FreeThinker

I will tell my children not to fear life but embraces it, since that's the only life they got. I will tell my children not to fear death but embraces it, since life without an end is not a life, as a novel without an end is not a novel.

Godless Dave

Nowhere; death is the end of an individual life.


There is none.

Although come to think of it, I never asked my parents either of those questions when I was a child.

billyjo

My father told me death is a natural part of life and, while no one generally wants to die, death should not be feared. He was buried in a pine box to facilitate his return to the earth, as was his wish. (He was not an atheist and my family attended the local Presbyterian church.)

I also tell my children that part of being human is becoming aware of your limited time and that you should do your best to live your life fully and treat others with respect and dignity. I explain how many people turn to religion and some find other paths.

I sometime state my intuitive belief that death will be like it was before we were born (not so bad but nothing to rush). We have a wonderful chance to experience life and should not waste it. But I also feel that some matters like death and eternity can never be known and would not criticize others views.

I find personal satisfaction in believing I am fulfilling my part in mankinds evolution by raising healthy, strong and loving children who will carry on what my wife and I have been able to pass on. Hopefully they will also do their part as they live their own lives (circle of life thing). My children are 12 and 8 and appear well adjusted and do well in school. They understand that we all will die eventually and I have not noticed any negative developments as a result of my views.

fast

That's all folks!

(in the stuttering voice)

reddhedd

http://www.achievebalance.com/spirit/theleaf.htm

Try this; it helped me give them an explanation, when I gave up theism while my children were young.

It may or may not match up exactly with your beleif system but it gives you a starting place, if you want to avoid the common xtian model.

sharon45

I don't and won't have any children because I couldn't look them in the face without crying, but I'd still like to answer how I currently explain to myself on these matters.

Pain is a stimulus and it has a purpose for education, but extreme pain and death is torture and so far without any real known ultimate purpose.

No one honestly knows what really happens after we die. As pointed out, pain has educational purposes to a certain degree and that is the known reward for now.

More like rash judgment and easy quick answers to completely alien questions.