Anyone have Good Sites for Parenting tips, advice -

[melv]

for raising a free thinking child?

[trotsky]

1. We're in the process of trying to do so.

It's tough. I view religious thinking as a dangerous thing that shouldn't be introduced to young minds before they learn to think critically.

Try this book: Dan Barker's Just Pretend: A Freethought Book for Children.
http://www.ffrf.org/shop/books/details.php?cat=fbooks&ID=FB4

It's written for children but lays out a nice approach on how to talk to your kids about god-related stuff as it comes up.

[PassingFair]

2. Try Internet Infidels...

They have good people to answer most every question. I think the addy is www.infidels.org

[Gelliebeans]

3. I can second

the recommendation by trotsky, it is a good book. I think where you are located in the U.S. can be tricky when trying to raise a free thinker. For instance I live in California so I haven't had as many problems.

He has attended public schools with many children of diverse religious backgrounds which I think is great. The hardest part being an atheist or agnostic child is feeling left out and children can be notoriously cruel to the child that is different. I imagine it might be harder within the bible belt.


Little story ** this year he had a girl in his class who was a fundamental xian and she proselytized every chance she got. One day she informed my kid that he was a devil worshiper because he didn't go to church. He turned to her and said "thats your boogieman not mine". We discussed this prior in case this situation might arise and he handled it beautifully. Not bad for a twelve year old eh?

[melv]

4. wow - good for him!

it sounds like you have armed him well with the skills to deal with such instances.

We live in the Bible belt, and there is little diversity. I would LOVE some diversity! As it is, most everyone is fundie xian.

[onager]

5. Not a parent, but I can sympathize

...since I grew up in the Buy-bull Belt. And I seem end up talking about religion with relatives every time I go back to visit.

You probably see this attitude all the time: "Well, everybody who lives here is Xian. So if we want to have a prayer played over the public school loudspeakers, we should be able to."

I've only made a little progress by asking them how they'd feel if their kids were the minority. Unfortunately, most of them refuse to see that side of it. "Well, they're not!"