Can Atheists Be Parents?

*nhboy* ^(Premo) · 01-03-2008, 03:13 AM

"After six years of childless marriage, John and Cynthia Burke of Newark decided to adopt a baby boy through a state agency. Since the Burkes were young, scandal-free and solvent, they had no trouble with the New Jersey Bureau of Children's Services—until investigators came to the line on the application that asked for the couple's religious affiliation."

Can Atheists Be Parents? - TIME

*Larry Gude* ^(Premo) · 01-03-2008, 05:10 AM

...believe they can.

smoothmarine187 · 01-03-2008, 05:56 AM

That's stupid, it's like saying that people who don't believe in Santa Claus can't be parents.

*Larry Gude* ^(Premo) · 01-03-2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothmarine187

That's stupid, it's like saying that people who don't believe in Santa Claus can't be parents.

...a joke.

Atheists. I don't believe. Get it?

Kain99 · 01-03-2008, 06:03 AM

Just to play devil's advocate:

How effective can a parent be, if he believes in nothing?

smoothmarine187 · 01-03-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...a joke.

Atheists. I don't believe. Get it?

I wasn't referring to what you said, I was talking about the original post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain99

Just to play devil's advocate:

How effective can a parent be, if he believes in nothing?

Just because other people believe in it, why does that make it real? The Greeks believed their gods were real also.

Hules · 01-03-2008, 06:16 AM

Atheists can be parents. They face difficulty when it comes time to explain death to a child. No child wants to know that when they die, they'll rot in the ground. Believing in a higher power provides that comfort of a better place after death.

*mAlice* ^(Premo) · 01-03-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain99

Just to play devil's advocate:

How effective can a parent be, if he believes in nothing?

It has worked out just fine for me. How effective are parents who believe in fairy tales?

*Dye Tied* ^(Premo) · 01-03-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain99

Just to play devil's advocate:

How effective can a parent be, if he believes in nothing?

Atheists don't believe in nothing. They just don't believe what organized religion says.

Kain99 · 01-03-2008, 06:42 AM

Can you really have a moral compass with no foundation?

Devil*

01-03-2008, 03:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
nhboy ^(Premo) Don't Tase Me, Bro! Member Since: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,662	Can Atheists Be Parents? "After six years of childless marriage, John and Cynthia Burke of Newark decided to adopt a baby boy through a state agency. Since the Burkes were young, scandal-free and solvent, they had no trouble with the New Jersey Bureau of Children's Services—until investigators came to the line on the application that asked for the couple's religious affiliation." Can Atheists Be Parents? - TIME __________________ "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it" (Terry Prachett) The Pledge Disabled American Veterans The Marine Defense Fund Medical Aid for Iraqi Children
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01-03-2008, 05:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Larry Gude ^(Premo) Strung Out Member Since: Feb 2001 Posts: 25,366	I don't... ...believe they can. __________________ "I see you as nothing but an ass-kissing jerk whose is a troublemaker and although not very nice of me to say, I hope you die in a fire." Pandora
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01-03-2008, 05:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
smoothmarine187 Arbitrary Commentator Member Since: Nov 2005 Location: At the Coffee Shop Posts: 14,461	That's stupid, it's like saying that people who don't believe in Santa Claus can't be parents.
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01-03-2008, 06:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kain99 Hope Eternal Member Since: Sep 2002 Location: Leonardtown Posts: 24,121	Just to play devil's advocate: How effective can a parent be, if he believes in nothing? __________________ The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC), in Plato, Dialogues, Apology
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01-03-2008, 06:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hules Curly locks! Member Since: Jun 2006 Location: SoMD Posts: 69	Atheists can be parents. They face difficulty when it comes time to explain death to a child. No child wants to know that when they die, they'll rot in the ground. Believing in a higher power provides that comfort of a better place after death. __________________ Whatever, I do what I want!
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01-03-2008, 06:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
Kain99 Hope Eternal Member Since: Sep 2002 Location: Leonardtown Posts: 24,121	Can you really have a moral compass with no foundation? Devil* __________________ The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC), in Plato, Dialogues, Apology
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