Reply #250: Raising agnostic teen and pre teen kids.

[Sheepshank]

they don't steal, or kill. They don't lie (a lot), they stick up for friends, they befriend those on the 'out'. They are polite and respectful. We do not practice any religion. We don't talk about god or jesus. We don't read the bible. I live in a very mormon area...tons of fundies here. We, as a family appear more agnostic than anything else. As a family we occasionally talk about the the magical thinking that is religion...history of many ancient, controlling, magical thinking. In school, they have been told some pretty harsh and disrespectful things about their soul and the lack of any ability to be 'good' without religion. But the reality is that they have already dispelled the idea that a moral compass is ONLY created by magical thinking. They know that decency is inside, inherent in a person, and religion guarantees nothing. I hope 'reason' continues to rattle around in their heads as they are away from home more often and around those that firmly believe that magical thinking is necessary to be a decent human being.