I’ve often wondered what would happen if children were never exposed to religion from birth–does anyone think they would spontaneously invent it? Gawd? Jeebus? It would simply be another fairy tale like Sandy Claws or the Tooth Fairy.

Sadly it’s only a rhetorical question, since even if the family itself was completely atheistic, the pervasive nature of religion in most of the world insures the child will be exposed to gawd and similar nonsense regardless of the parents intentions or circumstances. I know kids often have ‘invisible’ friends and so forth, but thankfully, many of us outgrow that–or perhaps since we’re (atheists) such a minority, I should say a ‘few’of us.

I have some friends, the wife is a backsliding Jew, and the husband a right wingnut dittohead ‘born again xtian’. (must make for interesting dinner table discussion…hehehe). They have a daughter, and at least they agreed to raise her with neither religious influence taking precedence. They allowed her to participate in both beliefs and let her choose which religion she wanted to follow once she was old enough to decide. She chose xtianity. Now, this isn’t to endorse the indoctrination, but rather to applaud the modest effort to allow the kid to decide her own path. Too bad ‘none of the above’ wasn’t one of the choices. But that might be asking too much…

I think honesty is best.

Oh, and parents: Teach your kids logic and reasoning; how to arrive at a conclusion… because your public schools won’t. Safeguard them against brainwashing.

I intend on having my kids be my eyes and ears concerning the school system.

Great work so far, I’m sure David is proud. Pride is quite wonderful, unlike what the bible says.