just wanted to say hi

[jessie]

Hi brimstoneSalad! Thanks for the welcome, I'm already glad I signed up

[SkepticalGorilla1985]

Other than that they have embraced it for the most part. They eat the meals I make which makes me feel like I've been able to at least lessen the impact.

[/quote]

well thats great, my family is still adjusting to the change i made too, theyre biggest critique is that millions of animals are going to be slaughtered any way so i am not going to make an impact... i just roll my eyes...

[jessie]

well thats great, my family is still adjusting to the change i made too, theyre biggest critique is that millions of animals are going to be slaughtered any way so i am not going to make an impact... i just roll my eyes...

Haha! They've actually said that too. But I just told them that it takes each person to make a change and that they will supply it only if we demand it. I also mention all the vegan choices at the grocery store and how some restaurants have vegan choices as well. Because it is growing and more and more people eat less meat! I also mention how 400 million less animals have been killed in 2014 compared to 2007 due to people eating less meat.

[SkepticalGorilla1985]

[/quote]I also mention how 400 million less animals have been killed in 2014 compared to 2007 due to people eating less meat.[/quote]

Wow I didn't know that, that's awesome! How devout were your parents when you grew up? My family were all pretty devout fundamentalists Christian did that have any kind of impact on your skepticism towards Catholicism

[jessie]

Wow I didn't know that, that's awesome! How devout were your parents when you grew up? My family were all pretty devout fundamentalists Christian did that have any kind of impact on your skepticism towards Catholicism

We didn't really go to church regularly, but they did talk about God quite a lot. For example, if someone got hurt they say to be grateful to God that it wasn't that bad or if someone got sick we had to pray. We would go to church every now and then but always went during birthdays and holidays. Lately, knowing that I don't follow the religion anymore have been talking about God and why we should thank him and what he's done for us. They also have been taking my child to church much more frequently. I don't think it had any impact on my skepticism though.

Do you feel that how devout your parents were made you more or less skeptic?

[SkepticalGorilla1985]

[quote]Do you feel that how devout your parents were made you more or less skeptic?[quote]

Yes i would say so, because everything happened or couldn't happen without god. They would pray for things to happen, and surprise surprise nothing would happen. It seemed like prayer worked like a placebo did. My father who was the most strict religious guy i knew would always tell me to be skeptical about what i learn in school. To not be afraid to find my own information, ideally he wanted me to be reading my 'bahble' but it was the opposite. I spent a lot of my time reading philosophy, history, or other religious texts...
Deep down i think no religion felt genuine or made sense at all to me from the beginning.
I have two kids also and i notice that without my dad around them they dont ever have a need for god or barely even ask me what happens after death. They're playmates bring up a god and they just shrug and say i dont think there is a god...

[jessie]

Yes i would say so, because everything happened or couldn't happen without god. They would pray for things to happen, and surprise surprise nothing would happen. It seemed like prayer worked like a placebo did. My father who was the most strict religious guy i knew would always tell me to be skeptical about what i learn in school. To not be afraid to find my own information, ideally he wanted me to be reading my 'bahble' but it was the opposite. I spent a lot of my time reading philosophy, history, or other religious texts...
Deep down i think no religion felt genuine or made sense at all to me from the beginning.
I have two kids also and i notice that without my dad around them they dont ever have a need for god or barely even ask me what happens after death. They're playmates bring up a god and they just shrug and say i dont think there is a god...

Do you ever feel worried about indoctrination with your children? I know that I worry considering both sides are very religious, especially her father's side. We're no longer together, so I worry what they might be telling her when she sees them without me. She's very young and can barely put together sentences. I'm letting her learn about religion and plan on teaching her about other religions. If she asks me anything I'll be honest and explain why I feel a certain way and hopefully by having exposure to different religions and critical thinking she won't be brainwashed.

[SkepticalGorilla1985]

[/quote]Do you ever feel worried about indoctrination with your children? I know that I worry considering both sides are very religious, especially her father's side. We're no longer together, so I worry what they might be telling her when she sees them without me. She's very young and can barely put together sentences. I'm letting her learn about religion and plan on teaching her about other religions. If she asks me anything I'll be honest and explain why I feel a certain way and hopefully by having exposure to different religions and critical thinking she won't be brainwashed.[/quote]

Well for me the way i see it is that theres an upside and a down. I think children can be amazingly logical, understanding the world without adding any kind of supernatural. The downside would be that can only hold true if the people around them are logical and honest with them. Because they have so much fear due to there ages and lack of understanding theyre easy to accept anything i.e. religion that makes them feel better about the scary world around them.
With my two i always try to be consistent and honest with them. i have a personal interest in many things so i read and try to understand as much as i can, then pass what i know ( or dont have answers for) on to them. Along with trying to convey to them to always have questions and not be afraid of the unknown. At a young age they are more succeptable to believing in fairy tales, but i think as they get older its perfectly ok to try to help them put away childish things...
You have a perfect approach, if you try and force anything you might encounter some resistance. I find that helping my boys understand nature and evolution i think they see that there isnt any reason to believe in any gods. Theres some youtube videos by 'stated clearly' that are animated and pretty informitave about natural sciences. While she might be kind of young now its definately something i recommend for kids.

I worry about what kind of education kids are recieving from public schools. especially in the southern united states, as i think every body ive ever met down here are believers of some kind. What are your thoughts on this?

[jessie]

I worry about what kind of education kids are recieving from public schools. especially in the southern united states, as i think every body ive ever met down here are believers of some kind. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks, that's definitely helpful! I will go check out that page. She likes to watch cartoons so it may be something she might be able to start already. Did you go to school in the South? I'd like to know your experience with that. I've heard a lot of horror stories about how religious people are in certain places, but never experienced it. I'm in the LA county in california. While most people here have some kind of belief, I don't worry too much about it because it is so diverse. When I was in public school, I was exposed to different religions through my friends. I had friends who were Jehovah's witness, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, etc. Only few of my classmates were pushy about their religion (normally Christian) and would ask me to go to Bible club or I've known a couple who'd tell my friends they'd go to hell for the way they act and dress. But since it's only a handful in the school population of 4,000 it wasn't a big deal. I was also friends with a handful of atheists and no one seemed to care about changing their belief or ostracizing them about it.

[SkepticalGorilla1985]

Did you go to school in the South? I'd like to know your experience with that. I've heard a lot of horror stories about how religious people are in certain places, but never experienced it.

No i went to school in the north/midwest, but it was still pretty religious. Growing up in baptist churches and never playing on a team sport due to interference with sunday and wednsday services was hard as a child and preteen. but as far as my schooling went. Most of my classmates were christian and tried to get people to pray and go to bible studies. If you werent a christian you would face some ridicule or just flat out alienation. It wasnt until high school i started meeting people that were different faiths or nonbelievers. but they were few and far between. as a youngster i went to a christian private school for a few years also, and it was definately worse than public school. i can remember everything that had to do with religion for me was negative experiences. i always felt out of place but terrified of going to hell at the same time so i didnt know where to turn. it wasnt till i was in my twenties that i realized i was atheist and hated the idea that there could be a god. now in the south where i am now its super religious but i dont really deal with it because i dont know anybody who is religious. all my the people i choose to be around know that im atheist and i tell my kids theres no reason to think there is a god. So far i havent had to have any confrontations...