Sunday School for Atheists

[This_person]

But even if the relationships 'given' by god are ours to take or walk away from then they are or are not our own doing, and not gods.

and as for the constitution (or any laws really) .... well people choose to break or uphold that document every day.

(I'll be honest I didn't really see where you were going with that one).

I didn't do a very good job with my metaphor, but...

You say they are our own doing or not, not God's. If they weren't given as an option (if God didn't give them to us) we would not have them to choose. They are God's gift, and our choice.

 

[forever jewel]

Or you could just designate Sunday as Family Day. No friends, no TV and no Phone, just a day as a family.

I agree. I don't see why parents have to send their kids away to some "Sunday School" to learn values and morals. Parents need to take responsibility and teach their kids, such values at home; this would allow for the kids to build upon these values with their outside experiences.

 

[vraiblonde]

God gives us the framework, the country, the freedoms, the moral base to know how to choose.

Lately I've been staying out of these types of pointless discussions, but I must ask you:

What did WE do to deserve this framework, country and freedom that folks in other countries apparently do not deserve?

We are just as stupid and corrupt a nation as any other, yet we got the awesome Constitution and representative government, while Iraqis got a dictator who fed them into the woodchipper and raped their daughters for sport. Africans get tribal wars and famine. What did the Jews do to earn the Holocaust from God?

Do you really believe that we, as Americans, are somehow entitled to this bounty that people of other countries do not receive? That Lindsay Lohan and John Allen Muhammad somehow deserve this largesse, yet starving AIDS-ridden children in third-world countries do not?

Seriously?

 

[vraiblonde]

I agree. I don't see why parents have to send their kids away to some "Sunday School" to learn values and morals.

Actually, parents send their children to Sunday school to A) learn about Christianity and Jesus; and B) congregate with other kids who are being taught the same values and morals. Parents can either send their kid to Sunday school and Youth Group, or they can let them sit home and watch sluts and thugs on MTV.

Pick it. :shrug:

 

[forever jewel]

Actually, parents send their children to Sunday school to A) learn about Christianity and Jesus; and B) congregate with other kids who are being taught the same values and morals.
Pick it. :shrug:

I was referring to the atheist Sunday school (as is the subject of this thread).

Parents can either send their kid to Sunday school and Youth Group, or they can let them sit home and watch sluts and thugs on MTV.

That is what I don't agree with. You should NOT force other people to teach your kids morals and values. It is the parents who should teach their children values at home. I understand the purpose of Sunday school, but they need to improve their morals/values everyday, whether at home or in public.

Its not a wonder why kids disrespect their parents nowadays. Parents don't demand anything from them. If kids respected their parents, then parents would worry about their kids watching sluts & thugs on tv. That wouldn't be allowed on TV. Simple as that.

 

[vraiblonde]

That is what I don't agree with. You should NOT force other people to teach your kids morals and values.

I'm not sure I understand. WHO is forcing other people to teach their kids morals and values?

 

[Xaquin44]

I didn't do a very good job with my metaphor, but...

You say they are our own doing or not, not God's. If they weren't given as an option (if God didn't give them to us) we would not have them to choose. They are God's gift, and our choice.

But they weren't 'given by god' .... I mean when my grandparents got together, my grandfather wasn't some gift from heaven just for my grandmother .... he was my greatgrandparents son. Which is just fine and wonderful.

 

[Xaquin44]

Actually, parents send their children to Sunday school to A) learn about Christianity and Jesus; and B) congregate with other kids who are being taught the same values and morals. Parents can either send their kid to Sunday school and Youth Group, or they can let them sit home and watch sluts and thugs on MTV.

Pick it. :shrug:

woah woah .... There are many other options on sundays lol

(or were you being sarcastic?)

(If you were, I apologize)

 

[mAlice]

I think this is a good idea. They should have lessons on why we believe there are no deities.

 

[vraiblonde]

(or were you being sarcastic?)

No, I was more exaggerating to make a point. Sure, there are tons of things for kids to do on Sunday, but Sunday school and Youth Group are better ways of occupying them rather than some other things they might get into.

I sent my kids to Sunday school and they also went to Youth Group. It doesn't hurt to broaden their horizons and let them experience harmless beliefs outside the home.

 

[vraiblonde]

They should have lessons on why we believe there are no deities.

I summed it up for you in one sentence last night - it was a short lesson.

 

[Xaquin44]

No, I was more exaggerating to make a point. Sure, there are tons of things for kids to do on Sunday, but Sunday school and Youth Group are better ways of occupying them rather than some other things they might get into.

I sent my kids to Sunday school and they also went to Youth Group. It doesn't hurt to broaden their horizons and let them experience harmless beliefs outside the home.

ah gotcha (I was in youth group for a long time (some of the best times of my life)).

 

[mAlice]

I summed it up for you in one sentence last night - it was a short lesson.

I agree, however it's an opinion that needs to be substantiated. We also need to give our children the tools to stand their ground and know what they're talking about when a believer challenges them.

 

[vraiblonde]

I agree, however it's an opinion that needs to be substantiated. We also need to give our children the tools to stand their ground and know what they're talking about when a believer challenges them.

Why?

If somebody came up to me and started telling me that Santa Claus was real, I would engage them for as long as it amused me, then I'd move on without a backward glance.

 

[vraiblonde]

I just believe what I believe, and don't need a support group to reinforce it or back it up.

:shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

But what would be cool is what you, mAlice, suggested last night - a religion study group that explores the beliefs of all religions and their evolution in society. I would definitely do something like that. But a group where everyone just sat around and talked about why they don't believe in God sounds very boring to me. Unless there was beer and food involved.

 

[mAlice]

Why?

If somebody came up to me and started telling me that Santa Claus was real, I would engage them for as long as it amused me, then I'd move on without a backward glance.

As an adult who doesn't deal with peer pressure, this is the obvious response. Children and teenagers, even some young adults, tend to follow things that appear trendy or cool. They spend a lot of years trying to figure out who they are, what they stand for, where they're going.

Knowledge is power.

 

[mAlice]

But what would be cool is what you, mAlice, suggested last night - a religion study group that explores the beliefs of all religions and their evolution in society. I would definitely do something like that. But a group where everyone just sat around and talked about why they don't believe in God sounds very boring to me. Unless there was beer and food involved.

It all goes together. You really can't have one without the other...in my opinion. As we have both said, religion is fascinating, but just as interesting are the theories as to how religion/christianity came to be.

 

[vraiblonde]

Children and teenagers, even some young adults, tend to follow things that appear trendy or cool.

It's unlikely that the teen mainstream will ever get all about God.

 

[vraiblonde]

just as interesting are the theories as to how religion/christianity came to be.

THAT is very interesting - the human behavior aspect of it. But I still maintain that sitting around discussing WHY you don't believe in God is boring. To me, the answer is very simple and doesn't merit discussion.