Should kids be told not to talk about religion with other kids?

[wdiaz03]

Hi all,

 

The other day my kid (9) was playing with his cousin (7) and I overheard him lecturing his cousin about how god didn't exists, something about, heaven not being there because after the clouds there was outer space or something. (I wonder where he get those ideas?)

Anyways his cousin didn't seem to pay much attention and was just playing. I don't know how the subject came up and it was over after those few comments. I know that his cousin's mother is religious and I think they attend church on Sundays etc.

 

I wonder what is the correct approach for kids when this subject comes up? should I tell my kid not to try to convince other children? That this subject is best discussed when he grows up and has more information on how to debate? I have heard Stefan say that telling kids that god doesn't exits is meaningless that it is better to teach them to think rationally. So I don't see the benefit of a kid telling another "god doesn't exists" "yes he does" "no he doesn't" etc.

 

thoughts?

Thanks

[Guest Ethan Glover]

I don't think any damage is done. They're just talking really and apparently the other isn't paying a bit of attention. If they got in a debate over it I wouldn't see anything wrong with that either unless things get a little too mean or something. I'm not seeing an issue myself.

[LanceD]

I am currently having similar experiences with my 7 year old boy. We live in Tennessee which has a lot if Christians and the home school coop we participate in is also heavily populated with Christians.

 

Through my sons learning experiences he has found out a lot about the universe and how it was made, this is a topic he has been very interested in and was sparked by an episode of "The Magic School Bus" he watched. This has led to him entering little debates with other kids he is around where somehow the topic comes up and my son tries to explain that stars are made from gasses and the other kids try and tell him they were made by God. These "debates" usually don't go well because they aren't handled well by kids.

 

The approach my wife and I have tried to take is explaining to him why the way he says things comes off as rude, this rolls into other things as well as children don't pay much attention to how they say things. We've also tried to explain that some people believe in God, and that while we disagree it is not an excuse to be mean to them. He had to be able to get along with people who hold different beliefs and it isn't necessary for him to explain to everyone that they are wrong. Lastly we've encouraged him to avoid the topic of God in general and given him things he can say to avoid the topic.

 

It's been an on going topic of discussion and regular negotiation. The "problem" of him poorly handling these situations isn't being solved quickly but it's started important talks on much more then just the topic of God, but also how to better treat others in conversation and acknowledging that others believe differently and it isn't necessary to force your beliefs on them.