Won't believe in God but will make sure my kids do

[meredith101]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7151346 .stm

I find this pretty disheartening. Nice that he admits he doesn't believe in God, risking alienating the God Bods, but to then say you'll educate the kids in a christian tradition? How messed up is that? It's not like you're telling them about Santa and the Tooth Fairy. You're telling them about he fundamentals of their existence, and how they were born into sin but redeemed by a man who lived 2000 years ago, who was kind of God himself, and who is now in a piece of bread in a box in church, and that they should do what they say in that church otherwise if they die they will go to a big fire for ever and ever. Then the kids hit 16 and realise Dad didn't believe any of this stuff himself, he just forced it on to them while they were stil to young to think their way out of it; JUST to keep the wife happy.
After having overdosed on spin/smoke and mirror hypocrytical politics for the last 10 years, I'm glad we've figured this guy out from the very start. What a weak little loser. Grrr.

[jake-the-peg]

Well there are 2 parents in this decision and he's married to a Catholic.

Lets look on it as a positive that we're at the point where it's acceptable for the leader of a political party to stand up and declare himself an athiest.

I think that day's a long way off in the US

[mrs_overall]

If he's the best of the bunch, it's no wonder his party are always the Also Rans of politics. I laughed out loud at the article when he said he is using Brian Eno as an advisor.
This man is a hypocrite.....but aren't all politicians?

[Lonnie]

I read the link, and never saw the bit about 'i'll make sure the kids do',

I think jakes answer is the best you'll get.

My sister is religious, she's married to an atheist, the children have been brought up to believe in God, and they have a very strong marriage, so good luck to them.

[ll_billym]

Yes, there are two people, his wife and him so why not teach the kids his beliefs seeing as there is not one shred of proof or evidence for her beliefs.

If by some miracle some proof does emerge in the future that there is a god then they can be taught that daddy was wrong and that god is how it is. Now that is a compromise.

[jno]

it was traditional for parents to send the kids off to Sunday school. One alleged reason was that it gave them the opportunity for a cuddle with the house to themselves. I suspect this was why I was sent there, but I wasn't ever told that I would burn in hell, and didn't come to think my father was a hypocrite or a weak little loser. Perhaps it was because I ldid learn something about the value of understanding and tolerance. You take a pretty fundamentalist line on all this, meredith.

[meredith101]

I don't tolerate child abuse. This is child abuse. Did that come up in Sunday school?

[figure]

I guess it's a matter of "do as I say, not as I do".

[Supernick]

I'm with you on this meredith.

I'm delighted we have reached a stage in this country where a politician can admit to not believing in God, but I'm increasingly frustrated at the weak will of most atheists. Why on earth would he be happy for the children to be brought up as Catholics. Surely he must believe that they are fundementally being brought up in a web of lies and deceit. I wouldn't be happy with that as a parent. Would any of you be happy thinking that your partner was consistently lieing to your children every day?
Why not bring the children up to be educated and to make their own decisions with all the information available to them, but not school them in the dogma of religion?

[Supernick]

....apart from wording it as child abuse that is. It gives the wrong impression.

[paulos66]

Meredith I agree it's good that a political leader feels able to come out as an aethiest, but why did he have to spoil it - like smoking without inhaling I think

[figure]

Believing in God is a matter of choice. Anyone who do not believe in God but yet encouraging their children to believe and practice religion are hippocrates in my opinion. They must believe that God is a good think ... they wanting to encourage someone else to believe ....

[jno]

religion isn't child abuse. If you want to see real child abuse, there are websites, though you'll risk arrest by looking at them. But actual abused children go through a lot worse than being sent to church.

But by your thinking the entire population of Britain was abused for centuries. So presumably you think that, because nobody goes to church any more, British children, and adults, are now better and happier than ever before? This is not a view widely shared on AB, where most people think the country is going down the pan. But you believe the opposite?

[paulos66]

JNO - no child is born a christian, muslim etc, and indoctrination can be considered abuse. That is not to belittle other forms of abuse

[meredith101]

I need write no more because paulos has expressed my feelings entirely in both posts.

I agree with much of what Dawkins says: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID =48252

jno, I'll be frank, I don't really like discussing things with you. You begin by twisting objective debate into a kind of personal attack, for which there is no need. You make random nonsensical references to child porn sites for little good reason, and you suggest I toe a particular line because that's what 'the rest of AB thinks' (sorry for holding my own opinion). I'm afraid this is the last direct exchange you'll see from me.

[Supernick]

I'm not sure that happiness is relevant jno. I believe that studies show that people are less happy these days, but it comes down to a number of factors, and you couldn't really pin it on a lack of religious belief.

I quite firmly resent what he has said to to the point of feeling that I have to write! And I never do that.

[Cetti]

My first reaction on hearing his lack of belief was a huge sinking feeling that once again Christianity is not being represented in high office, but then I thought for a while and realised that this man's honestly is actually a positive and not a negative thing.

At least he is being straight with the public (rare) . He won't pretend to be something he isn't (rarer) and he's still relatively young, so who is to say he won't aquire faith some time in the future as millions do. Let's give him a chance to see what he's made of.

What is more worrying is your idea of who God is, meredith, unless it's said tongue in cheek, of course.

[jake-the-peg]

Christianity not represented in high office?

I think you'll find Brown and Blair fully paid up God botherers.

Which when you consider how secular this country is makes me think that they are actually pretty unrepresentative of us!

[meredith101]

Jake, I agree that despite his hypocrisy I'd rather have him in office, than a GodBotherer, any day. There are some that are religious just because they've been too lazy/scared/brainwashed to shake it off, and then happen upon office, but deep deep down don't really 'believe'. Then there are the likes of Bush and Blair, elected into office for the reasons they spelled out, who supposedly take major decisions (like invading Iraq) based on supposedly collective, or at least a 'rational' basis. Then, when probed, admit that they 'turned to God' to make the decision. They listened to a voice in their head. Paranoid deluded schizophrenics in office, just what we need. Bet they didn't write 'I promise to speak to God and do what he seems to be telling me' in their manifestos.
Cetti, not tongue in cheek, my idea of God is the standard accepted one, which I'm happy to say I reject entirely. As I did Santa Claus. But I'm still holding out hope on the ToothFairy. What is your 'idea' of God? Which political party does he espouse?

[Cetti]

It was difficult to work out what exactly you meant, meredith. Are you disheartened about Nick Clegg's atheism as you say?

If so, what do you believe and what is the 'standard, accepted ' idea of God ....which you also reject? Hardly surprising some of us are a bit confused.