Understanding an Atheist POV

[Amitabh Sharma]

MM you are right. As you can see in my edited post I am unsure about my own beliefs.
As far as lying to my child on the question of faith is concerned, I see nothing wrong with that. Honesty is overrated. I will do the sin of lying because I think no one is watching

[R K Singh]

Originally posted by Thomas Paul:

Did you tell your children that there was a Santa Claus?

I read long back that a teacher had to say sorry to parents as she told in class that there was no "Santa Clause".
But it cant be generalised world wide.
I think best apporoach will be to let son/daughter decide what is good for him/her.
Regarding Santa Clause, I think when a child grows up, he come to know anyway that there is no Santa Clause.

[Amitabh Sharma]

Originally posted by Ravish Kumar:

I think best apporoach will be to let son/daughter decide what is good for him/her.

I will do that when the child is old enough to really understand the difference. But before he reaches that age he believes in what I tell him
.

[Michael Morris]

Originally posted by Thomas Paul:

Did you tell your children that there was a Santa Claus?

Never directly, but I certainly played along. There is enough of the surronding culture that relays that implication to children. Whenever they asked me "is there a Santa Claus" (or Easter Bunny or whatever), I just threw the ball back in their court and said "What do you believe". I wasn't implying that an Atheist should uncategorically tell their child that there is no God, just to let them form their own opinion and explain to them their own conclusions when asked. I have tried to form my kids to be independent thinkers. They have been raised Catholic and they know my beliefs, but I have always told them, if it doesn't make sense to you, you shouldn't believe it.

[Kevin Thompson]

Well I am a life-long atheist.
My attutude has always been "to each his own". If other people want to believe in the Easter Bunny, or Jesus, or Santa Claus it makes no difference to me.
Kevin

[Jim Yingst]

I don't understand. What's this you guys are trying to imply about Santa Claus not being real? You're scaring me now...

[John Smith]

Amitabh Sharma: Honesty is overrated. I will do the sin of lying because I think no one is watching
Hmm, I've always believed the opposite, -- that honesty is underrated.

[Paul Stevens]

Originally posted by Jim Yingst:
I don't understand. What's this you guys are trying to imply about Santa Claus not being real? You're scaring me now...

Next they will say no tooth fairy either.

[Amitabh Sharma]

Originally posted by Eugene Kononov:
Amitabh Sharma: Honesty is overrated. I will do the sin of lying because I think no one is watching
Hmm, I've always believed the opposite, -- that honesty is underrated.

Those who are very honest are respected after they die. Those who are flexible with truth live more comfortable lives. Take your pick.
And I am not advocating dishonesty at all. I am advocating being a little flexible with the absolute truth.
For instance would you tell your present boss that you are looking for a job somewhere else even if you were doing so?

[Michael Ernest]

Candor is no necessary extension of truth. By the same token, truth and tact are not mutually exclusive.

[Amitabh Sharma]

Originally posted by Michael Ernest:
Candor is no necessary extension of truth. By the same token, truth and tact are not mutually exclusive.

Well said and very true.