Relax, It’s Just God by Wendy Thomas Russell. I wanted to read this for pointers on talking with my kids about others’ beliefs after they’ve come home from school repeating some unexpected things from classmates.
In the spirit of honesty, I am not only a non-believer, but I don’t generally have a favorable view, I’ve had bad experiences, mistreatment, bullying and ridicule from others in the name of religion. While this book is written for secular, non-religious or atheistic families, I think religious families could benefit from the points made in this book, to see other points of view. I want to be able to be able familiarize my kids about all religions in a way that makes them understanding, tolerant and kind, without coloring that too much with my negative experiences. I want them to know that what any person believes is not right or wrong, just different. I want my kids to accept all people, regardless of background, belief, or religion.
There are many great points this book makes but the thing I find most important is to let your children figure out what they believe on their own. Like anything else, give them the information, teach them HOW to think, not WHAT to think. It was my first inclination to just ignore religion because we don’t practice any at home. It didn’t occur to me that if I don’t teach my kids about religion objectively, someone else will. (And unlike us secular parents, it may not be presented in an open and tolerant way.) I don’t want to indoctrinate my kids into any belief, and I don’t want anyone else doing that either. This is a difficult concept for me, as I know that other families are actively teaching their kids that their religion is the best way, the only way, so why shouldn’t I teach our kids that about my own non-belief? It comes down to wanting my kids to think for themselves and giving them the tools to do so.
This is a good read for anyone struggling to talk to your kids about difficult, divisive subjects. Religion, gun control, Coke vs Pepsi. Helping kids separate beliefs from facts, accepting people regardless of belief and learning to think are great tools for any family. Maybe if more people approached these conversations with openness and understanding the world would be less of a mess. 4.5/5 stars ⭐️ ( )

A guide for parents who are not conventionally religious and who want to raise children who are independent critical thinkers and both religiously literate and tolerant of others’ beliefs. For a slim, easy-to-read book, it’s surprisingly wide-ranging; it covers the why of both religious literacy and critical thinking (letting your kids figure out their own beliefs rather than indoctrinating them in your own), tips for establish both, and advice for common pitfalls, including dealing with death, pushy relatives, and schoolyard bullies. Useful and often entertaining to read, the book often compares discussing religion with your children to discussing sex: If you don’t talk about it with them, they’ll hear about it somewhere else. And pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away. ( )