10-02-2010, 06:03 AM
My wife, my son and I were sitting at the dinner table last night. I asked how his day was and he said he had his worst day at school ever. The teacher had asked the students to say something they specially like or enjoy about their family. When it was my son's turn he stood in front of the class and said he likes how his parents treat him. That they're strict with school work and house chores but at the same time encourage him to think for himself and make his own decisions. That he didn't have to be a Yankees fan like his dad or believe in God like his mom.
At this point another student interrupted him and asked 'So you don't believe in God?", he said no and the whole class went silent. He said he could feel the tension and that from that moment on nobody spoke to him for the rest of the day. Except the teacher who took him aside and told him he should be very happy that his parents let him think for himself. He seemed kind of fine with the whole thing as if they'd be ok the next day. There was no sign that he regretted having said it. His attitude was more like it was their problem for reacting like that – not his. The only part that seemed to bother him was that his best friend too stayed away from him. He wondered why he'd treat him like that when he never had a problem with his friend being religious.
His lack of belief was news to us. For a moment I thought my wife being Christian would freak out and even lash out and blame me. She didn’t. She was more concerned with him being ostracized. He assured her that he’d be fine and that the kids will be ok with it too. He said that everybody in his class believes in God so it was difficult for them to hear somebody who doesn’t, but that it’d be all right. I wanted to ask him a lot of questions but didn’t want to make a big deal out of it so when my wife changed the subject I went with it.
As an atheist I’ve always thought I’d want my kids to not believe in God, but I can’t say I was happy to hear it. I was left with mixed feelings. On one hand I’m glad he rejects this superstitious belief, on the other I wonder if, at age 11, he has put any thought into it. I’d hate if he rejects God only because he knows I do. I have never pushed my ideas on him, but I make no secret of them either. Every single person in our circle of family and friends are believers and when they ask me I’d tell them I don’t believe and if I’m challenged on it I’d defend my reasons for not believing in any God. He may have been influenced and I’m not totally ok with that. I’m kind of hoping he’d soon tell me he’s a Mets fan.
from reddit
At this point another student interrupted him and asked 'So you don't believe in God?", he said no and the whole class went silent. He said he could feel the tension and that from that moment on nobody spoke to him for the rest of the day. Except the teacher who took him aside and told him he should be very happy that his parents let him think for himself. He seemed kind of fine with the whole thing as if they'd be ok the next day. There was no sign that he regretted having said it. His attitude was more like it was their problem for reacting like that – not his. The only part that seemed to bother him was that his best friend too stayed away from him. He wondered why he'd treat him like that when he never had a problem with his friend being religious.
His lack of belief was news to us. For a moment I thought my wife being Christian would freak out and even lash out and blame me. She didn’t. She was more concerned with him being ostracized. He assured her that he’d be fine and that the kids will be ok with it too. He said that everybody in his class believes in God so it was difficult for them to hear somebody who doesn’t, but that it’d be all right. I wanted to ask him a lot of questions but didn’t want to make a big deal out of it so when my wife changed the subject I went with it.
As an atheist I’ve always thought I’d want my kids to not believe in God, but I can’t say I was happy to hear it. I was left with mixed feelings. On one hand I’m glad he rejects this superstitious belief, on the other I wonder if, at age 11, he has put any thought into it. I’d hate if he rejects God only because he knows I do. I have never pushed my ideas on him, but I make no secret of them either. Every single person in our circle of family and friends are believers and when they ask me I’d tell them I don’t believe and if I’m challenged on it I’d defend my reasons for not believing in any God. He may have been influenced and I’m not totally ok with that. I’m kind of hoping he’d soon tell me he’s a Mets fan.
from reddit