About Atheist Mom
AtheistMom is a recovering Catholic married to an exMormon…they are happy, kind and moral people who feel pretty certain that there is no God. AtheistMom wants her child to grow up to be a critical thinker who lives life in the now…because there is no after.
“I would not for my life destroy one star of human hope, but I want it so that when a poor woman rocks the cradle and sings a lullaby to the dimpled darling, she will not be compelled to believe that ninety-nine chances in a hundred she is raising kindling wood for hell.”
—Robert Ingersoll, How to be Saved, 1880
1.
Cathleen Hoffman | May 7, 2009 at 3:58 am
I wonder if on your death bed you will think about where you will spend eternity.
I feel so sorry for you…without hope you must have such an empty existance.
I will pray for you at church tonight. You said that you are “pretty certain” that there is no God. I am certain that you are wrong!
I will pray that God will show you before it is too late.
God bless you…
2.
Phoebe Caulfield | May 18, 2009 at 1:40 am
Nice, Cathleen. “Believe in what I believe or go to hell when you die.” Fear is such an awesome way to convert people.
3.
AtheistMom | May 20, 2009 at 4:32 am
A Response to Cathleen:
Ummm…I don’t believe in eternity so I doubt I’ll be wondering where I am going to spend it.
I feel a lot of hope. Hope for humanity and for our ability to make things right. I am a very hopeful and optimistic person.
I don’t really know how you can be “certain”…if you are, then you don’t have faith. Faith is believing in something despite not being certain.
I didn’t sneeze but thanks. Could you sacrifice a goat too? According to the Bible that should move things along a little faster.
4.
jjj | September 20, 2010 at 9:06 am
Oh my God grow up! If you doubt God, then try to find him in yourself like a normal person! the bible is not the end all be all. Its a shame America has such ignorant people.
people in Africa are starving, and dying, but still believe in God with their heart. but I guess there just delusional huh? Atheist make me sick, and I’m not even religious.
5.
Colin | September 29, 2010 at 4:04 am
you know, even if you say god bless you, it does not make your words less hateful
6.
Sara | August 2, 2011 at 3:55 am
Your such a beautiful family! I can totally understand how it must make you sick to see hypocrisy, it does me too. Although I have hurt people, said things I wish I hadn’t, and been a true hypocrite many times. We are not perfect people and therefore we can not expect perfection from anyone else. Catholicism and Mormon denominations are not a fair search for God. Maybe you have never really tried to find him? If you want to find God, you will not do so in religion, he is found in a relationship. If you search, you will find hi6m. He is waiting for you at the door, knocking. Caroline, do your children the best favor in the world and lead them to their creator. Nothing in this life can fill our God shaped void. Your such an intelligent woman and I can tell your so loving and such a great mother. Don’t miss out on God’s plan for your life.
7.
jennyanne | November 3, 2011 at 10:45 am
Lead them to their creator?!?! Wow! (Sara) you are so badly brainwashed….
8.
Anna I. | December 29, 2011 at 10:27 am
Would Jesus Christ talk to non-believers this way?
How are you SO certain that AtheistMom is wrong? What proof can you show her?
An empty existence? Some of us like to question things. Some of us like to expand our strengths, our wisdom. I don’t need a god to have hope. I only hope to live a righteous and fulfilled life. I am my own person, and every decision I make will affect who I will become. Without god, I realize that I only have one life to live and I shouldn’t mess this up. There is no written plan for me. That wouldn’t be fair to me, or any of us.
It is more special to do the right thing when you lack faith because without god, all things are permissible. You can do WHATEVER you want. And if you choose to do the right thing, then you’re a success because you don’t do it out of fear of possibly going to Hell.
Read this: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? -Epicurus
9.
Rene | June 25, 2009 at 2:41 am
I’m a believer, not someone who is going to be in your face pushing my religious beliefs down your throat. However, I do feel sorry for people who believe in nothing. There seems to be a disconnect somewhere in your life that has led you to this way of thinking. It’s wonderful to be a critical thinker, but in all your infinite wisdom, why can’t you think about what life would be like with a God. Having faith in God is difficult for many people because they cant’ seem to see past their own minute existence in the world. Believing in something that you can’t see or touch or hear takes courage. I hope you find that special moment in your life where all you will have is your faith in God. Just like the bible-belters that curse everyone who doesn’t believe, you are similar since you chastise and insult those that do believe. Your belief systems may be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but you are one in the same.
10.
Rob | September 28, 2010 at 8:32 pm
However, I do feel sorry for people who believe in nothing
Why would you say something like that? Just because someone doesn’t believe in a magical sky man doesn’t mean we don’t believe in anything else. Love, friendship, hard work, family, science, humility, humanity, peace, etc. These are real things you can believe in, human things that do not depend on magic and imagination.
11.
Gaz | September 28, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Blind faith does not take courage. all it takes is fear and cowardice.
12.
Anna I. | December 29, 2011 at 10:04 am
It doesn’t take courage to believe. It’s fear of going to hell. It takes courage to “deviate” and adopt the stigma of being a non-believer. Many atheists, as children, were raised to believe in a god. Then we found a special moment in our lives where we realized that whatever we asked for god to do in our prayers were things we could’ve made happen ourselves.
Epicurus said this : Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
It makes so much sense. and that’s what atheists like. Logic.
13.
Laurel | September 3, 2009 at 2:57 am
Thank you for blog. ‘Athiest’ seems to be a bad word these days, and it is a relief to hear a voice of positive and thoughtful dissent amongst the legions of religious and dogmatic. My husband and I are a few years away from being ready to have children, but I look forward to being an athiest mom, too.
“I don’t have to live forever to live once and to live completely.”
14.
Christine Harvey | September 12, 2009 at 6:10 am
Once I came to the conclusion that there was no god, I forgot how I could ever have believed in the first place. It’s amazing what happens when the veil is lifted. I’m not terrified at night anymore, thinking there are demons and evil around every corner. I honestly can’t understand the disgust that people have for atheists.
15.
em | September 5, 2011 at 2:29 am
They are scared of atheists because an atheist challenges everything they have built their existence upon.
16.
Ashli | September 27, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I stumbled upon your web site because I am researching atheist which also believe in pacifism. I am a Christian. I believe in Christ and have been baptized. However I am also majoring in Biology, so I believe in evolution. I live in the Bible-belt so even my beliefs are criticized. It is not my job to change you or persuade you to think any certain way. These people who believe in Christ or any God should know it is not there place to judge. My thoughts on this mater is if your beliefs or the beliefs of anyone on this page, what ever they may be makes you a better person then by all means that is your “path” calling” whatever. You either have faith or you don’t and no one should need a Bible, commandments or rules to live an honest and respectable life. Morally you should know right from wrong. I also do not believe you a sheltering your children by this life style maybe pushing unintentionally on them. I was not raised Christian and later made the choices for my self as with politics my parents wanted me to have a mind of my own and chose my own beliefs they don’t always agree with them but I am my own individual person. Your goal as a mother is to lead and protect not to push.
17.
KC | October 30, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Rene- that’s ironic, because I think people who believe in god do because they can’t see past their own minute existence in the world. What existence is more minute? Being created in the image of an all powerful being that watches over us, or just simply being…unwatched, unprotected, in this universe, and not having been created by some god. Ovbiously, the latter.
You’re wrong. People have difficultly breaking away from their faith in god, because they can not face the possibility that they are not special in the eyes of a god. Seeing that some great father figure is not watching over you, loving you, and that your parents, and church teaching are lies; that takes courage. I feel sorry for you. Maybe one day you will find that courage to see life for what it really is. Its very beautiful when you lift the veil of belief. I hope you have the chance to see life through an non believers’s eyes before its too late.
And who are you to say someone can’t think about what life would be like with a god? Many atheist were raised as believers. I was raised catholic, and although I saw at a young age that was bunk, I believed in a higher power until my early 20s. Do not assume an atheist has not lived as a believer. And truthfully, only an atheist can comment on which life is better. Since you have never seen life as a nonbeliever, you have no idea what you’re missing.
18.
Laura | December 15, 2009 at 5:29 am
Wow, how did your blog get to be such a magnet for the religious? I (as an ATHEIST who will not be wondering where I will spend eternity on my deathbed, either!) have been reading through some of your posts and I love them! We need more Atheist Moms out there! It seems like most are either college students or older men/women. Nice to meet a fellow mom!
19.
Amy R | January 13, 2010 at 8:38 pm
I agree! So nice to hear from another atheist mom. Such a refreshing find. I’ll be checking in with you often!
20.
Dawn | January 20, 2011 at 7:29 am
Another non-believing mom here! I will also be checking this site often. It is true that you see stuff written by many atheist/agnostic/non-believing moms.
21.
Alicia | December 18, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Here is a comment for you “believers”. First of all I am an atheist, and consider myself a very moral, happy, and fulfilled person in my life. I dont hurt people, and I dont steal and murder. In fact, I am a mother expecting my first child.
For one thing, you do not have to have a belief in a god to be happy or moral. If you believe that then I gather you only go through all of the motions of your religion for either hope of reward after death, or fear of punishment (by your most merciful and loving god, mind you) burning forever in hell.
The belief in god reminds me of the belief in santa claus and the easter bunny. Someone just never came along and gave you the little talk, and you never figured it out on your own.
Believe what you will, and be loving and peaceful in your beliefs, but do not push them on other people. It is not your place. Atheists are not trying to make you atheist, so stop trying to make non believers believe what you choose to believe.
Your imaginary friend has never spoken to me, and I really doubt that it has ever spoken to you. Think about that for just one moment- I know you talk to your god, but has your god ever actually talked to you?? I think not. And if you are hearing voices, I would consider driving yourself to the nearest mental facility and checking yourself in.
22.
Linda | August 20, 2010 at 8:44 am
This is such a great comment. I am laughing out loud. Whenever someone asks me why I don’t believe in god, I say, “I don’t have to, I have a conscience.” I am very suspicious of people that won’t steal or cheat or harm others just out of fear of being punished by god. I trust people who intrinsically believe these things are wrong.
23.
Becky | August 5, 2011 at 10:35 am
But why are those things wrong and how do you know that they are? Without God, who dictates what is moral and what is not? Where does that “consicience”, that you say you have, come from?
24.
em | September 5, 2011 at 2:38 am
Your conscience comes from evolution and biology. It’s complicated, but has to do with the combination of time, witnessing cause and effect, survival of a species, and other higher level skills that we have developed as advanced primates.
25.
Lisa | January 10, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Please explain your view on how the universe was created. Even down to the first atom……I am a science teacher and christian so I have many views that do not work with the teachings of a strick baptist church (the way i was raised)
26.
AtheistMom | March 7, 2010 at 4:11 am
Hi Lisa,
I appreciated your comment and am currently looking into your question. I am not a geologist by training but your question made me think about the creation of the universe and so I will be posting a reply in the near future.
Thanks,
AtheistMom
27.
Nee'Col | September 21, 2010 at 7:35 am
My view is this…I DONT KNOW. And that is ok to say. I think if people would be ok w/not knowing all the answers we would make much more progress as a whole. The idea that not knowing makes u dumb or discredits what u do know is much of the problem we all have. No matter what u believe or dont believe u can not profess to know it all and be taken seriously! lol
28.
Amy | January 13, 2010 at 5:09 am
I just found your blog and find such confort in it. I am an atheist (and ex-Cathoic) and am alone in that choice among all the people I know. I it is a very lonely choice for me-and one I’m forced to defend often. I am committed to raising my girls to be smart, kind, compassionare, critical thinkers. I cannot understand what is wrong with that? I look forward to reading more from you.
29.
R. | January 23, 2010 at 12:08 am
Dear Atheist Mom,
Thank you for existing. I am glad to know I am not the only atheist mom in the world. Rock on.
30.
Tom | March 7, 2010 at 2:50 am
“AtheistMom wants her child to grow up to be a critical thinker who lives life in the now…because there is no after”
Since you are not bringing up your child with religious beliefs or so. I think you would struggle as a parent, as your child will have no bounaries or limits when they’re older as they are not going to be brought up with religious discipline.
I myself, am a catholic and found that religion helped me to suceed to the fullest and gave me limits and boundaries to do things and not do things (drinking, wild parties, etc) on an occasional basis. As a teenager, I did drink and went to parties but also had limits which I am so proud of having!
Please dont ignore or bad mouth this post with your silly atheist rants.
P.S- GOD EXISTS AND HE’S THERE IF YOU DONT LIKE IT!!
31.
Nee'Col | May 16, 2010 at 9:50 am
Why is it impossible to believe that one can be taught to have boundaries and morals w o instilling the fear of God? I am Muslim turned atheist (shocker I know!), and my children know that there are limits to EVERYthing that they do. I think it is extreemly rude to come to someone elses page and express YOUR opinion and then demand that they not respond w/their own.
32.
Pyriis | September 28, 2010 at 9:54 pm
So, if I do not raise my kid with religion, then I can not teach him right from wrong? I can not teach him that he should not steal, or murder. If my son takes something that is not his.. I can punish him.. and tell him he did wrong.. Next time he thinks of taking something.. He will wonder if it belongs to someone first..
The fact is, raising someone with religion is more about teaching your child to FEAR. You should not steal because GOD said so, and to disobey GOD makes you a sinner and being a sinner means you will forever burn in hell.
I am not going to sit here and scare my kid into being good, nor will I sit here and tell him that there is, or is not a GOD… But do NOT sit here and tell me that I can not teach my kid morals just because I choose to not raise him in a religious environment.
33.
Indiana Atheist Dad | September 29, 2010 at 9:42 am
So what you’re saying is that Atheists don’t have rules or guidelines for their children?
As a Catholic, I find it funny that you’re so intense about your response while under the tent of the most malicious organization in the past 2000 years.
It is so vapidly narrow and shallow to claim that YOUR God is THE God. What about Allah, Krishna, Ra, or Ganesha? It’s one thing to believe in a higher power or source, but to pin it down to just one…one which happens to be mostly caucasian, as well as one of the youngest religions, that’s just naive.
“Religion: A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.” -Ambrose Bierce
Keep up the good work Atheist Mom (as well as all other atheist moms).
-an Indiana atheist dad.
34.
Dawn | January 20, 2011 at 7:30 am
But it’s just fine for you to bad-mouth non-believers with your silly Christian rants.
35.
Anna I. | December 29, 2011 at 10:19 am
I have a friend who was raised an atheist and she is one of the nicest people I know. She got good grades in high school, goes to a prestigious school, never used illegal substances, didn’t act irresponsibly with guys, founded a book club in her high school, rescues kittens and donates to charity.
If that’s not a role model, I don’t know what is.
Threatening a child with the idea of eternal suffering is immoral. I used to have nightmares that I’m going to hell because I stole a cookie from the class cookie jar in kindergarten. I’ve posted this before and I’ll post it again.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? -Epicurus
Jesus wouldn’t talk to atheists like this. You should be more like him.
36.
Jennifer | March 9, 2010 at 8:28 am
Very interesting. I am (was?) a Catholic, who has questioned the fact that I have so many beliefs that differ from the teachings of the Catholic Church and many christian faiths. I live my life and teach my children that different people have different beliefs and Gods, but we have one common goal, to be good people and treat each other as we would wish to be treated. My children are honest, and kind, and respectful. I have conservative values and they are bound by those values and rules. I teach them to judge others on their goodness, not their color, creed, gender, or orientation. I have no problem with people that believe and worship in God. I respect them and their individual beliefs. What I do not respect, and in many ways has turned me away from organized religion, is when someone wearing the veil of being a “good religious person” condemns others for their color, gender, creed or orientation.
Just because I question the existence of God does not mean that my children and I have no moral boundaries or guidance. It just means that I do not look to a specific religion for that guidance. If one of my children should grow up to become devout in a faith, I will embrace and support my child. What I will never accept from me, my spouse or my children is unkindness or hate towards people because of what they are not who they are.
37.
andromeda | March 30, 2010 at 5:20 am
i’m a recovering catholic too! i always had a problem with church teachings growing up and as i got older i just decided that you can’t make sense out of something that is based on the misogynistic teachings of dead guys who really just wanted to control massive populations of people.
i look forward to reading your past posts and you are definitely going on my blog feed reader!
38.
Taylor | March 30, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Oh Tom…
“Religion helped me not drink and party…I did drink and party but it was the good Jesus amount.”
I’m an atheist dad and I just found this blog. Good times.
39.
Melanie | April 6, 2010 at 12:22 am
I know that atheists can raise moral and loving children. My daughter is wonderful and kind and she has never been baptized (I know we’re all going to hell) nor has she ever been to a church. My husband and I attempted to be married in a church (he was Catholic and I was Lutheran) and after encountering all the difficulties that brought things began to unravel for us. The bureacracy of the church seriously disturbed me. The more I researched the more I knew that I did not believe at the very least in the church but more likely in any of the teachings of the bible. I recently began reading “End of Faith” by Sam Harris and now I know that I don’t believe in that great fiction book. Sam’s writing has also made me start to think that believers are mindless sheep. I have always respected the rights of others to choose religion and I never say a word when grace is said, I’ll even bow my head out of respect for the family. I just wish others would afford me the same respect.
40.
Tammy | April 29, 2010 at 8:38 pm
What if you’re wrong?
41.
Laura | April 30, 2010 at 7:33 am
Well, Tammy, what if you’re wrong and you should have been praying to Zeus?
42.
Patrick | May 7, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I’m sorry I just don’t have enough faith to be an atheist. When I see even the smallest creature even a one celled organism I just can’t help but see the work of God. Without every part working together in unison these creatures just couldn’t survive. Just look under a telescope. Explain to me also how in evolution creatures that need oxygen to survive just happen to come along in a place that has plants to produce that oxygen? How we just got lucky enough to be not one degee closer or farther from the sun so we want freeze or burn to death? Explain how DNA just accidently came about? These are just a few questions that make me know for certain there is a creator. Yes I am a Christian and it always baffles my mind why people reject a God that before man was ever created knew he would die on the Cross for our sins and was still willing to create us in his image. The Cross was not plan B because we sinned, but God knew from the foundations of the earth he would have to die to have communion with us in Heaven. Did it ever occur to you that nothing ever occurs to God.
43.
Laura | May 8, 2010 at 5:34 am
Well, according to the Bible, faith is a good thing. So by that logic, wouldn’t that imply that atheists are more moral than Christians?
Anyways, that’s really beside the point. It doesn’t take “faith” once you study it, anymore than a doctor just randomly gives you medicine and has “faith” that it will work. Just because you yourself haven’t sought out those answers for yourself doesn’t mean that no one else has. When I step on a bridge, I don’t have faith in God that it won’t collapse because I know the principles behind the engineering that prevent it from doing so.
There ARE answers to your questions, and if you REALLY want to know them, all you have to do is type them into Google. They aren’t hard to find AT ALL. You know what you can’t find in Google? How a massive God that managed to create those one celled organisms and place the planet at the correct distance from the sun just popped into being. Either God was Big Banged into being or the universe was. Occam’s Razor is all you really need to know.
44.
adrian | May 22, 2010 at 10:26 am
Hi, I am a young mom facing hardships with my choice to become an atheist. I grew up in a somewhat religious family (my grandmother is incredibly religious, and I feel if I came out to her as an atheist it would probably kill her.) I am also very lonely when it comes to this. I am also a humanist, and I have been a humanist for about 5 years now, before the last couple of years I was an agnostic because I didn’t want to let go of an afterlife. When I finally let go of the idea of an eternity it was the most liberating experience of my life. I finally figured out that I was my own god, I held the keys to my own destiny. My husband isn’t religious by any stretch, but he does believe in Christianity and we often find each other bickering about it. I don’t want to change anyone’s belief system (even my own husband’s) but I find myself wanting to convey to him how exciting it is to “think outside of the box” when it comes to religion. I live in S.E Texas, so I am right in thick of bible belt country. I have a couple of other atheist friends, (all male, I do not know another female that is an atheist) and they give me encouragement, but other people in my life insult me a lot for my non-belief. They tell me I am a bad mother, and a bad person, and that I will burn in hell for what I am doing. How do respond to that? I find myself getting very angry at those folks, because I try to be the best human being I can possibly be with out God. I don’t want to confuse my child with the idea of a great big man in the sky who is watching her every move and will punish her for her indiscretions when she dies. But also, if she decided to embrace religion, I will be supportive of her, because that is her own personal decision. Thank you for your blog…it makes me feel better that there is other moms out there who also are atheists. I find it comforting that I found this site.
45.
Anna I. | December 29, 2011 at 10:21 am
Whenever people attack you, say this. And I know what you mean with the whole liberation thing. :)
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? -Epicurus
46.
milkhelp | May 24, 2010 at 12:21 am
Great blog! Another atheist mama here. :)
47.
pam peltier | July 14, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Hi, I just started a group on facebook, Atheist Moms, trying to recruit, interested? take care, peace,pam
48.
Rachel | July 19, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Pay no attention to Cathleen…she knows not what she says (though I have a feeling this call-out will encouraging more flaming swords…sorry).
I think your Atheist-Mom blog is fantastic. I have been looking all over the place for an Atheist mommy group, but it’s nearly impossible in the Bible Belt. Nevertheless, our son will grow up thinking for himself. :)
49.
mum_of_2 | September 5, 2010 at 7:24 pm
what i want to know is why relogious people seek out blogs like these
50.
jjj | September 20, 2010 at 9:03 am
If you ignorant people really want answers, read a david hawkins book.
51.
jjj | September 20, 2010 at 9:10 am
“Well, Tammy, what if you’re wrong and you should have been praying to Zeus?”
No matter what you pray to, as long as your a good loving person, you’ll be fine when you die. It’s as simple as that.
and eternity has been physically proven…come on you idiots, do you get all your come backs from dawkins? your sick.
52.
Laura | September 21, 2010 at 4:04 am
?? Dawkins? I don’t know what you mean. Furthermore, YOU could be wrong that being a basically good person will get you into heaven. Evangelical Christians would not agree with you. What makes your opinion so much better?
Eternity physically proven? That’s so stupid, I’m kind of at a loss for words. Even if it has, that doesn’t prove heaven or God exists. People who go around acting as if they have a market on the truth: that’s what is sick.
53.
Pyriis | September 28, 2010 at 10:03 pm
So someone has managed to physically proven eternity? Is this Heaven? Hell or some other great beyond? How can you physically prove a concept?
Its not like measuring distance.. If I say, its two feet from here to the wall.. You can prove that, But if I said space goes on forever.. There is no way to prove that…. I do not understand.
54.
Indiana Atheist Dad | September 29, 2010 at 9:53 am
Eternity has not been proven. The concept of infinence has. And what does it matter if Dawkins is used as a reference? Please, if the Pope has an equally compelling argument, let’s hear it.
Here’s one of my most underlying reasons for disbelief in the Christian God. It starts from the top at Adam and Eve. Most people say that god is omnipresent, he knows everything that has, can, or will happen. That in mind, he knew when he created Adam and Even that they were going to give in to temptation. To say he didn’t know denies his omnipresence. Also to say that he was giving us ‘free will’ is a cop out. Why would he create a paradise that he knew wouldn’t last more than a few days? It’s not Free Will if he already knew what would happen.
That is not a loving and caring creator. In fact, from the point of Adam and Eve, all the way to the New Testament, to be a Christian meant slaughtering Goats, owning slaves, and global genocide by mass flood. And even since then, more have died for religion than any other reason.
It’s one giant redundancy.
55.
Andrew | September 28, 2010 at 9:30 pm
ENTERNITY HAS BEEN PHYSICALLY PROVEN?????
What a load of bulls&*t.
Proven? where? Who proved it? Show me the evidence. REAL evidence, not just biblical circular arguments, and I’ll send your name into the nobel prize people.
56.
Vegeta | September 29, 2010 at 3:12 am
Keep on rocking hot momma. =D
57.
Katie | October 20, 2010 at 12:32 am
This is a great site! My husband and I are also Atheist.
Here is a question, what do you tell your children about death? Just wonderiing what other people are doing. I want to be prepared when the times comes :)
58.
Brenda in Canada | November 6, 2010 at 3:49 am
Thank you for your blog! I only wish you could post more often!
59.
shahab | November 9, 2010 at 5:20 pm
We live in this world, we were born in this world and we’ll also die here. There will be no change at all!
We’re not here to built up a new ideology to interpret world’s behavior,to me, as an atheist,I never want to search for a new prophet to tell what I’m supposed to do or to go, we just search, think, prove and believe. Now we do believe in morality, human values and even ethical principles which can be found in religions. If there’s a heaven and hell, and if there’s a God? How a cruel God ‘it” can be that never wants ‘its’ creatures think about the world without any uncertain and unreasonable fact. We believe in morality without any believe in supernatural reason, for being punished or rewarded.
An atheist can grow her/his child just like lots of people did before, some did this in an easy way (= God says! Do this, because you are supposed to do this) and some did this by clarifying the life itself. We have to grow our children learning them how worthy is searching for reasons, how worthy is thinking. We believe that who live without any goal in their life and just want to enjoy it without any consideration of right and wrongs are just like religious people who do something because they’re told to do and if they do they’ll go to heaven and if not, hell is waiting to burn them!!!
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Catherine | November 16, 2010 at 6:02 am
Just found your blog while googling sites regarding parenting in the atheist home. I have three beautiful children and I am also an atheist mom. My husband and I are both ex-mormons and have been defending our decision to leave the religion of our youth to family and friends for almost 20 years now. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read your posts! I am also striving to teach my children to be critical thinkers. Thank you for your site!
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Veronica | November 20, 2010 at 5:13 am
Another atheist mom checking in.
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Rachel | December 2, 2010 at 10:49 am
Hi there :)
Don’t worry I won’t say mean things, promise :)
Just out of curiosity – what is your explanation for people who have had near-death experiences, I know there are lots of books about it, one that covers people from different parts of the world (some had never heard of Jesus) and they all have similar near death experiences, where they died and came back to life.
What is you explaination for those, just curious :) THANKS FOR YOUR HELP have a great day :)
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aerie | January 20, 2011 at 5:06 am
NDEs are the result of chemo-neuro-electro-bio-physiological responses/reactions of brain cells. The same as dreams, thoughts, hallucinations, feelings, emotions, etc. The similarity exists b/c we all have the same brain chemicals. They make us human. Basic life & death experiences are fundamentally similar for all humans. Why shouldn’t they be similar? Most people experience de ja vu and we tend to have similar dreams like being unable to speak, falling or being chased.
Emotionalism can be very convincing to those who haven’t learned to put it aside when looking for answers to life’s quandries.
Btw, scienitifically, biologically speaking, no one dies and comes back to life. Death is an irreversible process. There are physicalities in between.
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Brenda | January 21, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Here is a Penn & Teller episode on NDE’s. Thought you might find it interesting.
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Kat | December 28, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Wow! I love your blog! I’m an ex-Catholic too. My husband and I rejected the church just this year after a lifetime of indoctrination, and a decade of being uber-heavily involved. I even have a degree in Theology!
I often get very frustrated and disheartened at the antipathy towards atheists from Christians. We still haven’t been able to tell our families as they will not react well! They are very anti-atheists and think that they have no moral code and are basically ignorant and close-minded. Just the other day my mother-in-law remarked over dinner that people who believe in God are generally kinder, more generous and better people than those who have no religious beliefs. GAH!
But aside from this, we feel so happy and free at being liberated from religion, superstition and manipulation. Our lives are our own and we are free. The future is full of great hope and potential and we enjoy each day with greater clarity and enthusiasm. There is no fear that we are not doing enough, praying enough or aren’t good enough. We strive to be good moral people because we want to be, not out of fear of eternal judgement.
Our nine year old has adjusted well to our change of beliefs and our three year old is too young to have even noticed a change. But our almost five year old is finding it confusing that we don’t go to Mass anymore or say grace before meals. He doesn’t adjust well to change or new things and its taken him a while to accept that we don’t believe in God – though according to him, we still believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny! LOL!
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aerie | January 20, 2011 at 4:45 am
An atheist mom checking in from the Buybull belt. In the south, it can be a bit risky to be an atheist; a godless mother is right up there with child abuse.
Thanks for being an atheist mom and a voice of reason among excellent godless parents everywhere.
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Megan Finley | March 13, 2011 at 4:02 am
I am also fairly certain their is no God. A critical thinker would never say for certain one way or another because none of us know anything FOR SURE. I am also a recovering Catholic who has found so much peace in accepting my atheism. I refuse to raise my children with guilt or fear.
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Siobhan | April 22, 2011 at 6:09 am
Wow! I am a mom-to-be and have been looking for a group or forum like this. I find it fascinating that even though many know that my husband and I are atheist, they insist on refering to our unborn child as “god’s gift” or some such nonsense. I have even been told that once this baby is born I will change my mind on god. I am just thrilled to find this and look forward to reading what others have to say.
And as a gripe, why is it okay for religious people to challange and hate those that don’t believe, but my just announcing my athieism is attacking thier belief system? On a happier note Happy Paegen Holiday ushering in Spring and New life :)
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Cathleen | April 28, 2011 at 2:55 am
It’s not about religion…it’s about a relationship with God.
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athiestbulldogmom | May 15, 2011 at 8:14 am
I love your blog! Finally, something out there for moms like me. You write beautifully. Thanks…
Athiest mom of athiest kids married to an athiest in Northern PA
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Darah | May 18, 2011 at 8:29 am
I love this blog! Man, if I had a dollar for every blog I’ve stumbled upon that is awesome one minute and then the next minute going on about how their trip to church went. Awesome blog here. :-)
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Idalhi | June 11, 2011 at 1:13 pm
I read all the comments left to you in your blog. I feel sick to my stomach. I have no idea how you do it, I’d be upset all the time if i had to read so much hate for no good reason.
Religious people are supposed to be good. Be good! Stop hating.
Your blog is an wonderful thing and I admire your character.
Don’t let people bring you down.
Have a big hug from an atheist mom of 2 little girl freethinkers in Mexico.
<3
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Jen | August 19, 2011 at 10:13 am
I just found your blog and I’m so glad that I did! It’s very comforting to find other mothers out there who feel the same way that I do. I’m also a mother of two small children and I am an atheist (ex-catholic to specific). I’m raising my children to freethinkers also. It doesn’t surprise me that so many of the comments on here are so hateful and just plain awful, but it does make me sad. Please keep up the good work! There are many of us out there and voices like yours give us the courage to stand up and be heard as well. Thank you for this blog. :)
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MaryP | October 13, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I am also an atheist mom with three small children, and my 3-year-old son is an extremely compassionate, fair, and “good” person already (the other two are just too young to apply this to). Yes, the first talk we have about a close family member’s death might be different than that taking place in a Christian or other monotheistic household, but we can still comfort our children with the ideology that we are all part of “God,” if that’s what you want to call it (we won’t), in our connectedness to one another, in that our good acts that can’t be undone even after we go, in that we all come from and return to an energy so brilliant it powers a planet…
We strive to be strong, ethical individuals because we’re human beings and that’s our amazing capacity, and I could agree that in this way, God is in all of us, but I don’t need to personify humanity, it’s rather redundant.
Most of our playgroups are primarily comprised of some of the most wonderful, religiously faithful families I’ve ever met. I I understand they may worry about us, and I’m grateful to have people care so much that they fear for us, but I’m concerned for them as well, a concern I know I can’t articulate and still be considered their friend.
It’s sad that many of the above contributors who are so saddened or enraged by this blog would be beside themselves if I spent my time visiting Christian mom blogs and maliciously commented on their belief systems. But I wouldn’t do that, because I hold myself to a higher set of standards than that.
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Dawn | February 1, 2012 at 11:41 am
beautifully said Mary! I especially like “in that our good acts that can’t be undone even after we go, in that we all come from and return to an energy so brilliant it powers a planet…”
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Ríobhca | November 9, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Not a mom yet, but that is how I’ll be raising my children. <3 Thank you.
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LPhoenix | November 20, 2011 at 3:29 am
Athiestmom,
I find your openness and positivity compelling. I am very interested in your thoughts and ideas, particularly in regards to raising children. I would love to hear more! Is there any possibility you could email me?
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Jenny | November 26, 2011 at 10:59 pm
I am not yet a mother but it is nice to see there are others like me out there.
I find it interesting that those who are part of a religion and believe in god, think atheists believe in nothing. I believe that people should believe in themselves, their friends and family not something imaginary. People should take responsibility for their choices and actions and not blame them on something imaginary because it is easier. Things do happen for a reason-choices. What I don’t understand is why people are so afraid to take responsability for themselves.
I believe I am a good person. I do things because I care about the happiness and suffering of others not because it will get me to heaven.
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Stacie | November 28, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Hi Atheist Mom,
I’m really glad you’re back to blogging–I’ve missed reading your posts. And the babies are adorable!
Stacie
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Lauren | December 7, 2011 at 10:37 pm
Hello,
I’m very happy to find this blog. I just got into a huge argument with friends and family on facebook about lying to children about Santa and realized that I need to find a community of like-minded mothers so I don’t feel quite so isolated (or crazy). Thanks!
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Dawn | February 1, 2012 at 11:39 am
Hi Atheist Mom, I am an atheist mom too. It’s funny to see what people have written in your comments. I am always amazed at how worked up some believers get when they find out you don’t believe. I look forward to reading more of your blog. You’ve got my support!