On a whim, I decided to pick up a book on raising children without religion: Parenting Beyond Belief, edited by Dale McGowan. It looks like an interesting read. Here are a few quotes from the margins:
“If you teach a generation of children that they are sinful creatures by nature, that left on their own they are morally corrupt, deserving of eternal torment in Hell, that they are not to be trusted to think their own (selfish, evil) thoughts, all of this can become — has become — a self-fulfilling prophecy.” - Dan Barker
“We must give ourselves a good hard mental swat every time we feel inclined to mock, sneer, or roll our eyes at those whose beliefs differ from our own. You’ll know you’ve failed at this the first time you see your kids mocking or sneering at religious belief.” - Dale McGowan, Ph.D.
“Many people believe that death is probably the final end of all personal experience. … It is precisely the fact that our lives are limited that makes them precious. How we choose to use our time is all the more important when we know that we won’t have the opportunity to do everything.” - Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons
