Can atheists be parents?

riiiiight. So the judge believes that the parents' lack of a belief system will deprive the child of its choice to believe, but when parents have a religion, those beliefs don't influence a child at all.

I call bullshit. The judge is religionist. There, I made up a new word just for that jerk.

Separation of church and state is a political and legal idea that government and religion should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. Its funny how quickly we forget our own constitution for our own beliefs.

A55cl0wn. So right. I believe in seperation of church and state and it annoys me that so many people tend to forget. And how does the fact that someone does not believe in God affect their ability to be a good parent? This is such a ridiculous notion to me and makes me think of the gay rights adoption drama. I dont understand how this can change someone's ability to love and support a child. Meanwhile--there are people like Andrea Yates that are clear believers in a "Supreme Being" and just as clearly unfit to be parents. So who shouldnt be allowed to have children, biological or adopted, the psycho who believes in God, or the sane who believes in no one? Or take it a step further...the gay man. I personally believe that if a person can support and love a child better than the system and give them what they need and a decent life...what's the problem? How many of these people have grown up in the system and can honestly say they'd rather be in the system than with gay or atheist parents? I haven't...so I dont know. But I'd like to think they'd rather have SOMEONE than NO ONE.

so all are equal but separate in religion?

no, it is impossible for atheists to be parents. For the spark of life to be generated at the time of conception, both parents at some level must believe in a higher being. It does not necessarily have to be a conscious belief, but the the belief must exist in the pineal gland area of the brain for the new child's spirit to be conveyed into the sperm and eggs via our little-understood neural faith networks.

The science isn't here yet, but I'd be willing to bet that Kevin Federline's internal subconscious belief quotient (ISBQ) is simply off the charts for him to be so potent. Likewise, the spirit of the Lord is clearly strong in the Spears girls.

saying that a child's rights to worship freely is limited because of his or her atheist parents is ridiculous because the child would be influenced regardless of their parents religious affiliation! this case worries me. there are plenty of people out there who are completely capable of raising a child, but what if this sort of thing gains support? i plan on adopting some day, but I'm not religious, will some prejudice judge stop me from adopting a child?

Yes just look at the world, and who is actually left killing each other in mass numbers after 2000 years? RELIGIOUS people who believe in a Supreme being!

Clearly there is more to being MORAL than religious beliefs. It is of course sad that a judge has so lost his grip on the truth as to forget that ones ability to LOVE is what makes a person moral.

"Question with boldness even the existence of God;
because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
--Thomas Jefferson

PS. Try googling the judges' name- He's GONE

as long they love their children, is all that matters.

love!

Atheists can be better parents than religious people.
They would not teach their kids to believe in virgin mary and holy ghost, for starters.
But of course it doesnt mean that atheists ARE always better parents than people who believe in some religious BS. Strange thing is that in America people still dont understand that religion and politics should NEVER go together. Like a loaded gun and drunk college boy. Some things should never go together. Or ... lets come back to Medieval Ages.

From the article, I guess the judge was trying to say that since the parents aren't of a religion that believes in a higher being, they can't adopt?

Being curious about "pantheism," I decided to look it up in Wikipedia (I'm in college). It seems like some of the aspects of the mother's religious persuasion might actually lead a little bit into many different religions that are do have a Supreme Being.

Even if the parents do not have a "traditional" belief system doesn't mean that the child would never be exposed to Supreme Being religions that the judge might favor more. I'm assuming that since the parents have high moral and ethical standards, the child would probably attend school somewhere and might make some friends with people that do have Supreme Being belief systems. I'm guessing the child would end up on a soccer team somewhere and learn about different faiths.

Just because I was raised by Catholic parents does not mean that I will definitely be Catholic, or even religious at all. I still have the choice to believe what I want. As an adult, I have the ability to learn about different faiths and convert to those, if I so choose.

The idea that this child cannot choose her own religious beliefs because her parents do not believe in a Supreme Being essentially proves that the judge is acting on his own beliefs, and is not separating church and state. Even the phrase "inestimable privilege" has sort of a religious leaning built in. The judge has the right to feel this way, but it is unconstitutional for him to rule this way.

It's discrimination.
Plain, and simple.

Everyone is talking about absolutes, let's talk empiricism because it'll actually get us somewhere.

Do atheist parents -harm- children by raising them without absolutes?

Anyone else look at the date? It says the article was written in 1970. Old news, pals. There's definitely less stigma towards atheists now. Kind of goes for same sex couples too. Interesting though.

Weird they would post such a old article? Typo? Yet it's on their most popular list though. Maybe they are trying to bring the subject back.

I think religions matters alot, me being a christian i really know how being a christian and growing up in a crhistian home feels like that, i dont regret being a christian yes its hard sometimes i guess cause some girls can do watever they want but then again im glad im not like that it helps me have a good reputation, im not a slut, never done drugs, never gotten high or drunk, never slept with anyone, i dont swear..... But the parents doesnt have any belief i think they could still aadopt the child i think it would just be very nice to see the lil girl or boy living with beliefs

as an atheist, i believe in letting my child choose to either find faith or not, no one has to have a belief and your not raising your kids in an unfit manner if you dont openly expose them to faith.

Nevermind the government; can -private- adoption agencies express preference towards monotheistic parents over atheists or polytheists?

Holy shit, this IS stupid holy SHIT. Why does this crap even matter anymore? Are we seriously this delusional? It must be the dark ages, it's gotta be. Religion is the bane of weak minded cowards. I have seen so many religious families disown children, rape them, beat them, brain wash them, not accept them, and just obliterate the decent human being in them. I have seen Atheist parents raise wonderful children! I am totally disappointed with people like this! IF MARY PHELPS IS ALLOWED CHILDREN THEN DAMNYOURGOD I SHOULD BE ABLE TO!