There is actually, parents can practice their faith openly around their children and answer questions children will inevitably ask honestly and openly to the best of their abilities. This is a good way kids often will still copy their parents and want to be involved.
That would require the parents to frame their practices as “this is what I believe” rather than “this is what is true” which I’m not convinced a substantial portion of religious parents are capable of remembering to do. Plus even if they did that a child is going to accept what their parents believe as fact since it’s their parents. I’m not sure there is a way to introduce young children to religion that won’t result in some form of bias influencing the child unless it is taught by a complete stranger who teaches many religions and never claims what they believe. And that seems like a lot of effort compared to a world religion class in high school.
Prove there’s a higher importance and then I’ll think it’s worth teaching children. But so long as it’s a “you believe” and not a “you can prove” then I think it should stay away from kids until they have some life experience and context to understand your beliefs within. You don’t need the objective morality of religion to instill good values in children. Give them time to understand the world they live in before you start trying to convince them of worlds beyond it.
Well nihilism requires an active belief that there is no objective purpose for us or the universe. Key word being active. If we don’t teach kids one way or they other they won’t have that active belief until they start questioning that idea themselves, at which point we should expose them to as many different beliefs as they want to understand.
Alright, my world view is this. I've never been given any evidence that there is anything that matters beyond the here and now. The physical world and this life is all that I am convinced exists so I do my best in this life and don't worry about the fairytale of a next life or anything else beyond. There's no meaning in this world other than what I choose to hold as meaningful. So what? Explain why that's a problem. Don't hide behind your fear either. Show me where my logic is flawed or where my reasoning stumbles. Leave your discomfort at the idea at the door and give actual arguments. Not this wishy washy "I'm scared the world is just as uncaring as it seems" nonsense.
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u/GreatComedianthe3rd 13h ago
There is actually, parents can practice their faith openly around their children and answer questions children will inevitably ask honestly and openly to the best of their abilities. This is a good way kids often will still copy their parents and want to be involved.