As the numbers of secular, irreligious people in America grows, so do the numbers of secular, irreligious families. Because of the integral role religion has traditionally played in raising children, many secular parents find themselves looking for alternatives — and especially for resources to help them transmit skeptical, freethinking principles to their children. Until now there haven't been many resources for these parents, but as their numbers grow they create a market publishers are paying attention to. There still aren't as many resources as there are for religious, parents, but there are more every year.
1. Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion
Given the integral role which religion tends to play in how religious parents raise their children, it can be difficult for secular, atheist parents to achieve the same. Religion can provide structure and community, both of which are important to raising healthy, happy children - so how do secular atheists cope? It isn't always easy, but it certainly isn't impossible. Unfortunately, there are few resources out there to help, despite the growing number of irreligious people in America.
2. Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief
Perhaps one of the most difficult questions atheists have to tackle is both one of the most practical and one of the most significant when it comes to long-term consequences: how to best raise children in an atheist household. One of the benefits religion can provide is a set of traditions, practices, and answers for raising children. Not all those answers and traditions are good, and raising children isn't easy for anyone, but religion provides a map to help. What do atheists have?
3. The Trouble With Christmas, by Tom Flynn
Why do non-Christians make a fuss about Christmas in America? How could anyone have problems with Christmas? There are parties, gifts, days off - this should be a fun time for all concerned. Anyone who would challenge and/or reject Christmas sounds like a Scrooge, right? As Tom Flynn explains in "The Trouble With Christmas," this is part of the problem - the expectation by the majority that everyone else should be happy to conform and accommodate themselves to a traditional Christian holiday.
4. A Solstice Tree for Jenny, by Karen I. Shragg
Christmas is prevalent throughout American culture. Everywhere you go, you can find Christmas greetings, Christmas decorations, Christmas displays, Christmas advertisements and more. All over people experience social and cultural pressures to "conform" and adopt this traditionally Christian holiday as their own, regardless of what their actual religious or cultural beliefs are. How can a secular, non-religious family cope with the political, religious, and consumer pressures being created?
