Dale, do you agree that as well as teaching children to make up their own minds, we should be teaching them that evidence is the best basis on which to form those opinions?

Yes — and this develops naturally over time through low-key follow-up questions. When a child says (to cite a recent example), “Michael Jackson’s ghost appeared in his house!”, simply follow up with, “Oh, why do you think that?” Don’t overcorrect. Let them be wrong along the way. The thirst for right answers rather than preferred ones develops over time if the atmosphere of inquiry is there. By posing the “why” question each time, you show that the reasons for believing are worth examining.

Aack! Someone asked a great question about broken families, and I meant to hit REPLY but hit REMOVE instead! I’m sorry, please resubmit that.

Excellent as always Dale…

Thanks Dale! Great stuff!

Hi Dale – that was me! Don’t worry, I’ve often hit the wrong button too.

I think I was just asking whether you plan to cover broken families, and in particular, “remote parenting”. This affects me personally, as I’m a “remote” father to my son, who after a divorce thankfully has a happy family life with moderately religious parents, and I’m not religious, so I have to be very aware of certain issues, if you see what I mean.

Thanks!

Nauseatingly politically correct.

Thanks for re-posting. I get similar questions all the time. It’s the most important nonreligious parenting issue on which I don’t say much, both because I have no experience with it myself & because sooo many variables come into play.

In talking to other nonreligious parents about this, it seems to me the best advice is similar to the mixed marriage (upcoming vid): If the split is amicable, sit down w/ex-spouse & negotiate a point-by-point agreement. (Out of chars, more later!)

Thanks Dale! As always, your answers and videos seem to be right on target with what we as a family are going through. Right now, all the backyard vacation bible clubs in our neighborhood is the topic. I have been given the “bad mommy” award for not letting my daughter attend. But that is over quickly after she does get to join her friends for snack! Excellent information!

Great, as always. Just got “Raising Freethinkers” from my Gwinnett library. There were two copies! Faced out! I couldn’t believe it. I went back the next day and the other one was checked out as well. You could have knocked me over with a feather.