this? If she shows interest I would advise her to fully investigate a religion and see if it fits her. And if she chooses none of the above, I'll be fine with that as well. The values I instill in her should guide her to her decision. What's most important, I believe, is to support her decision no matter what.
Now THAT is great parenting.
Allowing your child to create their own journey, with no pressure applied, to find their way and come to believe or disbelieve, in whatever gods or religions that they may stumble across, is one of the ultimate acts of love and acceptance.
And then to be willing to accept, love, and nurture them even if their belief system is in direct opposition to your own is the true test of a great parent.
Many of our current religions rely on early indoctrination and forced compliance while the child is very young. However I have always believed that if your version of faith is worthy of adherents, they should seek it out without the hard sell from intolerant parents or fear of being ostracized by the community if they fail to fall in line.
But hey, that's just me. AND NFL running back Arian Foster.
(H/T to the Friendly Atheist.)
I agree with Arian Foster, however, I totally don't see Gryphen allowing his child to find her own way. I see him completely indoctrinating a child to follow his own atheist views and ridiculing any other path as non-scientific and devoid of reality.
ReplyDeleteClearly you know nothing about me, nor how I raised my daughter.
DeleteAnon 4:36 - we've all seen evidence of her going her own way. But get your rocks off troll.
DeleteClearly you know NOTHING about how atheists role lol!
DeleteWhat's your name, John Snow, because clearly you know nothing.
DeleteConsidering Gryphen's condescending remarks to and about anyone who is religious, I would have to agree with 4:36. I seem to remember him inferring or directly saying that we would not find scientists in church or scientists who were true believers, something to that effect. Complete hogwash.
DeleteI voice those "condescending remarks" in a forum that I created for just that purpose. One that is hopefully often visited by rational thinking adults who can feel free to disagree with me on those statements and take me to task if they think I am incorrect in anyway.
DeleteAs a father raising a young child I have a great deal of influence on her, influence that I hope to use to mold her into a wonderful, intelligent, free thinking young woman. One who thinks for herself and is NOT simply somebody who echoes my points of view back to me.
Trust me when I tell you have succeeded in that endeavor.
Proof positive of the non-secular conspiracy! Tim Tebow out and Arian Foster still has a job and can persecute us good Christian Amercians while indoctrinating his mixed blood daughter with paganism and whatnot? I'll bet he'll take her to Planned Parenthood on her 12 birthday also too there. Unflippinbeliveable!
ReplyDeleteSarah should have taken her offspring to Planned Parenthood....just sayin'
DeleteSounds like what I did. Raised a clear headed, thinking female child who has two degrees at age 24 and works with the poor as a paralegal. She at least follows what Jesus said unlike MOST of his supposed believers.
DeleteWhat is good about you Christian Americans like the Fake XTIAN Palins? You push your unsubstantiated beliefs upon everyone else, while practicing all of those things that you profess to be against. The 'RILL' Idol for you Palinbots is the Almighty Dollar. Pimping and Grifting is accepted by you 'Good' Xtians and there is no denying it.
Delete5:01 AM Good Morning, All Night Troll. Tim Tebow's lack of Quarterbacking Skills is why he was canned. His constant Praying on the field was over the top. Since Tebow's God is in charge, why is he looking for a job? The Palin Curse has hit Tebow. Anyone that Sarah Palin endorses, FAILS. Maybe Todd Palin can offer Tebow a job in his Sex Trafficking Ring at the Rainbow Resort.
DeleteAnon, do we IM'ers constantly have to identify our posts as Snark? You would think the over-the-top word salad verbiage gives it away.
DeleteI think that anon @ 5:01 wrote this post as a satire, right down to the "Unflippinbelievable" in imitation of Palin's nuisance comments.
Delete5:01, by all means Do correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks fromthediagonal, it was. Except Sarah mispelled UNBELIVEABLE.
DeleteActually, it is a rather naive statement. Unless the rest of her upbringing includes a strong dose of logic (versus the postmodernist there is not truth so whatever laziness)the kid will fall prey to whatever charismatic charlatan/sex interest finds her- Jim Jones, David Koresh, the charming bearded Muslim or earlocked Hasid.
ReplyDeleteNot afraid to say it - my kids became WBC, or even RCC I would consider myself a failure as a parent and disown them.
Of course I hope that you would not disown your children. I'd hope that you would love them as human beings and let them go on their way no matter what that way is. And that would not make you a failure as a parent; it would make your children humans with minds of their own who make their own decisions--unpleasant or not.
DeleteMy parents actually raised me the way Mr. Foster wants to raise his child. They raised me to think critically while I dabbled in many belief systems with every kind of charlatan around the corner. Now I have no religious beliefs and they are fine with that too.
Disown them? What kind of monster parent are you?
DeleteParents who would disown their children for thinking and choosing for themselves obviously believe they "own" their children. That attitude alone is enough for me to choose to live far, far, away with limited to no contact --as I do. You see, 5:11, it works both ways.
DeleteWe've had the discussion, gay is A-OK, married, not-married, grandkids, no grand kids, blue collar trades, academic, accountant, SAHM or SAHD - all their decision and OK. But abandoning rationality.... nope. And one is not a monster for dis-owning children - and I vowed years ago, that neither I nor my money - whatever big or small amount that is, would never go to support religion, particularly the RCC- now or posthumously So disowning - is just saving both sides a lot of grief - having a conversation with an irrational person isn't possible.
DeleteUnfortunately, religion seems to be passed on to offspring like blue eyes and blond hair. Parents don't think they can relate or stomach their OWN child if he/she thinks or looks different. Most kids go along because they depend on their parents for food, shelter and love. When they go to college and are exposed to new POVs and critical thinking they may still choose to stay in their parents tribe/cocoon so they will continue to have a place at the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
ReplyDeleteNot in my family. I was raised RCC, went to RCC schools from K to 167, and still ended up an atheist. Why? At age 9, after reading the Encyclopedia over the summer, I asked my nun teacher if there would still be god if there were no human beings to make him up.
DeleteNever got an answer to the question but you should have seen how fast I was in the principal's office with both my parents called in.
From what I have noticed, it isn't as true in the converse. Consciously atheist-raised kids as a rule (yes, I'm sure someone will post the anecdote about the ONE atheist who as an adult .... ) don't become religious/irrational. And indeed do teach them about religion(s) from a historical perspective. When the RCC and Zeus are taught as equal, it's rather hard to unsee that.
Delete5:56 - that doesn't explain Latinos or Koreans or East African preachers forcing/doting their offspring to be Christian.
DeleteLovely man. I hope he succeeds in living up to his own expectations.
ReplyDeletePerfect!
ReplyDeleteI am not indoctrinating my kids. I tell them they are free to explore as they like. So far, like to read about science topics and zombies more than anything else.
I am impressed with Mr. Foster's intelligence and obvious love for his family. His sensible views should translate into smart, lovings kids.
ReplyDeleteSimply teaching a child critical thinking skills is generally enough to steer him or her away from the fairy tales of religion. My mother sent us to Sunday school and summer bible camp but while we were in grade school my brother and I went to my father and told him I just couldn't take it any longer and that I was never going to believe in god so could I please be excused from further church attendance.
ReplyDeleteNeither parent attended church but mother was adamant that we be exposed and be allowed to make our own decisions without parental intervention. It didn't take long. It isn't as if my parents praised us for making this decision but we knew that we'd passed some sort of "test" and proved to our parents that we had good critical thinking skills and had our heads on straight. I'm sure they still would have loved us even if we both became crazy bible thumpers but I know they were pleased that we knew better than to succumb to ancient tales.
OT, but funny: http://freakoutnation.com/2013/09/10/trio-of-young-arizona-exorcists-set-out-to-save-england-from-satanic-elements-in-harry-potter-series/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trio-of-young-arizona-exorcists-set-out-to-save-england-from-satanic-elements-in-harry-potter-series
ReplyDeleteM from MD
Gotta love it--I offered my kid the same sort of system. He's decided that he "just doesn't have enough information to know if there's a god or not, and if so, what form god might take." Makes sense to me--
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful little girl and lucky to have such a thoughtful, intelligent, responsible father.
ReplyDeleteI took the time to read his whole list and was extremely impressed by his words. THIS is the kind of man we want our children to look up to, not because he's a professional football player, but because he's got a good heart and a good mind.
This is how we tried to raise our kids. What's most refreshing is his honesty throughout the entire list.
ReplyDeleteThat's one lucky girl! I'm sure she'll feel comfortable voicing her concerns because of his open and honest approach raising her.