How do i teach my children when i don't believe myself?

I am trying to figure out if I am athiest, or an evolutionist or what. I am having great difficulty with trying to come to terms with what I believe and what I don't. I do not believe in the bible and the creation story. I believe that Jesus may have...

existed and he may have even had healing powers, but I do not believe in immaculate conception. I believe that all things evolved millions of years ago, long before Christs time. I can't sit through a church sermon and not have the thought that this is bulls**t, excuse my language. I have so many questions that I don't know how to find the answers for and this probably wouldn't bother me so much except for I have 2 young children (3 4) who I don't want to grow up not believing in anything. I truely feel that if you are a person who has faith and religion that you are much more fufilled than what I seem to be. I want that for my kids (and myself), but I am not in the position to teach them and that sucks.

I agree you would by hypocritical to teach them something you don't believe in. Part of you seems to want to believe in something so that you can pass it on to them, but you're too honest to pass on nonsense - well done.

Well, I'm a Christian so I've been able to believe some of the things you question, but I also agree with some of what you're saying - I belive in evolution too, and I believe that we need to question things we hear in a sermon, not blindly believe any guy (or woman) who stands up to tell us that what they happen to think is right.

So my advice would be to find an intelligent church for thoughtful people which accepts your questions and gives your children a basic Christian education (Bible stories etc) without bullying you all into believing before you personally feel ready for it. Churches like that do exist - I don't particularly mean it has to be a Liberal church, it just has to be living in the 21st Century instead of the 1950s!

Best wishes...

***I truely feel that if you are a person who has faith and religion that you are much more fufilled than what I seem to be.***

If that's what you believe, then you need to pick one. You sound like a Deist, or just 'undecided' to me.

There are many faiths that aren't christian. Perhaps that would be a better fit.
Also, what is wrong with raising your children to be honest, moral, respectful, decent and just basically good people without bringing religion into it.
They don't HAVE to be raised with a religion...

I think feeling 'unfulfilled' has more to do with certainty than belief. You're feeling that way because you're not sure what's true, not because of any lack of belief.

I'd suggest reading books like The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. See what you think of their ideas, and if it leaves you feeling surer about things.

Regardless of your beliefs in religion, you can teach your children to believe in values and principles -- I'm sure you believe in those. That's what counts the most, in my opinion. Those are the things that have the power to truly transform our world. Teach them your core values then let them decide about what religious trappings, if any, they need to sustain those values.

If you truly want to know if God exists...get in a quiet place and pray...that is like plain talk to God ...like I am doing right now...Look at nature...don't you think somebody had a plan in place to make ...butterflies...clouds...flowers? Just because you go to a church...don't rule out the existence of something more...some churches are not filled with Gods spirit...I went to a church and never heard the gospel...how someone gets saved...I found one much later in life...after many stumblings... God will talk to you but you have to ask ...look up...not down... a relationship with God is not about religion... Hope this helps...seek him first, then you can teach your kids...

I say, teach them morals. BUT let them decide which religion to chose when they feel like they are ready to commit. It will give them a feeling of self-importance, so they will take the matter seriously.

*** I have so many questions that I don't know how to find the answers for and this probably wouldn't bother me so much except for I have 2 young children (3 4) who I don't want to grow up not believing in anything.

Why do you find it better to teach them nonsense rather than teaching them nothing at all on this subject? You're kids are smarter than you think. They're going to sense you don't really believe it, and then they'll question you for trying to teach them stuff you don't even believe.

let them decide, when they're old enough, what they believe in. it's not your right to make them believe what you do. When I was little, my mom asked me what I wanted to believe in, and I said that I didnt believe in anything yet, and im not messed up. im not athiest and I dont believe in a lot of the stuff in the bible, heck I dont belong to any religeon, but im as happy as ever

There's no law that says that you have to teach your children any particular religion. Why teach them something that you don't believe in? I actually hate it when I see parents with their kids in church. My response is always to bring them when they have a choice on whether to believe or not. If you take small children, they automatically assume that there is a God. This leads to the annoying God is right because I was brought up that way mentality.

It would seem that you are questioning what you know exists, and not what you believe. God exists in many forms and is known by just as many names, the Creator is just the power given to the ones who seek something more powerful then themselves. If you truly want to teach your young ones about the unknown powers that exist on the other side of reality then all you need do is the next time you pick up one of your babies look into their eyes and you will see the glorious power of Creation and know that their is a Love so pure and clean living inside the Creation that you created, as you were. God is the one we ask for guidence when we have lost our way, or when we find ourselves without hope, God is the only that opens the door when all others have closed. God is the here and the now and the always will be and all it takes to know him is one simple thing. FAITH !

 
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        And maybe lessen the cares in your way;
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Welcome to Fun Advice!

 
First, evolutionist is not a choice separate from atheism or religion. You can be an atheist and believe in evolution and you can be religious AND believe in evolution.

 
You may simply be an agnostic:

One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.

One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.

 
For myself, I'm a Deist:

One who believes in the existence of a God, but denies revealed religion; a freethinker.
 
de·ism (de'iz'?m, da'-)
n.

The belief, based solely on reason, in a God who created the universe and then abandoned it, assuming no control over life, exerting no influence on natural phenomena, and giving no supernatural revelation.

 
I do believe in reincarnation and I accept evolution as fact.

my mother was like that and so she just didnt raise me and my brother with religion and when we got to a certain age we could research all the religions to see which one we believed and I think that worked out pretty well. I dont think you should push religion on your children especially if you arent religious yourself. if your kids end up wanting to take part in a religion, they will

I think most of you has missed the point...it wasn't so much the one person plea...it was more of a What should I do I also am in the boat. Have 2 children that are beyond babble talk and do as your told. What do I tell them? What do I believe? Can I help them...???
After reading all your supportive resoponses...I will do as I have. Teach them right from wrong...support them in every way, Be a leader. Not a follower.

You will do well. Go with your heart. And good luck to you