Teaching A Toddler Christianity When You're Not Convinced?

It's your call.

You have to follow your own conscience.

Prayer is always helpful and shouldn't offend anyone that isn't a bigot.

The mystery's of faith an GOD are beyond human comprehension.

Faith concerns questions which cannot be settled by evidence.

How can the universe create itself out of nothingness? Given the fact that the universe began to exist, it must have had a “cause” that originated it.Doesn't it make more sense to assume the existence of a Creation.

The question is tricky because it sneaks in the false assumption that GOD came from somewhere and then asks where that might be. The answer is that the question does not even make sense. It is like asking, “What does blue smell like?” Blue is not in the category of things that have a smell, so the question itself is flawed. In the same way, GOD is not in the category of things that are created or caused. GOD is uncaused and uncreated—He simply exists.

We know that from nothing, nothing comes. So, if there were ever a time when there was absolutely nothing in existence, then nothing would have ever come into existence. But things do exist. Therefore, since there could never have been absolutely nothing, something had to have always been in existence. That ever-existing being is what we call GOD ,GOD is the un-caused Being that caused everything else to come into existence. God is the uncreated Creator who created the universe and everything in it.

Life without GOD is like an un- sharpened pencil it has no point..

You can't see the wind, but you know it is there because you can see what the wind is doing. You can know that the wind is there because you can feel it.GOD is like the wind, you can't see him.

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The bible says a child shall lead them. How beautiful your story is that it brought a tear to my eyes as well. My dear, you have been called to a higher purpose than this life on earth. You opened a door today that could take you to the most wonderful place. Please take your own advise. It's up to you what you want to believe in. By all means, do your very best for your 4 yo daughter & let it come naturally. You've already noticed that it felt good. What you felt was of God. When your daughter prayed today, you felt God's spirit because He was there. God responds to ALL calls by children. And He has blessings stored up for those who lead children to Him. Continue to learn with her. Your hunger will grow. A nice children's bible study might be good for her as she grows in knowledge.

Sounds to me that your "spiritual" you believes and your worldly you says "I do not want to believe."

I think it's cool and you will both be brought where you decide to go. I believe God is inside all of us, and He leaves it up to us to leave Him there or to bring him out.

Maybe a next step could be to find a kids book about Jesus and His life...in small doses.

At some point, you might think about finding a Christian church that you like. There are a wide variety, I found one that teaches from the Bible that was able to help me put my Catholic issues behind me.

Good luck and my God Bless you in your journey to him for you and your step daughter.

My parents were great, and still are. My mother was from a Baptist background and my father from a Catholic one. They encouraged me to get the kind of education they didn't have, and I learnt respect and compassion for others from them. And I'm lucky that, although I'm 61, they're still alive. My break from religion was my own doing. And my parents, while sending me to Catholic schools and allowing me to have a religious upbringing and education, encouraged me to make up my own mind. And they respect and are happy with the choices I have made.

I've shared my interest in religions, mythology, folklore and related matters, and science, with my son, as and when he showed interest. When he was around 9 years old, he asked about whether there really was a God, having been exposed to the idea in school and from friends. I explained that I don't believe so but a lot of people do. He's now in his twenties, very happy and very intelligent. He doesn't have any religious beliefs; but if asked whether he believes in God, he describes himself as agnostic.

In the days when I was a scout leader, I saw my duty in this respect as supporting the children in what they believed. I didn't discuss with them the fact that I didn't believe. The other adults involved in scouting and local clergy were aware of it.

Look, you nut. You're encouraging that child to believe in a version of the *Christian God*.

That girl is going to attend public school, where there are certain to be other children who believe in the Christian God. These other nuts will tell the child in question that she is going to burn in hell forever if she doesn't believe a particular set of facts about this God, and they'll teach her that this God considers homosexuals to be abominations.

Stop encouraging this nonsense, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT!

Instead, read up on the basis of secular humanist morality, and teach her *that*.

EDIT:

Okay, my tone was a little harsh here, and I apologize for that. But I do not get the notion that an irreligious person would encourage a child to believe in religion. I guess if you're starting to seek religion for yourself, that's one thing, and you might take this child with you on your journey. But I dislike Christian morality. It's ancient mythology taken as a history textbook.

If you're hoping a God is listening to you, you're not an atheist. You're just not. And my reaction to your post was based on your assertion that you're an atheist teaching a kid about the Christian religion, and encouraging her to pray.

You can believe whatever you want, but I'm sad to think this kid is going to be instructed in a potentially damaging superstition by a person who doesn't even really believe in the superstition.

try going to church services on sunday with an appropriate sunday school during service. Then you can learn (not saying you have to change your beliefs) and your child can learn from a structured class. Maybe try that for a few weeks and see how it works. If not, what harm is an hour or so a week for a few weeks going to do? Plus its free. But it might be nice to drop a fiver in the collection plate, its up to you however.

Christianity can be helpful, but is by no means a perfect religion. The child will only become muslim if she is taught or exposed to Islam. As long as you teach your child how to be kind to others and how to cope with the challenges of life, you will be doing great as a parent, regardless of theocracy (or lack of).

You can educate her on what Christianity and other religions teach, but to indoctrinate a child into a belief system that you do not personally hold to be true is wrong on many levels.

As a fellow Atheist I have to ask you why can't teach her deity free morality