Atheist parents?

[kungfualex]

Originally Posted by megenic She once tried to have them baptized behind my back but luckily the priest wouldn't do it. I don't trust her alone with them now.

My ex is half-Jewish and was arguing to have the baby circumcised and I was kind of worried he'd try to have it done behind my back. However, by the end of my 2nd trimester he'd lost interest and we haven't heard from him since.

[nlowe]

I've thought about local preschools/schools and find many of them (esp the nice ones) are religious. I'm not against teaching morals (I think that's great) but wonder if our little one would be shunned if we sent him to one of these preschools, yet openly admit that we are atheists.

[Janine]

Atheist family here too. We haven't run into any issues yet, but we live in a very secular area. Even religious people here rarely talk about religion unless they are talking with other religious people. Religion just doesn't come up. I feel very fortunate that we don't have to worry about that kind of thing.

[USNsis]

DH is an atheist and I consider myself a non-practicing skeptic (I was raised Methodist). We intend to raise DD with an open mind and to support her if she decides to pursue a religious path.

[momma81]

Cool to find this thread - we're atheist, too. I grew up in NY and it was always a non-issue, but we now live in the bible belt and omg....it can be quite awkward. I work for the public school district and I have god shoved in my face by my older co-workers all the time - I never say anything for fear of losing my job, though, I just can't wait to move somewhere more liberal. We're hoping DH get's into a graduate program in Austin, I'm a little worried about Texas, but I've heard Austin is very liberal, so hopefully it won't be as bad as it is here. (in GA)

[Janine]

Originally Posted by momma81 We're hoping DH get's into a graduate program in Austin, I'm a little worried about Texas, but I've heard Austin is very liberal, so hopefully it won't be as bad as it is here. (in GA)

Austin has a very active Atheist community. I don't think you would have many problems. http://www.atheist-community.org/

[Shimpie]

DH is aestheist. I consider myselft Buddhist lite, or just a philosophical Buddhist. I grew up in a Buddhist household and I've lived in mostly secular areas of the country all my life. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been asked if I attend church or what religion I practice. I find it so odd and a bit shocking that neighbors and acquaintances would be all up your business about one's belief system. I must be a bit cloistered (pun intended) in my secular world. My boss is a born again Catholic. He's highly devout and has several photos of Popes, the last supper, and saints in his office. He's never mentioned one word of religion to me. I respect his religion and he doesn't concern himself with what others believe.

DH's parents are spiritual, but do not attend church. They're never been any pressure on raising the grandkids with a Christian influence. My parents would like the grandkids to visit a Buddhist temple on a rare occasion, more for cultural exposure than for the religion. Both DH and I are fine with that.

[momma81]

Originally Posted by Janine Austin has a very active Atheist community. I don't think you would have many problems. http://www.atheist-community.org/

That is so nice to see, thank you!

[MsBurrows]

My husband and I are both atheists and raising our children in a very conservative area. (Rural Alabama). I also homeschool one child, which makes things interesting. Thankfully, I did find a secular homeschooling group in the nearby bigger city, so we aren't completely alone.

We've been away from family since before having children, so though we now living 2.5-5 hours from family, no one thinks how we raise our children is their business.

We run into some slightly uncomfortable things (prayer at PTO meetings, etc). But it's part of the culture I was raised in and I shrug it off pretty easily.

Monday in karate class the teacher asked the kids "Who believes in the power of prayer?" and every child's hand shot up but my girls. I was nervous, but nothing negative was said to them and they didn't seem phased by being different.