Is it normal to teach this?

84% Normal
12 Comments

My friends daughter came up to me and her dad once and asked: "Who is God?"

She had been asked by her teacher if she believed in god or not. But she didn't even know who God was. She was only six years old and grew up in a house of Atheists. I thought I knew what her dad was going to say. Something along the lines of: "Say no, there is no God." or something similar. I was wrong. Instead my friend wanted to know if she believed in God without anyone telling her what to think. So he told her all about God and other peoples view on God. The possibilities of God and the after life. She had many quetions and even got a little scared from some of the stories. But in the end she came to her own conclusion.

Which was: "I don't know."
We could not have expected a better anser.

She said: "Some people say God dosn't real and some people say God dose real. I'm going to say I don't know, cause I don't think any person dose."
(She said it in a cuter way though)

The smile on our faces were priceless. I had never seen my friend look so proud.

He then said to me, once his daughter left to go play:

"A childs mind is like a sponge, It absorbs all information around it. Teach the child the ways of the Theist or Atheist and it will only consider the ways or either... until they're old enough to rebel, hahaha. Teach it the possibilities of both? You give it the choice to learn both... You give the child an open mind. Want a coke?"

I replied with yes(besides the point).

What are your opinions? Is it normal to think the best course for a childs education and development of critical thinking, is to teach the child to have choice of both? When they grow up, they could be either Atheist or Theist, depending on what they choose, or maby stay Agnostic? Up to them. Full open choice and mind, to consider all things around them.

What are your opinions?
Is it normal to want to teach this to my future children?

Voting Results
84% Normal
Based on 56 votes (47 yes)
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Comments ( 12 )
  • squeegela
    13 years ago

    We are doing the same for our 2. My oldest is now 14 and has adjusted well. It isn't always the easiest way to raise a child but as long as the little one is able to go to her parents with any and all questions, it works! I just bought my daughter the " gospel of the flying spaghetti monster" and it has led to some awesome discussions!

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  • whoknew
    13 years ago

    As an agnostic and a scientist, this is exactly how I want to raise my children - to be open minded and be able to think critically.

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  • tori
    13 years ago

    I think what happened here is priceless. Giving your child the gift of making up their own mind about such things is wonderful. Give all information you know about the subject and say it according to age so they can understand. I used to tell my kids that I told them everything I knew about the subject and if I missed something I must not have known. My kids are adults now and love the fact that I don't lie or make up stories.

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  • canada87
    12 years ago

    Agree.

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  • squeegela
    13 years ago

    Wow! This is exactly how we residing our 2 kids! Am glad others r too! I have told mine that so many people believe so many things that god has to be a personal choice. They are exposed to as many kinds of religious as we can and I encourage them ta ask questions. I think it's only fair to give them objectivity so they can choose for themselves. I became athiest because I was rises very strictly baptist and decided that athiesim felt right. They deserve the right to pick for themselves.

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  • kat2422
    13 years ago

    Wow. I wish that was my dad. Now I he were letting her choose to torture and kill her kitty so she could learn if it was right or wrong , well she may kill the kitty and say "I don't know, let's try it again" I give dad props. It takes a lot of love and patience and q&a to do what he did.

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  • kellstar
    13 years ago

    It isn't normal to let children form their own choice, it's usually pushed upon by the parents. Your friends little girl is very lucky to have a parent like that who let's her choose things for herself. It's made me smile! Thanks! U should tell your friend how great he is for that! It's trully beautiful!

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    ^^ Hah!

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    I truly believe in having the choice to choose beliefs and especially children. I think it benefits children in so much as they learn how to make decisions and how to think about such matters on their own.

    Wonderful.

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  • meekacheeckax23
    13 years ago

    I love that ! Where are those kind if parents when we need them ??

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  • BlueWolf
    13 years ago

    Amazing.

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  • soccer2
    13 years ago

    People need to learn to think freely. We need differing opinions in society. It's good he told the kid both sides an let her come to her own conclusion. Being told what to think is not good. Being ableto think for yourself and decide what u believe is great. She will learn from that and conclude what she thinks is best.

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