Today’s contribution comes from the Timid Atheist, who was luckily not so timid that she couldn’t e-mail.
…I am a better person and a better mother.
I accepted my atheism about a year and a half ago. Which came about via my search in regards to feminism. Since then I’ve learned more about atheism, humanism, feminism and LGBT activism than I ever thought possible. I’m still learning to be a better person, but I’ve come a long way from how I use to be. And I’ve donated more to worthy causes in the past year and a half than I have my entire life. And I did it because I wanted to not because I felt guilted into it by my “faith.”
I have more patience for my child and I have better responses to her questions than ever before. And I’m so glad this happened before she experienced puberty so I can be there for her when all of the really difficult personal things happen. While my daughter doesn’t know that I”m an atheist yet, she knows that things are a bit different for me in regards to how I view god and the bible and she is okay with that.
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Welcome aboard, Timid! As an atheist parent myself, I’m right there with you. I’m having a great time showing my daughter some of the wonders of the universe–looking through my telescope, explaining how far away the Moon and Sun are, what’s on other planets, like Venus (my car would melt there–she loved that one), how insects are put together, what if you could see things smaller than germs. And all without any of the religious baggage people feel you have to tack on early so kids grow up thinking it’s all manipulated behind the scenes by a deity.
I don’t talk to her about religion unless she asks (which she’s done a couple times), but when she does I try to explain it evenhandedly. (Though I have to admit my answer about Noah’s Ark was less than kind to the Bible–I want to keep an open mind, but I won’t try to tell her that indiscriminate genocide can somehow be a good thing.) She’s learning that the world works according to physical processes we understand by observing them.
And if I don’t know the answer to a given question, I say so–often followed by “but we could look it up.”
I love it. Thanks for sharing Timid Atheist!
Hmm. Timid Atheist undersells herself. She hasn’t just been learning about activism. She’s been doing some, even if it doesn’t seem like much to her.
I find myself quite often talking to my daughter about things and telling her about the things I know and usually suggesting we look it up for more information or to clarify or correct what I’ve said.
Kudos to you for being an awesome parent, Leon.
Oh now you’re gonna make me blush, but thank you, Stephanie. I’ve been doing my best with what I’ve been learning. It’s a rough road, but knowing there are places like FTB where I can learn and find a safe place to grow makes this a worthwhile journey to me.