I'm an atheist, my child has become religious and I'm proud of her for challenging my indoctrination

[rug]

I remember being taken aback when her choice of memento from the gift shop at Durham Cathedral was not a fluffy toy but a carved wooden cross



Una embraced the Church of England after attending a religious primary school

Siobhan O'Neill
6 days ago

In a parallel universe, the version of me that didn’t choose to send her daughters to a Church of England school is having slothful lie-ins on Sunday mornings following a slightly gluttonous night on the prosecco lusting after James McAvoy and feeling huge pride that she managed it without a hangover.

Instead, while I’m not losing any sleep over how many deadly sins I ticked off in a twelve hour period, I am leaping out of bed in time to get my oldest daughter – Una – to church, Googling “what is a confirmation” and making arrangements for Father Michael to pop round for tea.

My partner Ian and I are happy atheists (or perhaps agnostics, I’m never too sure) with some strong negative feelings regarding organised religions, coupled with a cheery tolerance of people with faith. A bit like they say about religion being like a penis. I’m happy for you that you’ve got one, just don’t wave it in my face.

So as Una, now 12, has increasingly embraced religion, things have got progressively weird for us.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/christianity-children-confirmation-schooling-atheist-parenting-a7627086.html

[appleannie1943]

1. As long as she does not become 'stick it in your face' don't worry about it. I have a sister

that is a full blown 'born again' evangelical that speaks tongues, yet we still manage to love one another.

[rug]

2. It looks like they have pretty good commnication.

Hopefully it will last a olifetime.

[guillaumeb]

3. Recommended:

And, in an example of saving the best for the last:

It seemed obvious that my role was to support her journey to discover herself and I didn’t consider it until a Muslim friend said she thought it was admirable. “If a child wanted to explore a religion other than their own I don’t know too many families who would support that,” she said. Since childhood indoctrination is one of the things I like least about religion, I’m proud of Una for challenging my own atheist indoctrination of her.