Comments on: Should atheist parents teach their kids about religion?

By: democommie

democommie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:38 +0000

David J:

Well, as you may have noticed, I don’t engage him at the level of “angels dancing on pinheads”. He IS an asshole and his arguments which morph as one or another commenters question him on one of his assertions, are based solely on his personal beliefs and his interpretation of the writings of others. I find it strange that someone whose professional life is supposedly based on empiricism (he is an astrophysicist) can so blithely ignore the paradox between using the rigors of science at his teaching gig and then abandoning them when it come to his “faith”.

As you say, douchebags will be douchebags.

By: David J

David J — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:06:27 +0000

Yeah, I was over there a bit and the dude CANNOT READ! I don’t think he actually reads people’s sentences in order to glean meaning, I think he reads them in order to find something he can twist or turn so that he has the advantage. In every conversation, we filter what we hear and it seems to me that the dude has very, very selective filters for what he hears or wants to hear. I’m sympathetic to believers like him, but when they turn asshole, as he does, my respect and sympathy give way to pity. I tried pointing that out to him, and that his methods of “building up the kingdom of god” are counter-productive, but all I got was a WOOSH sound as it whizzed by his head unnoticed. Oh well. Douche bags will be douche bags I suppose.

By: democommie

democommie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:56:21 +0000

David J:

Yup. Mr. heddle is a piece of work. He pretty much ignores me these days, as I don’t play his game and just say whatever I think will get him pissed off. He is intellectually dishonest and nasty to folks who are genuinely polite but–understandably–a bit puzzled by his demeanor and lack of logic.

By: David J

David J — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:16:28 +0000

democommie,

I haven’t had time to comment yet, but man, that is some awesome shit. Heddle is a freak!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:36:40 +0000

I think you would almost have to teach your children about religion. I do a lot of babysitting for two families- both of whom are moderately religious. I’ve already heard them tell me about bible school, church camp, etc, and ask me where I attended.

I ended up listening politely but eventually having to gently tell them that I wasn’t particularly religious and just redirected the conversation. It was no big deal, but my point is that these conversations will come up between children.

So unless you’d like to homeschool your child and choose only godless playmates for them, then you’re gonna have to say something sometime.

By: democommie

democommie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:23:20 +0000

I have no children. If I did I would teach them about religions, but I would not teach them a religion.

David J.:

It has been some fun over at this blogthread:

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/06/calvin_v_darwin_this_time_its.php#comments

just editsearch for “heddle” and see what you get.

By: Arya Eshraghi

Arya Eshraghi — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:56:38 +0000

Does it make sense not to!? Not understanding religion is the reason so many people are still religious! Of course this should be done at a proper age. Telling a child about these things when he still believes in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy will not really sink that well because a divine being who watches people take shits in the bathroom isn’t too far away a concept. Also it is quite apparent that the vast majority of people from a secular and thinking background grow up to be skeptics themselves despite any religious influence of outside parties. It is just important to provide the critical thinking base and encourage the child to question things he/she does not know or understand.

By: David J

David J — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:36:56 +0000

Here’s the real conundrum, for me. Suppose we raise our little ones to think critically, to examine, to long for freedom, etc. and they wind up in their adult life choosing faith in god(s). They wind up thinking that The Trinity makes sense, that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant word of a loving god, what have you. That would suck. But would it? I mean, if I raise my son to think clearly and question outrageous crap, and for whatever reason he goes over to religion, would I have a problem with that? I hope not. I hope not…