Perhaps I should present my situation to stay on topic: I was raised without any sort of religion. It is a completely foreign concept to me. My parents said if I wanted to believe I could, it was my choice, but never come back and berate other family members for not believing if I chose to believe.

So, as I got older and "wiser", I chose to be an Atheist because it fit with my intellectual view on the world. I remain so to this day. I do not push my beliefs on anyone, nor do I ridicule them for their beliefs. I do however believe religion is a personal matter and should be kept to one's self, not forced on others. I also believe it should be kept out of government, as in my case, the US constitution and the "separation of church and state" verbiage. This line has been "greyed" as of late and I find this tremendously disturbing.

I do have one family member on my wife's side that is a militant Christian. He has not pushed anything on me, probably because he knows my mindset and we continue to have a good relationship.

Welcome back Anisha.

What do you do now? Is it still work from home in your case?

What type of stay at home classes does your daughter get? (Since schools have not re opened in India).

What type of learning platform / learning management system (eg. Moodle) does your daughter's school use?


AP

Hello, I hope all is well with you and yours.

Kind regard,
SAM

Resurrecting a three-year old thread? But, an interesting one.

If you are "strongly religious" and your child now appears not to be, or vice-versa, "let it go." If your child questions you "strongly," as a child might well do, answer "calmly."

I suggest that people – child or adult – should be taught to think for themselves, "without fear or favor." Always realizing that there are other opinions and that those "other opinions" might be very strongly held. Teach them to be sensitive towards others. Teach them that they do not have to engage in combat in such situations, even if invited to. Teach them that they actually don't have to say anything at all, if so inclined.

"Right" and "Wrong" sounds like a binary decision, but it very rarely is. If you're convinced that your position, whatever it may be, is "certain," then there is probably something that you don't know. (Especially if you now feel fit to "defend" it.) Or maybe, something that is yet to be known. Or maybe, something that cannot (yet?) be known. (Yes. Plenty of such things exist ...)

- - -

But also, particularly with regards to this subject ... religion ... to behave with sensitivity to what other people may think. "Religion is not an 'ordinary' subject, and to some people, neither is 'science.'" One's own position on this matter is intensely personal, whether or not it is also private.

You can do a lot of harm to people, even without realizing it or intending to do it, if you try to press your point too hard. And, it is rarely productive to do so. (The Good Book refers to this essential notion as: "sinning against your brother," and – "sinning" aside – it is a very important point that you can do so: that you can be in the wrong even when you are right.)

State your personal belief (if you want to), and then let it go. Or, as I generally prefer, say, "how very interesting." Do try to show people the common courtesy of showing them that you are actually listening, even if you never intend to agree. You can be the one to courteously end the exchange without replying.

I think it depends a lot on the age of the child. Small children need to be taught whatever their parents believe to be true (for example that it is dangerous to poke anything into that inviting little square hole in the wall). For thousands of years, the survival of children, (and therefore indirectly of the human race) has depended on their believing and obeying their parents.

The teen years are the time for questioning and making up your own mind, and then parents can indeed do a lot of harm by too much dogmatism.