Hi

[Mr.PinkEyes]

Many greetings to you Skip from me in Canberra. Enjoy the scenery here!

[Efemral]

Hi Skip,

Your particular subject of interest is something I think about a lot.

I have two you girls, one who is 6 the other only 20 months old.

The 6 year old, Beth, is a very bright, clever and happy girl. She loves science and I think this is partly due to my love of science rubbing off. We often do kitchen experiments at home and she always asks me about the universe. Luckily as I have a pretty good science knowledge I'm able to give good answers, and if I fail we look it up together.

As for religion I was a little depressed at first by the choices she had at primary school. Either go to scripture, or be one of the very few 'odd ones out' who don't go and just sit around watching movies. Really got my goat.

Also, my wife who is religious, started letting her go to an after school care run by the local christian church where the kids have a great time, but also are taught all about Jesus. etc.

When first she started asking me questions about god and praying etc, I was suddenly at a loss what to say.

In the end I decided to go along with it, to answer her questions the way I would have if I'd remained the Christian I grew up as. Why? Because I just can't bear to break her heart and tell her that her beloved Grandmother, who died last year, who was one of the most important people in her life, is actually not proud of everything she is doing, is not still ok, but is actually gone forever.

The reason I'm writing this to you (and everyone else who reads it) is that I would rather actually begin her more rational education immediately. If you have any arguments that convince me that I made the wrong decision then I'd really like to hear them.

As it stands though, I think that, considering her upbringing is %1000 less religious than mine was, and that I plan to gradually reveal more and more of my skeptical, rational way of thinking to her over time, that she will have plenty of time in life to think about these things. Right now, I honestly believe she is much happier this way.

Look forward to hearing anyone's thoughts.

(Also, hope it's ok that I put this in this particular thread.)

[DanDare]

Gday Skip! And Efemeral.

[EvilDRMike]

Welcome Skip and good news on the one less catlick. Unfortunately they do breed so fast :-(.

EDM

[Logic please]

A late welcome to the forum Skip, glad you found us.