This book is a wonderful resource and I am enjoying it very much. I can't wait for "Raising Freethinkers" to come out!

I have not finished it yet but it is just what I needed to get the support that was lacking as I raise my son to be a free-thinker.

Not a whole lot on the subject out there, so you take what you can get. It's not a bad book, but it wasn't phenomenal either. It's a lot of stories and anecdotes. Not much 'how to' to get through the challenges, but more of a pat on the back and some reassuring words that things turn out in the end.

Raising a child outside of a congregation can be a lonely experience. Although my husband and I are both atheists, and are part of the freethought community, there's little in the way of family resources available to us.

Along comes this book. I had high hopes, though I somewhat expected to be disappointed; the first time someone does something, it doesn't always come out that well. Imagine my surprise when I found myself learning so much about what it is to be a child without a church, even though I had been one. I remember my mother and father groping their way in the dark through various situations, and though they did pretty well, I imagine it would have been a lot easier with something like this to guide them.

This is a permanent part of our parenting library, and I recommend it to parents whenever I get a chance!

I'm an atheist and have read extensively on the subject, but practical advice for child rearing has always been lacking in this area, so I had high expectations for this book. The reviews here all seem to be excellent, so I was expecting a lot more than I received.

The book is basically a collection of anecdotes from various writers. I don't have a problem with this format, but some of the writers didn't even have children. This was perhaps done to give a perspective from a child's viewpoint of what atheism is about, but I didn't really need this perspective. Again, I have read so many other books that having someone discuss what it means to be an atheist isn't helpful when I was expecting a book about raising children.

The other aspect of this book is that the principle writers seem to be more of the "angry" or missionary atheists, mostly wanting to convince people of the benefits of atheism. Again, I don't need to be converted, I've been an atheist now for over 20 years. The less preachy of the writers was Dwakins, so you can imagine what the others were like.

I hate to provide the lowest review of this book to date, but I think people buying this book should know what to expect. This is not a book that will answer any questions for you and others have noted this in their reviews as well, but it should be emphasized. It will however give you reassurance that you're not the only person with these questions. Still, if you've been an atheist a long time, you're likely not going to read anything new or insightful in this book.

I found this collection of short chapters by various humanist writers on how to instill morality and ethics in children without religion to be a real joy. The authors (including the editor) are clever, humorous, and kind-hearted. Despite their obvious intelligence, they do not talk down to the reader, and many chapters could be understood even by pre-adolescents. I am a ex-Christian who now embraces science and humanism, and often feel alone in a country saturated by mainstream religions and their seemingly endless resources. That kind of isolation is bearable for an adult (though not pleasant), but I was really worried about raising a child without the communities that religions offer. Yet, I don't want to hide my beliefs just so my child will be accepted in a group that has the finances to provide a nice building to go to, with fun activities that include large numbers of kids her age. I found encouragement that I am not alone, and that there are at least a few secular organizations who are trying to provide activities for children that are based on the wonders of science, naturalism, and philosophy instead of indoctrination into the intolerant attitudes of religious dogma. Once my child passes the infant stage, I will try to volunteer at some of them to help perpetuate their growth. Thank you Mr. McGowan!

I'd say this is the best book out there for knowing it's ok, even good, to raise your child to make her own decisions about religion. It's good to have many different views from intelligent, good people who are doing it with love and care, and that you are not alone. I also like the fact that a few even come right out and say what I have thought but didn't dare express, that brain-washing kids to believe they are being watched every second and will burn in hell for snitching a cookie from the cookie jar is "mental terrorism". This concept terrified me my entire childhood and I promise I won't do it to my child!
I also liked the reference guides to finding good books for children about religions without teaching them that one is right and the rest are wrong. Also helped with the "Santa" issue. Definitely recommended.

This isn't just a good book for raising your kids secularly, it's a good book about parenting period. It discusses issues like how to deal with death, how to deal with people who don't necessarily believe the same as you and your family does and how to raise your children to be ethical human beings. There are definitely some essays that are more aimed at the atheists among us, but this is a good read for all parents.

This is an eye-opening book rife with mind expanding ideas. Yet it is warm and an easy and pleasant read.

Not just for parents...
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of essays on nontheist education and lifestyle. While this book is geared toward parents, and certainly useful for them, I found it highly useful on an individual level as well to think about these issues. I really appreciated the additional resources provided at the end of each chapter, this allows you to take your own pursuit of these ideas much deeper than is allowed in individual essays. Most of the resources also include a note on appropriate age level which was very useful as well. The book touches on practical real world problems, and I found it truly eye opening to read of some of the discrimination that the authors and their children had faced. One topic I wish would have been addressed more is how to deal with extended family members of faith. Dealing with an overzealous teacher is one thing, but how do you strike balance with a loving and good intentioned grandparent who truly may believe that your child may be doomed to eternal damnation because of you. Some of the authors who are in mixed marriages touched on this briefly but I think it is an important enough issue for nontheist parents to be explored further.
I would definitely recommend this book to well just about anyone. Even religious parents would benefit from the critical perspective that is offered of what we teach our children and why.

I am an atheist with two small children exploring how to best raise them in a religious world. This book is so positive and thoughtful that it was a joy to read. The format was easy to follow and all the more helpful because it wasn't written by a single 'expert' on child rearing. It gives you different perspectives (all without god of course) and provides many resources for continued exploration both for the adult and the child. Some of these resources I have encountered online, but many were new to me. I know I will be returning to the book time and again as my children grow and are capable of understanding more complex issues. If you enjoy the book or are interesting in learning more about the author you might be interested in seeking out Dr. McGowan's blog as well.

I really like the way this book is written. Lots of personal stories. Great information on non religious holidays, explaining death to your child, peer pressure.

This book is an absolute must have for families raising children in an atheist or partially atheist (one parent) home. It is a wonderful and positive encouragement for raising happy moral children without religion. Every freethinking family should own this book. It is so upbeat and presents many differing viewpoints on practical topics facing non-religious or mixed-religious families today.

Like others have said, this book has some great ideas and is an excellent resource. My only complaint is that some of the essays are a bit tough to read (and some are not at all, which was great). I felt like I needed to be an English major, or have a dictionary next to me while reading certain authors. I really like the main author's chapter introductions, and I bookmarked several of the essays for later reference. I definitely recommend it, but I did find myself skipping certain essays that seemed just a bit too deep or complicated.

I bought this for my sister who is raising two children. She is an atheist and wanted tips on raising them to be moral people without the influence of religion. She used tips in the book immediately when their cat died. So far it has been a real help to her.

My children are all grown up it would have been great had I had a book like this while they were young. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed it. You don't have to be a parent of young children to enjoy this book.

This a wonderful resource for parents who would like to raise their kids to be thinking, skeptical adults. The essays are well written and cover a wide variety of issues that we are all bound to face. Highly recommended.

Warning: this is dense reading. Fortunately, because it is a collection of essays around various topics, the editor chose to put lighter pieces in with the heavier ones. Lots of really interesting topics, but the ones on holidays and death were that I thought offered the most useful information. Normally, I would read this and then pass it along to my local library, but I'll hold on to this title for a little longer. Other interesting topics: developing a sense of community, non-religious reasons to celebrate (baby welcome vs. christening) and raising moral kids without bringing in god.

I found this book to be great reading from beginning to end. There are a lot of thoughtful essays in the book and will serve as useful references on how to raise well adjusted children. I find that people with secular views usually don't have anywhere to turn when it comes to celebrating life's important milestones, but this book has plenty of useful suggestions and ideas. Also, there are a lot of references for literature by Free Thinkers (many unknown to me). One of my favorites was, "Little Bessie Would Assist Providence" by Mark Twain--a short story that I never knew existed until reading this book.

Having helped raise our three sons, I was pleased to see that someone else had looked at the ovious. There isn't much in the public education system that carefully (and with respect) offers an alternative to a diety-based culture. This book does it without anger or preaching. I recommend it to secular-based private schools and to all who seek to consider diverse opinions.

This is a great book sharing the viewpoints of others attempting to raise children without impressing a belief system upon them.
I turn to it frequently to help me decide how to answer questions my children bring to me from interacting with their religious friends.

This book will help raise your kids without the mystical mentality of the middle/dark ages. Books like this allow one to see how reason and compassion are the way to educate our youth - no dogma required.

I have had friends and family read this wonderful and enlightening book. Many of them declared they have been secular humanists (or at least some form of humanist) for many years and just did not know it!

We need more like it!

Lots of different opinions some better than others but all worth the read.
My copy has lots of post-its to come back to when my daughter will be the appropriate age.
Recommended for any parent.

People who do not believe in organized religion, who consider themselves freethinkers, humanists, atheists, etc. are a large minority in this country;
however, there are few resources for parents who choose not to have their children indoctrinated by the Christian beliefs that permeate even so-called public schools, especially now, thanks to Bush. I wish I would have had this book when my own children were growing up. Parenting Beyond Belief would have made their journey easier because I would have been far more prepared to help them understand why we felt differently than friends and many teachers. I wish my Mother would have had such a book. Perhaps she might not have subjected me to 12 years of abuse at the hands of nuns and priests.

An excellent support book for atheist/agnostic/freethinker parents. It's not a traditional parenting book dispensing parenting advice about diapers and discipline; instead it's a collection of essays from various atheist/agnostic/freethinker parents about raising children without religion. Each chapter is footnoted and lists resources regarding the chapter's topics.

Excellent book!

This book fills a definite void in parenting literature. It contains a collection of perspectives from people who are dealing with raising children in mixed or nonreligious households. It covers topics like dealing with mixed beliefs, death and consolation, values, holidays, community, and critical thinking. It is not prescriptive in that you won't find a set answer for any topic but rather a variety of viewpoints and shared experiences from those who are dealing with them now or have dealt with them as they were raising their own children. It provides the background and resources to adopt those strategies that you feel are right for you or adapt your own. It has been great for me in thinking about issues and developing ideas with my husband as we are planning to start our family.

Jean Mercer's essay in this book is worth the price alone. A developmental psychologist, Mercer explains how moral development occurs -- for believers and non-believers. This is an eye-opener treatment that I wish I had been able to read years ago when I was first a parent. This book would make an excellent gift for new parents.

This Parenting book was a breath of fresh air for me. I was so relieved to find this group of authors who had many of the same challenges as I do in raising my children. It was a fantastic read and has become a well used reference book.

I recommend this book to ANY parent.

I just got married a couple of months ago and I got this book because me and my wife want children in the future and I am an atheist and she doesn't know what she believes. She still believes in an after-life and I don't. So, after talking to some people on the bulletin board for this book, I saw that it has essays for people in my situation. I thoroughly loved this book from cover to cover! It is very interesting simply from a sociological point of view. But, being an atheist and having a non-religious/spiritual wife, I feel much more comfortable with the idea of being a parent after reading this book now that I know there are many people out there with my situation. BUY THIS BOOK!

Your kid asks "why?" you answer "dunno"....and then ""Let's look it up together" (p. 181)" your kid says "nah....if you dont know by now how are we going to find it together?....I am going out on my skateboard."

Moral and intellectual relativism is useless. If there is no truth then why bother "looking it up". You are your own God? Dont fink so.

Your kid asks "why?" you answer "dunno"....and then ""Let's look it up together" (p. 181)" your kid says "nah....if you dont know by now how are we going to find it together?....I am going out on my skateboard."

Moral and intellectual relativism is useless.

In my thirty-six years of counseling teens and families, it soon became apparent that whether consciously or not, the parenting styles of young couples are typically adopted from the styles employed by their own parents, as either a model to emulate or intentionally avoid. The lack of exposure to a variety of alternative, and arguably more effective approaches to parenting, leaves a void in this vital area of essential life skills. A parent's most important task could be described as leaving a positive legacy in the form of intelligent, compassionate, creative children who are able to rationally problem-solve and make well-thought out decisions for themselves. In the absence of required parent education programs, either in the school programs or community offerings, couples and single parents are left to their own resources, which too often turn out to be the old trial-and-error method, frequently to the detriment of the children and society. Although there is no shortage of "how- to" books on traditional parenting, most of them seem to have a fairly strong religious bent. Resource options specifically written for non-believers are essentially non-existent.

The contributing writers in Parenting Beyond Belief (2007) offer hope in the form of alternative perspectives from the other side of the playground. As editor, McGowan has somehow managed to compile an outstanding cadre of knowledgeable, free-thinking authors in this highly readable volume. I am particularly pleased that he approached the topic from an open, respectful and inclusive stance, rather than joining the growing list of those who choose to smugly attack all religious beliefs and believers. This is not a book on "rearing atheists" and/or polarizing parent groups. The inclusive and balanced approach taken in selecting manuscripts models the principles that should be desired for all children. It is an informative and insightful volume which contains the keys to teaching children (and adults) the values of respect, openness, tolerance, acceptance, compassion, and the vital importance of questioning and critical thinking in everyday life. Parenting Beyond Belief is perhaps more of a "why to" rather than a "how to." Whether a believer or nonbeliever, you don't want to miss this engaging, first-of-its-kind offering. Of interest to me was the fact that, in the chapters he authored, McGowan more than holds his own with the notable, and sometimes notorious, better-known contributors to this resource. The volume includes an excellent list of organizations, web sites and other resources and would be a valuable addition to any parent's library --- grandparents too.

Doc.
Atlanta, Georgia

In my thirty-six years of counseling teens and families, it soon became apparent that whether consciously or not, the parenting styles of young couples are typically adopted from the styles employed by their own parents, as either a model to emulate or consciously avoid. The lack of exposure to a variety of alternative, and arguably more effective approaches to parenting, leaves a void in this vital area of essential life skills. A parent's most important task might be described as leaving a positive legacy in the form of intelligent, compassionate, creative children who are able to rationally problem-solve and make well-thought out decisions for themselves. In the absence of required parent education programs, either in the school curriculum or community, couples and single parents are left to their own resources, which too often turn out to be the old trial-and-error method, frequently to the detriment of the children and society. Although there is no shortage of "how- to" books on traditional parenting, most of them have a religious bent. Resource options specifically written for non-believers are essentially non-existent.

The contributors to Parenting Beyond Belief (2007) offer hope in the form of alternative perspectives from the other side of the playground. As editor, McGowan has somehow managed to compile an outstanding list of contributing authors in this highly readable volume. I am particularly pleased that he approached the topic from a balanced, open, and inclusive stance, rather than joining the growing list of those who choose to smugly attack all religious believers. This is not a book on "rearing atheists." It is an informative and insightful volume which contains the keys to teaching children (and adults) the values of respect, openness, tolerance, acceptance, compassion, and the vital importance of questioning and critical thinking in everyday life. Parenting Beyond Belief is perhaps more of a "why to" rather than a "how to." Whether a believer or nonbeliever, you don't want to miss this engaging, first-of-its-kind offering. Of interest to me was the fact that, in the chapters he authored, McGowan more than holds his own with the notable, and sometimes notorious, better-known contributors to this resource. The volume includes an excellent list of organizations, web sites and other resources and would be a valuable addition to any parent's library - grandparents too.

Doc.
Atlanta, Georgia

Though I do not have children of my own yet, I found this book a wonderful resource. Not only are there tips for things like how to deal with the Easter Bunny but there is advice from real people and real families about how they have dealt with issues like death, with their children. There are also many personal stories about ways they have had to deal with opposition in things ranging from family members to schools. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning on raising their kids without religion.

My wife an I are just starting to plan for our family. The essays helped my wife and discuss are beliefs and got us started talking about what is important to us.

This book is GREAT for secular parents who are finding it difficult to make their way through the mainstream religious dogma in this country. I'm so glad I found it.

This book is amazing. There are so many points of view to consider and things that I haven't even thought about yet are brought up. It's mostly easy to read (I admit, some subjects have been a bit over my head...what with my mommy brain and all), and even entertaining.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to raise their kids to think for themselves and w/o religion.

This book is the greatest resource I have found to help my wife and I raise our boy without faulty superstitions disguised as religion. The book is a collection of essays from many authors, so there is a large variety of opinion, which goes well with the whole freethinking movement. The editor has organized them well and added his take on the subjects discussed at the beginning of each chapter. It's also outstanding that each chapter ends with a list of suggestions of where else to look for more information on each subject (other books, the internet, etc.)

As far as the essays themselves, they of course vary in strength but are all well thought out and intelligently written. Most are not written as instructions but rather reflections on what has happened in the author's life that has led them to do things a certain way or answer these questions as they do. Never do they get "preachy" (thank the Unicorn!) and never did I feel the sense that an author felt superior to the readers.

There's so much to say about this book and how it deserves a place on EVERY parent or grandparent's bookshelf. Suffice to say, I am ordering more copies to distribute to my close friends and family whose minds have not already been sealed off.

Ideal for secular parents who want to raise ethical, non-religious kids in a religious society

Parenting Beyond Belief is so much more than a parenting book. It is a tool for a personal exploration of faith in a real world.

As a secular person who is relatively new to this whole "mom" thing, I can say that this book came out just in time! It gave me so many ideas on how to raise a free thinking individual. From interesting discussions about Santa Clause and the Easter bunny to a refresher course in evolutionary theory, there is so much information that can be used to guide parents when answering those tough questions. One of the many valuable pieces of advice I came away from this book with is; Always encourage your children ask "why" and don't be afraid to answer "I don't know". Then, go look it up and figure it out together.

My personal belief is that it is a good idea to raise kids without religious indoctrination. I think it encourages them to think critically and it doesn't burden them with the emotional baggage that can occur with religious upbringing. This book does encourage you to do just that. It doesn't hit you over the head and make you feel bad about being a Christian or whatever your personal beliefs are. Instead it encourages you to raise kids who ask questions, consider evidence, and look for their own answers regarding the meaning of life and the existence of God. That way you can help ensure that they arrive at their personal conclusions about religion and spirituality honestly when they reach adulthood.

A thoughtful, provocative and often humorous guide that is helping my family answer the questions that nobody else is talking about! I've searched desperately for a parenting book that discussed morality without religion and described ideas for encouraging good behavior without the fear of eternal damnation. I'm only halfway through but I have savored every word. It is nice to know that we are not alone in our desire to raise a happy, healthy kid who is kind, caring and responsible, without fear, religion or intolerance.

As a freethinking mother of a two and six year old, I am so excited and grateful to see a book like this! Not only are the essays thoughtful, well written and informative, it is reassuring to know I'm not the only parent trying to raise my kids to be critical thinkers. My heartfelt thanks goes to Dale McGowan, and to all who contributed to this project. I would highly recommend this book to all parents.

Finally, SOMETHING!

My wife and I are about to bring our first child into the world and were happy when we found a book that discusses ways to deal with the issue of holidays, belief in Santa/Easter Bunny, moral development in children without the threat of eternal punishment, how to tackle the questions kids are bound to ask about life/death, and so much more. Overall, it is a great resource for humanist or atheist parents (or wannabe parents) who wish to raise rational, freethinking children with the skills to make up their own minds as adults.

The essays are from a wide variety of people with viewpoints, backgrounds, and ideas not always similar. It was the contrast of ideas that helped my wife and I form a game plan on how we can raise children who will never stop asking "why?" for the right reasons. Our favorite sections are Does God Exist, which is written in a wonderfully and easy to understand conversational style by Stephen Law, and Dealing with Death in a Secular family by Kendyl Gibbons. Although the piece that I'm sure we'll go back to over and over is the list famous freethinkers. Ahhh resources, magnificent, beautiful resources...

My only complaint, and it is to be unavoidable, is that this book didn't come sooner. It was my hope to find a solid community to immediately fall into, but it was not meant to be. And even though there are over 20 million of us in the US, it IS hard to rally secular people around that single ideal. So I send my heartfelt thanks to Dale McGowan for helping to foster our community.

Read the book, raise intelligent, freethinking children, and the next generation will not have to work so hard to find a common identity.

Edit: I also wish that more of the books suggested were still in print.

I had been waiting for this book for a long time. As a secular parent, it is always nice to read about other parents in the same situation and the various stumbling blocks we may run into. The collection of essays in this book outline most of those-religion and education, fostering a respect for religious people, the Santa question, teaching children to stand up for their beliefs, etc. The group of writers in the book focus on the many different viewpoints of secular parents. It isn't preachy in any way, and offers valuable insight into the big tent of secular belief. I highly recommend this for all secular parents, or anyone who follows a philosophy outside the mainstream.