One of the questions I hear most is: “If you don’t teach your kids about God, what do you teach them?”
The answer is simple—but not always easy.
I teach them how to think, not what to think.
From Inheritance to Intention
I was raised in a religious household, like many people. Belief was inherited. It came baked into everything—our schedule, our values, our identity. And while there was comfort in that, there was also fear, pressure, and guilt.
When I became a parent, I realized I didn’t want to pass that burden down. I didn’t want my kids to think they were broken by default, or that someone was always watching their thoughts, or that love was conditional on belief.
Instead, I wanted them to start from a place of freedom.
What We Do Teach
In our home, morality isn’t tied to divine reward or punishment. It’s tied to consequences, empathy, and care.
We talk about:
- How our actions affect others
- Why honesty and kindness matter
- The importance of curiosity and critical thinking
- How to admit when we’re wrong
- What it means to make mistakes and grow
We also talk about other people’s beliefs—with respect. I don’t want them to mock religion. I want them to understand it, question it, and come to their own conclusions. Belief should never be off-limits to exploration.
The Hard Part: Uncertainty
One thing religion often gives kids (and adults) is certainty. Answers. Purpose wrapped up neatly in stories and rituals.
I can’t offer that.
Instead, I tell my kids the truth:
We don’t know everything.
We might never know everything.
And that’s okay.
Not knowing doesn’t make life meaningless. It makes it open. It gives us a chance to discover, to wonder, to choose meaning.
Traditions Without Theology
We still celebrate. We still create rituals. We still mark seasons and milestones with joy. But now those traditions are ours. They’re built around connection, not dogma.
It turns out you can have warmth, culture, and family without doctrine.
You can have awe without a sanctuary.
You can raise good people without guilt or fear.
What I Hope They Learn
I hope my kids grow up to be thoughtful, kind, and resilient. I hope they feel free to change their minds. I hope they care more about understanding others than being right. I hope they can find beauty and meaning—whether or not they ever believe in a god.
But most of all, I hope they know they were loved for who they are, not what they believe.
That’s the foundation I want to give them.
If this post resonated with you, feel free to share or comment.
This space exists for thoughtful, human conversation—no preaching, no judgment.
About the Author:
I’m a former believer, a quiet thinker, and a lifelong seeker of clarity. After decades of faith, I stepped away from religion to rebuild my worldview on honesty, empathy, and reason. This blog is where I reflect on that journey—and explore what it means to live a meaningful, moral life without God.
