Parenting Beyond Belief

AgnosticMom clued me in to a new book coming out, Parenting Beyond Belief: on Raising Ethical, Caring Kids without Religion.

The description from Amazon says, "It’s hard enough to live a secular life in a religious world. And bringing up children without religious influence can be even more daunting. Despite the difficulties, a large and growing number of parents are choosing to raise their kids without religion. In Parenting Beyond Belief, Dale McGowan celebrates the freedom that comes with raising kids without formal indoctrination and advises parents on the most effective way to raise freethinking children. With advice from educators, doctors, psychologists, and philosophers as well as wisdom from everyday parents, the book offers tips and insights on a variety of topics, from "mixed marriages" to coping with death and loss, and from morality and ethics to dealing with holidays. Sensitive and timely, Parenting Beyond Belief features reflections from such freethinkers as Mark Twain, Richard Dawkins, Bertrand Russell, and wellness guru Dr. Don Ardell that will empower every parent to raise both caring and independent children without constraints."

I've pre-ordered it, and am looking forward to reading the essays by Richard Dawkins, Penn Jillette, Julia Sweeney, Dr. Donald B. Ardell, Dale McGowan, and our very own ex-mo, Agnostic Mom (Noell).

Since leaving Mormonism, I have found myself gravitating toward secular humanism, atheism, and a perhaps non-religious life, and I've been wondering what that means for raising kids. I've been so focused on my own recovery, that I haven't been able to give it a lot of thought yet. But since the kids are getting older, I need to be thinking now.

Now there's a companion forum, Parenting Beyond Belief Forums, where secular parents can discuss issues. Forums include Personal Reflections, Living with Religion (Mixed Marriage; Engaging Religion; Church/State), Holidays and Celebrations; On Being Good and Doing Good; The Wonder of Science, and even a couple others. It's just starting up.

As if you need to spend even more time online...