Atheist parents, please answer?

Put them in a place where they're readily available, so if he remembers them and asks you to read to them, they'll be handy.

Then wait for one year.

If he never asks you to read any of them to him after one year, then it's safe to throw them away.

Also, look for some kids' visual dictionaries and the like, for alternative reading material. Nothing helps to innoculate against religion, like reminding people of the fact that [Religion X] is just one of hundreds that humans have practiced around the world.

This is a particularly good one, because it's got a little bit of everything -- dinosaurs, vehicles, astronomy, and even ancient civilizations! It's how I introduced my son to the Gods of Olympus, about Hammurabi and the epic of Gilgamesh, and even the beginnings of Christianity...:

http://www.amazon.com/1000-Questions-Answers-Edito...

I've been an atheist since before I had kids...but between the FC and RC grandparents, the kids have a little collection of bible stories.

I read them the books, I just start them with "once upon a time" or a similar phrase to put the story into a fiction context. My 4 year old still hasn't asked me any questions about them, any more than she's asked questions about cinderella.

I have several bibles, chicken soups, and other christian-related books in my house. Having the books is fine, as long as you are prepared to answer their questions later on. The fact is that a kid who is not indoctrinated, but is educated about religion when they're older, (10-14) is less likely to follow religion as an adult...but more likely to be equally respectful of all religions.

Hope I helped! ((((Alive))))

My daughter has an illustrated Bible. I don't think there's anything wrong with 'religious' texts like those, or children asking about such things.

But then I'm in the UK and here children have religious studies classes at school. They learn about the major world faiths. About festivals and celebrations such as Passover, Eid and Christmas.

My daughter knows we have Christian and Muslim friends. Knows that those aren't our beliefs. But that we are happy to answer any questions as best we can.

I think if you throw the books away it makes a big thing out of something that, at the moment, probably isn't. Let him keep the books, ask questions. And maybe in due course, like my daughter, he'll decide he's an atheist. Or maybe he won't. But is that such a bad thing?

.

The only fair and honest way to raise a child is to allow him/her to grow up with an unbiased education in everything.

Therefore all those books are on one religion only and would introduce a real bias!!

The best thing to do would b to sell them in a garage sale and wait until your child is older. Then you could buy several books that discuss the various religions!!

The only reason that christianity, Islam and many other religions survive is the indoctrination of children!!

Acceptance of a supernatural claim tends to promote cooperative social relationships. This communication demonstrates a willingness to accept, without skepticism, the influence of the speaker in a way similar to a child's acceptance of the influence of a parent. By encouraging this kind of behavior where the most intense social relationships occur it facilitates the lack of skepticism and deters more open minded thinking.

They are christian because they were indoctrinated by their parents as very young children. They will go on to indoctrinate their own children and those will go on to indoctrinate their grandchildren!!

So give them a head start in life by allowing them to learn and decide for themselves!!

I'd get rid of them, unless there are OTHER Christians in the house.

We have several Islamic story books for kids. I'm not a Muslim, but the kids and their Dad are. So, Daddy can read the Islamic books to the little ones (2 and 5), and I can stick with the Dr Seuss and others.

It's up to you. I like for my kids to know about religions, and of course they know that I'm an atheist. Just because you read a book, doesn't mean you believe everything in it. Otherwise we'd all be selling our cows for magic beans, right?

Spiritually speaking, of course.

.

I'm not an atheist parent, though I know some. But, personally, I would throw the books away.

The books have an underlying religious agenda that is too much for a two-year old. There is a reason why religions specfically target young children. They know that children are easy to convert, and once done so, they tend to internalize that belief later in life. I wouldn't subject the child to religion until they are old enough to understand it for what it is, which is around 12 years old or so.

Until then, I would just buy fun books or books that teach the child to ask questions and learn about the world around him.

I'm a Christian parent, and I have books like this in my home. But I don't force it on my kids. We go to church often, so they go with us, but they have yet to express the desire to *not* go. I don't force them to pray or read the bible. That's something they do on their own if they so choose. Many times they choose to read these books. Many more times they choose books about Sonic the Hedgehog or their favorite animal.

My point is that having them there doesn't mean you're indoctrinating them. Because the ideas are there (no matter what the idea is), your child will naturally ask questions. That will be your cue to put your thoughts in. If you want him to make his own choice, leave all the options open and see what he chooses.

I'm not a parent, but i am around kids enough. I would leave the books. What is the harm, yes it may bother you, but don't read them. If and when you son comes to you with questions answer them, but try not to be biased. Yes share your opinions and be honest with him, honestly always works. Tell him the reasons you use to believe and the reasons that you do not anymore. Let him decide if he wants to go down the religious path or not. They are just books, and if he has so many, who knows he may never come to you with them, but just be ready to answer questions honestly and with an open mind. Best of luck!! Congrats on the new house YAY!!

I think there's a difference between you (or others) choosing to buy a book for your kid, and your kid buying the book for themselves.

At this point, if he's just 2, and not capable of really making an informed decision on what books he wants to look at. He can't even read at this point. Just toss them. Like you said, he won't even remember them.

When he gets older, if he chooses to read/buy a bible or other books with religious themes, then I wouldn't throw them out, since it was his choice to purchase them.

I would keep the books, and put them in with the rest of the nursery rhymes, bedtime stories, and fairy tales. I would also make sure that the child had similar books from other religious traditions in his collection.

Getting rid of all such references would just pique his interest if he sees friends who have them. To a child, nothing is more attractive than the forbidden.