Atheist/Religious/Question! How would you react if...

[CurtSibling]

...Your kid announced he/she was going to live contrary to your beliefs?

Choose your scenario!

(1) Religious Posters:
How would you react if your offspring announced they had chosen to be Atheist?

(2) Atheist Posters:
How would you react if your offspring announced they had chosen to be Religious?

Assume the lifestyle they have chosen is no just 'soft', but the full ideological deal.

So what would you do? Get angry? Not care? Lock them up? Send them to military camp?
Tell me (and everyone else) what would happen if your kid chose a philosphy you dislike.

Fire away!

.

 

[Sidhe]

Couldn't give a damn what they believed so long as it didn't harm them or anyone else. If spaghettimonsterism or pink unicornism or Judaism or Chatolicism is your thing, by all means go for it.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Say "Fine! Just as long as it's clear that I disagree fully and I think you're being stupid. It's really not my business."

 

[puglover]

I'd be terribly distraught, but as long as my child would still be seeking truth, I would let him go.

 

[Gladi]

Bright day
I would be more distraught if my children joined some wackier religion then if their lacked hope in existance of God.

 

[Truronian]

I wouldn't mind, so long as (s)he doesn't do anything dangerous (eg. blood rituals). I would probably end up debating the subject at length with him/her. I doubt it would ever happen though.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

First reaction - Cut their goolies off.

Real reaction - After have calmed down, tell them that they are still loved, that their own beliefs are worthy of respect, that blood is thicker than water, and that nothing will stop me being their father. Give them a hearty embrace and handshake.


Then, when they are off guard, draw the Ka Bar from its secret sheath, hold it high in the air, glinting devilishly in the sun, and bringing it down with a ululating and visceral cry of triumph, cut their goolies off and flush them down the nearest latrine. Act like nothing has happened, and say that we will talk it over again in the morning.

 

[soul_warrior]

i hope i would be able to teach them in advance to seek the answers they need within themselves.
if going orthodox (whatever) is what they need so be it.

i WILL however, try to show them other options.

if they were to decide a CULT is thier thing, i would do my utmost to dissuade them.
if all fails, ill hope for the best and wait it out.
i would also sieze ALL of thier (and my) assets, so they WILL have something left when they grow out of it.

how do i define a CULT?
EASY:
1. you have to turn your back on your family, friends, etc.
2. you wear funny clothes (optional)
3. you give all your money to others (the guru, "charity")
4. you are not allowed to think, just do as the head priest says.

if any 2 options apply....

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

I am 14 so I don't have to deal with this problem. If I had a kid and he was religious I would forbid them from anything that has to do with religeon

 

[civ2]

Basic opinion:
Regardless whether the parents are atheistic or religious their children won't change their minds if they see their parents live according to their belief.
(Again - Atheism is also a belief "in nothing". (Yeah - except the science god! ))
But if they do - that's the fault of (also lack of adequate guiding by) the parents.
Nobody to blame but yourselves.
They should start the education with themselves as the first and strongest examples their children are gonna see.

 

[silver 2039]

As long as my non-existant kid didn't join Chrstianity, Islam, Judaisim I have no problem with it (or some wacked out cult). I despise large, organzied, evelangical, religons. Any Eastern religon I have no problem with. Eastern religons are so much more philopshical, logical, sensible, and non-offensive and dangerous.

Though I guess if it really comes down to it I have no choice in the matter...meh I would still make my dissapproval clear and I would take a piss out of their religon (in a joking manner, I do that to every relgous person I know)

Though really I wouldn't actually care. Religon is so unimportant its really stupid everyone pays it far too much attention. Screw it I say. Also I wouldn't teach my child about atheisim or whatever. I would let them make up their own mind, none of this nonsesne "training" that religous people like to do.

 

[Kozmos]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! /darthvader

Why cant you just be a honest Flying Spaghetti Monsterist like me? YAAAAR!
-----------
Whatever it's your life, just you dont cry when I clone you and raise your clone to be an atheist.

 

[CurtSibling]

First reaction - Cut their goolies off.

Real reaction - After have calmed down, tell them that they are still loved, that their own beliefs are worthy of respect, that blood is thicker than water, and that nothing will stop me being their father. Give them a hearty embrace and handshake.


Then, when they are off guard, draw the Ka Bar from its secret sheath, hold it high in the air, glinting devilishly in the sun, and bringing it down with a ululating and visceral cry of triumph, cut their goolies off and flush them down the nearest latrine. Act like nothing has happened, and say that we will talk it over again in the morning.

That is some praiseworthy parenthood!

 

[Simon Darkshade]

I'm an advocate of tough love. If they defy my will, then they aren't going to pollute the bloodline with their insubordination.

 

[CurtSibling]

I'm an advocate of tough love. If they defy my will, then they aren't going to pollute the bloodline with their insubordination.

Verily!

Imagine if your cloned heir strode into the study of thee Darkshade Manor and
declared he was hereby growing dreadlocks, living with protestors and joining
a cult of communist, lesbian militants...

I am afraid it would be time to offer old Dr. Heissmeyer a new test-subject!

 

[Simon Darkshade]

If he did that, clone or blood son, I'd shoot him between the eyes, and definitely cut the Doctor's allowance. Probably even ground him.

Tsk. The initial reply was quite serious, except for the fact it would probably be a Fairbairn Sykes dagger, as the Ka Bar is kept away in its cute little case.

 

[7ronin]

Already happened - both ways. My wife and I made our choices. Our children are adults and free to make theirs.

 

[Shadylookin]

I'd send them to simon

I would let them have their choice of religion, but i certaintly wouldn't tolerate them preaching to me.

 

[Mathilda]

I tolerate religious people very well as long as they don't preach to me.
Heck, my brother is a missionary in Africa atm I get on with him no problems.
I guess the same would apply to the kids.
Anyway, if they at church they're less likely to be robbing grannies.
Agree with soul warrior about cults.
Depending on their age at which this happened as well..

Oh, I'm in the clear up to now.
My older son (age 8) tells me that he agrees with historical Jesus having existed but doesn't believe in his divinity. Great lad.

 

[CaptainF]

Why in the hell should I care? What matters is whether or not they are happy with their life. Thats all that matters for everyone really.

The only scenario in which I wouldn't agree was if they told me they intended to draw blood to quench the thirst of their god/kill some jezebel heathens/be a total a-hole to the non-believers. But then again, what the hell can I do? Its his life, and his choice, as long as he doesn't preach or whine about god to me, i'm in the clear.

Like silver 2039 said, people give far too much importance to religion when it is such a marginal part of one's life. Either way, if I do have children in the future, I won't indoctrinate them at all. Best to leave them to make up their own minds. Thats what my parents did, and I turned out fine, right?