'My mom doesn't believe in God!'

[mangalavara]

While I was subbing in a kindergarten classroom today, one student told me that her uncle had passed away. After talking about how it makes her very sad, she then said to me, 'My mom doesn't believe in God! She doesn't believe God made her; she says her mom did!' When she said those last three statements, she sounded flabbergasted. In response, I said to the student, 'Many people who don't believe in God are actually very good people.' Then, I got up and walked to another table of students. Hopefully, what I said will remain in her mind and positively influence how she relates to her mother and other individuals who are nontheists.

 

[Sirona]

From kindergarden age, I spent my childhood in a boarding school. Some say it probably felt like a bit like an orphanage. During this time, I developed a staunch faith in God, although, in fact, it was more about Zeus than about the God of the Bible. I've kept my faith all my life, although my parents and my brother are atheists because we live in former Commie territory. So, what am I supposed to say?

 

[mangalavara]

So, what am I supposed to say?

I'm not sure. What are you supposed to say about what in particular?

 

[Sirona]

If I understood you correctly you were surprised that the child you mentioned had a mother that was atheist. Well, there are regions in the world with more than 90% atheists, where people may have families that are almost completely or even totally atheist, and where the "oddball" is entirely on the believers' side of the field.

 

[mangalavara]

If I understood you correctly you were surprised that the child you mentioned had a mother that was atheist.

Ah. I'm afraid you did not understand me correctly. What I wrote was that the child was the person who was surprised and flabbergasted. Basically, she finds it odd that her mother is not a believer in God, whatever God is to that child.

I am aware that majorities in many countries are nontheists.