On Avoiding Indoctrination
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And the Coolest Mom Ever Award goes to…
By Wendy Thomas Russell | May 23, 2013
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This post originally appeared on Oct. 13, 2011 One of the nice things about having a blog is that you get to think of something and then announce it like it has some sort of real meaning. So today I decided Relax, It’s Just God is giving out its Coolest Mom Ever Award. Before you send in your nominations, which you were never going to do but it makes me feel good to think that you would have, I should probably mention that a winner already has been named. She was chosen — completely subjectively [...] Read more – ‘And the Coolest Mom Ever Award goes to…’.
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12 Reasons We Indoctrinate Kids — and Why We Shouldn’t
By Wendy Thomas Russell | March 21, 2013
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In nonreligious circles, “indoctrination” has become a pejorative. Something to resist and avoid. The way secularists see it, instructing children to accept any religious faith uncritically deprives them of their own unique reflections, observations and opinions. At its worst, indoctrination is a requirement to blindly follow, to believe without question, to respect and obey authority figures simply because they have been branded as such. Yet, millions of parents throughout the world indoctrinate their children. Why? 1. Comfort: The idea of heaven can be undeniably comforting, especially to children with anxieties about death or dying. By [...] Read more – ‘12 Reasons We Indoctrinate Kids — and Why We Shouldn’t’.
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The Inheritance of Anxiety
By Wendy Thomas Russell | October 1, 2012
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Sometimes, in looking through the responses to my Survey for Nonreligious Parents, I’m faced with perfect examples of What Not To Do. Here’s one from a mom: My child just yesterday stormed out of her classroom telling the teacher that she was ‘indoctrinating’ her in the telling of the Christian Easter story. I was very proud my child was so confident, assertive, and sure of her own non-belief that she was able to do this. Confident and assertive? You bet! But sure of her own non-belief? In elementary school? Hell no. Most likely, this child [...] Read more – ‘The Inheritance of Anxiety’.
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4 Reasons Not To Indoctrinate Kids Against Religion
By Wendy Thomas Russell | September 20, 2012
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Indoctrination, whether it be religious or nonreligious, requires that parents send a clear and convincing message that there is only one way to think about God and, in doing so, imply that other ways are wrong, silly, short-sighted or dangerous. There is a pretty major difference between revealing our beliefs to our children and insisting our children — and the world around us — believe the same things we do. Severe indoctrination leads to the opposite of critical thinking — that is, reflective thinking aimed at deciding what to believe. Part of what makes severe indoctrination [...] Read more – ‘4 Reasons Not To Indoctrinate Kids Against Religion’.
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Raising Critical Thinkers Means Letting Our Kids Criticize Us
By Wendy Thomas Russell | August 16, 2012
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We’ve all heard the cliche about letting kids rule the roost. Countless books, TV shows, teachers (neighbors, in-laws, airplane passengers…) repeatedly instruct us to set strict rules, limitations and boundaries for our kids. They tell us this is the key to good parenting. They insist we demand courtesy and respect, and not allow them to display anger, disappointment or frustration “inappropriately.” Largely because of these influencers, we start putting our kids in time-outs for talking back, or being unkind. We become infuriated when they speak to us in voices dripping with sarcasm and defiance. We [...] Read more – ‘Raising Critical Thinkers Means Letting Our Kids Criticize Us’.
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Letting Kids Choose Their Clothes (And Their Faith)
By Wendy Thomas Russell | August 9, 2012
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When my daughter was still an infant, my husband and I took her to a local coffee shop for breakfast. At the booth over was an early-30s couple, each with multiple tattoos and piercings and jet-black hair to match their clothes. I wouldn’t have paid much attention to the couple except for the company they kept. Sitting across from them sat a little girl dressed head-to-toe in pink. She was their daughter. In addition to a pretty pink dress and shoes to match, the 6-year-old wore a shimmering headband, which held back a long mane [...] Read more – ‘Letting Kids Choose Their Clothes (And Their Faith)’.
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Do You Share Negative Views about Religion with Your Kids?
By Wendy Thomas Russell | July 30, 2012
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Fifty-seven percent of the nonreligious parents I surveyed earlier this year said they viewed religion “negatively, with exceptions,” while another 21 percent said they viewed it “both positively and negatively,” depending on the specific religion. This shouldn’t be all that surprising. Hell, even religious people have issues with religion. I bring it up, though, because I wonder how many parents are (unintentionally or intentionally) passing on these negative views to their children. I honestly don’t know, and because I’m a moron*, I didn’t think to ask that specific question in the survey. It’s very possible that, in [...] Read more – ‘Do You Share Negative Views about Religion with Your Kids?’.
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“You Worship the Devil!” “You’re Homophobic!” … Um, Guys?
By Wendy Thomas Russell | December 29, 2011
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A Tempe family appeared on a billboard this month promoting the Freedom From Religion Foundation in the hope of dispelling some of the myths about nonreligious free-thinkers. The Schinellers — Freddie and Holly and their four children — are pictured alongside the slogan: “Love + critical thinking = open minds.” Sometimes I realize what a bubble I live in. I’m lucky enough to have a supportive family and to live in an area of the country where people don’t talk much about religion, much less judge each other for it. But in a place like Tempe, [...] Read more – ‘“You Worship the Devil!” “You’re Homophobic!” … Um, Guys?’.
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10 Commandments for Talking to Kids About Religion
By Wendy Thomas Russell | November 21, 2011
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When you’re not religious, talking about religion with kids can be a serious challenge. The words don’t come naturally. Little things can freak you out. And, about the time your kids learn to ask questions, you begin to notice how much of our society is informed by religious faith, and how many people around us believe things we don’t. Panic has a way of setting in. Hopefully, you aren’t like me. Hopefully you’re less anxiety-prone, more level-headed. Good for you. But, for the rest of you: [...] Read more – ‘10 Commandments for Talking to Kids About Religion’.
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Religion Doesn’t Kill People; People Kill People
By Wendy Thomas Russell | September 19, 2011
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It’s hard to be a nonreligious mother writing a blog about kids and religion without acknowledging Christopher Hitchens’ widely publicized view — or implication, rather — that religion may be akin to child abuse. So I’m acknowledging it. But that’s about all I’m going to do. It’s not that I dispute any of the major points Hitchens puts across in of his 2007 bestseller, “God is Not Great.” And that includes Chapter 16 (“Is Religion Child Abuse?”), in which Hitchens recounts the horrors of genital mutilation, priest abuse and sexual repression of young boys, among other things. But [...] Read more – ‘Religion Doesn’t Kill People; People Kill People’.
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