Should belief be private?

[tarasan]

I tend to agree.

wow we agree with each other

I must have said something wrong.....

 

[LuisDantas]

I would be scared if my parents are wasting their lives on an imaginary creature or a figment of their imagination, but then again maybe thats just me

If I dare say so, it is probably just you. As an atheist, I have a hard time imagining myself scared by such a minor thing.

Although you are talking about wasting their lives, which is strong language. I don't think belief in God is a waste of one's life, not in itself anyway. It is what one does with that belief that may sometimes be dangerous or at least troublesome.

 

[blackout]

I take my kids to see motorbikes and bike stuff all the time. I buy them motorbike stuff, they know Harleys are the best bikes, they have bike t-shirts and they think bikes are cool.

Obnoxious rude and intrusive?

Well if THEY think bikes are cool then you're not forcing anything on them.

I certainly wouldn't want anyone dressing me in t-shirts
that express who THEY are,
and what THEY like...

I'm me, after all.

 

[tarasan]

If I dare say so, it is probably just you. As an atheist, I have a hard time imagining myself scared by such a minor thing.

Although you are talking about wasting their lives, which is strong language. I don't think belief in God is a waste of one's life, not in itself anyway. It is what one does with that belief that may sometimes be dangerous or at least troublesome.

I see, perhaps it is just my temperment that I am seeing it this way, but seeing as in you agree with my last little statement I said to the other guy, I think ill concede this line of thought to you.

well argued.

 

[DallasApple]

My religion is something that has greatly influenced me in my life, I got my morality and my perception of the world through my religious understanding, as well as how I should treat people.

If you expect me to cut all that out what do you expect me to do.

"Matt why do you help those less fortunate than yourself"

"Matt why do you treat people so well?"

what am I meant to do lie?

say is some other reason or dodge the question and say just cause?

I would personally be bewilldered myself if someone even asked me "why do you help those less fortunate" or "why do you treat people so well".

Rather than needing to answer the question I would first wonder why they asked .

Love

Dallas

 

[tarasan]

I would personally be bewilldered myself if someone even asked me "why do you help those less fortunate" or "why do you treat people so well".

Rather than needing to answer the question I would first wonder why they asked .

Love

Dallas

they were examples to convey that if someone was asking me something about me which was directly related to my belief, would have to lie so at not to sway his feeling toward a certian belief system.

 

[DallasApple]

they were examples to convey that if someone was asking me something about me which was directly related to my belief, would have to lie so at not to sway his feeling toward a certian belief system.

Of course not..But I would still be weary of anyone that would wonder that.Anyone that would need details as to why you help less fortunate and were nice to people would quite fankly make me curious why it seemed unusual to them.

Love

Dallas

 

[tarasan]

Of course not..But I would still be weary of anyone that would wonder that.Anyone that would need details as to why you help less fortunate and were nice to people would quite fankly make me curious why it seemed unusual to them.

Love

Dallas

they were bad examples alright Dallas!! I admit it is that what you wanted to hear....:sad4:

you dont really love me.........

 

[DallasApple]

they were bad examples alright Dallas!! I admit it is that what you wanted to hear....:sad4:

you dont really love me.........

Nah...you humble enough..

I love you very much..(since it matters to you)..

I will let you out of the snare. Dont ask me why though..Its just one of those things that can not be explained.

Love

Dallas

 

[tarasan]

Nah...you humble enough..

I love you very much..(since it matters to you)..

I will let you out of the snare. Dont ask me why though..Its just one of those things that can not be explained.

Love

Dallas

ahhhhh what a nice post! you get frubals and a hug

 

[DallasApple]

ahhhhh what a nice post! you get frubals and a hug

You're too cute..Your humbleness gives you power..(not a whole lot just some) :yes:

Love

Dallas

 

[ChristineES]

Yes, but that teaching should be free from fear based on what will supposedly happen if you don't believe in this god or that god.

As an atheist, I didn't give my daughter any instruction regarding religion. As a result, she was free to believe or not. It turned out that she became drawn to Eastern religions / philosophies - a decision she made based on her own research and free from any input from her parents.

But what happens if the parents truly believe that something will happen? Wouldn't it be cruel of them not to teach it? Try to look at it from the parents point of view.
note: (I personally never told my children any scary stories about my faith and I let them make up their own minds, but I did tell them what my faith was.)

 

[Noaidi]

But what happens if the parents truly believe that something will happen? Wouldn't it be cruel of them not to teach it? Try to look at it from the parents point of view.
note: (I personally never told my children any scary stories about my faith and I let them make up their own minds, but I did tell them what my faith was.)

Hi ChristineES

Interesting question, and your last sentence just provided my response to you! You conveyed what you believe to your children without the need to dwell on the parts that could scare them.
Many parents don't approach it this way. If the parent believes sincerely in a version of hell that includes torture, burning etc and tells their young children "this is what will happen to you if you don't believe", then that is abuse. (and yes, I know of parents that adopt this approach).