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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link:iReport: Why I Raise My Children Without God">iReport: Why I Raise My Children Without God</a></h1> <div class="cnnBlogContentPost"> <p class="cnn_first"><em><strong>Editor's Note:</strong> Deborah Mitchell, a mother of two teenagers in Texas, blogs about <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://kidswithoutreligion.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">raising her children without religion</a>. An avid reader of the<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://www.com/belief" target="_blank"> Belief Blog</a>, she said she shared this essay on CNN iReport because 'I just felt there is not a voice out there for women/moms like me. I think people misunderstand or are fearful of people who don’t believe in God.'</em></p> <p>By <strong>Deborah Mitchell</strong>, Special to CNN</p> <p><strong>(CNN)–</strong>When my son was around 3 years old, he used to ask me a lot of questions about heaven. Where is it? How do people walk without a body? How will I find you? You know the questions that kids ask.</p> <p>For over a year, I lied to him and made up stories that I didn’t believe about heaven. Like most parents, I love my child so much that I didn’t want him to be scared. I wanted him to feel safe and loved and full of hope. But the trade-off was that I would have to make stuff up, and I would have to brainwash him into believing stories that didn’t make sense, stories that I didn’t believe either.</p> <p>One day he would know this, and he would not trust my judgment. He would know that I built an elaborate tale—not unlike the one we tell children about Santa—to explain the inconsistent and illogical legend of God.</p> <p>And so I thought it was only right to be honest with my children. I am a non-believer, and for years I’ve been on the fringe in my community. As a blogger, though, I’ve found that there are many other parents out there like me. We are creating the next generation of kids, and there is a wave of young agnostics, atheists, free thinkers and humanists rising up through the ranks who will, hopefully, lower our nation’s religious fever.</p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-910282" target="_blank">Read Mitchell's 7 reasons she's raising her children without God</a></p> </div> <div class="cnnFBRecBtnBot" id="cnnStryRcmndBtnBtm" style="padding-bottom:10px;"></div> <div class="cnnPostFooter"> <table> <tr> <td> <div class="cnn_mugshot"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" class="cnn_padb20 cnn_author_info"> <span class="cnnBlogFiledBy"></span> <span class="cnn_author"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/author/cnnbeliefeditors/" title="Posts by The Editors" rel="author">The Editors</a> - CNN Belief Blog</span><br> <br/><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy cnn_categories">Filed under: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/atheism/" title="View all posts in Atheism" rel="category tag">Atheism</a> • <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/my-take/" title="View all posts in My Take" rel="category tag">My Take</a> • <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/opinion/" title="View all posts in Opinion" rel="category tag">Opinion</a></span> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_clear"></div> <div class="cnn-large-embed "></div></div><!-- IE7 background fix --> </div> <!-- /blog post 37929 --> <span id="cnnsocial_1" class="cnn_widget cnnsocial_sharebar cnnsocial_sharebar_blogSingleBottom" type="sharebar" version="0.2.2" templates="" data-bind="template: { 'name': 'cnnsocial_template_blogSingleBottom' }"></span> <div class="cnn_strybtmmorebx" id="outbrain_ext_element" style="display: none;"> <div class="cnn_strybtmmbx1"> <h4>We recommend</h4> <div class="cnn_clear"></div> <script type="text/JavaScript"> var OB_permalink = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/'; var OB_Template = 'cnn'; var OB_widgetId = 'AR_1'; var OB_langJS = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://widgets.outbrain.com/lang_en.js'; if ( 'undefined' != typeof( OB_Script ) ) { OutbrainStart(); } else { var OB_Script = true; var str = "<script src='https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrainWidget.js'; type='text/javascript'></"+"script>"; document.write(str); } </script> </div> <div class="cnn_strybtmmbx2"><h4>From around the web</h4> <div class="cnn_clear"></div> <div id="outbrain_cnn_hook_0"></div> </div> <div class="cnn_clear"></div> </div> <hr class="cnn-nav-separator"/> <div class="cnnPostNavigation cnn_post_navigation"> <div class="cnnNext cnn_next"> <span class="cnn-nav-text">Next entry »</span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/obama-picks-d-c-episcopal-pastor-to-deliver-inauguration-benediction/" rel="next">First on CNN: Obama picks D.C. Episcopal priest to deliver inauguration benediction</a> </div> <div class="cnnPrev cnn_prev"> <span class="cnn-nav-text">« Previous entry</span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/belief-blogs-morning-speed-read-for-tuesday-january-15-2013/" rel="prev">Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, January 15, 2013</a> </div> <div class="cnn_clear"></div> </div> <!-- You can start editing here. --> <div style="margin-top: 11px;" class="cnn_divline cnn_divln3pxblck"></div> <div id="comments" class="cnn_comments"> <a name="comments"></a> <h6>sound<b>off</b> <span>(1,680 Responses)</span></h6> <ol class="commentlist"> <li class="comment even thread-even depth-1" id="li-comment-2228279"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2228279"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">jess</cite></strong><br> <p>So true! I believe people have morality of what's right and wrong, but that it didn't come from God or the Church. No one can prove that morality came from God that they just claim it did!! They think claiming this is proof which is bull. I believe its just our natural instincts of what humanity does. If there was a God how could all this horror go on around the world!</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 19, 2013 at 5:01 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2228279"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2228279', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2228279');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2228279#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2228279", "2228279", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2228296"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2228296"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">End Religion</cite></strong><br> <p>Since even before the first caveman stuck his hand in a fire and learned "fire – hot – bad," humans have been learning wrong from right. Our ideas of right and wrong, our morals, our empathy, have been growing ever since.</p> <p>Not only do we not need a god to command morals, many religious texts (and the commandments therein) are IMMORAL. Specifically the Christian bible condones and promotes slavery among other atrocities. Most of the world has recognized the immorality of that concept.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 19, 2013 at 5:12 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2228296"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2228296', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2228296');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="li-comment-2218943"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2218943"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Brenda</cite></strong><br> <p>Check out the link to a very detailed view on why there is suffering in this world, but only if you are looking for answers. I challenge you. There is nothing to lose but more knowledge to gain.<br/> http://www.hopevideo.com/streams/David_Asscherick-Discover_Prophecy-4-Bible_Prophecy's_Answer_for_Human_Suffering.htm</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 15, 2013 at 3:34 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2218943"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2218943', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2218943');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2218943#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2218943", "2218943", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2228301"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2228301"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">End Religion</cite></strong><br> <p>The last thing anyone needs is more religion and its ridiculous value system. Suffering exists because PERIOD. It is our condition to be born and experience all which that means, including happiness and misery. There is no god working anywhere in there, and what's more, none is required. Peddle your snake oil elsewhere, clodhopper.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 19, 2013 at 5:14 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2228301"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2228301', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2228301');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment byuser comment-author-zahidhkhalid even thread-even depth-1" id="li-comment-2193630"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2193630"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://zahidhkhalid.wordpress.com/" rel="external nofollow" class="url">zahidhkhalid</a></cite></strong><br> <p>In Response To: “Why I Raise My Children Without God,” Why I Raise My Children To Have Faith In God’s Will?<br/> Please see point-to-point response here: http://zahidhkhalid.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/in-response-to-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god.pdf</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 2, 2013 at 1:27 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2193630"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2193630', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2193630');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2193630#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2193630", "2193630", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="li-comment-2160924"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160924"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">CrossCountry</cite></strong><br> <p>This isn't news! This woman can raise her children however she wants. (As long as she isn't harming them). </p> <p>Hey here is a novel idea: mind your own kids.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 6:22 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160924"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160924', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160924');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2160924#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2160924", "2160924", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment even thread-even depth-1" id="li-comment-2160107"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160107"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Jessie</cite></strong><br> <p>Frans de Waal shows that even monkeys employ "morality".. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GcJxRqTs5nk Thank you for posting this video. People as well as non-human Primates can absolutely have morality and compassion without religion. It would serve us all well to be more tolerant of others and their beliefs. I'm glad to see more people willing to give a voice to that end.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 1:12 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160107"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160107', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160107');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2160107#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2160107", "2160107", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2160115"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160115"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">The Truth</cite></strong><br> <p>Don't let the Christians or Muslim know!! They will start trying to convert them and then the monkeys will start killing each other based upon which invisible being they choose to follow...</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 1:17 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160115"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160115', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160115');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="li-comment-2154069"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154069"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Not only the questions but the overall issue.</cite></strong><br> <p>How can she say that without God her children can be moral? Atheism rejects objective moral values, there is no such thing as actually right since we evolved without divine intervention and so we do things for survival rather than to actually be good. In other words what we do is only good for us and not actually good. We have morality today because moral values have been passed down through religion/spirituality to the current times, I'm not saying an atheist can't be a good person, but down the line eventually people will realize this and the evil will become more evil seeing no ground for moral values.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:35 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154069"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154069', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154069');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2154069#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2154069", "2154069", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2154076"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154076"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">End Religion</cite></strong><br> <p>Morality: Using empathy as a guide for human interaction. AKA, "treat others the way you want to be treated" and "put yourself in my shoes". It has nothing inherently to do with the bible.</p> <p>When morality is based on religious text, its OK to:<br/> • behead one's daughter to restore a family's "honor"<br/> • deny emergency medical aid to a child<br/> • kill gays, children who misbehave, anyone who works on a particular day of the week, entire groups and races of peoples, and many others for equally capricious reasons<br/> • buy and sell humans as chattel, including one's own family members<br/> • kill anyone who visually depicts Muhammad</p> <p>Karen Wynn of Yale has a study showing even babies have an idea of wrong versus right. Neuroscientist Christian Keysers has done research to show that the brain of those who see others receiving pain themselves have similar neurological responses. There is a curve to empathy; some feel it more than others. But it certainly doesn't come from a hateful book about imaginary people.</p> <p>Humans and probably other animals exist on a spectrum of empathy.<br/> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy<br/> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_neuron</p> <p>Frans de Waal shows that even monkeys employ "morality"...<br/> <span style="text-align:center;display:block;"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/GcJxRqTs5nk?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></span></p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:41 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154076"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154076', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154076');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2154079"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154079"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Saraswati</cite></strong><br> <p>You're reading way to much into atheism. All it rejects is belief in gods. Many atheists have very absolute ethics. I don't believe in a god but I am a modified rule utilitarian who believes that the greatest conscious happiness of all sentient beings is the end goal. I am not wwavering in this. I know other non-believers who are militant rights based ethicists. Many atheists have belief systems such as Buddhism or Unitarian Universalism that guide their beliefs. There are a huge diversity of beliefs among those who just happen not to believe in a god, just as their are among god-believers.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:43 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154079"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154079', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154079');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2154081"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154081"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">The Truth</cite></strong><br> <p>Our morality was one of the reasons our species survived. Social evolution has grown our empathy and the need to work in groups for survival is still seen in some of our great ape cousins so it is not hard to imagine how our ancestors needed each other for survival. The most ignorant conclusion one can reach is to say without religion humans are not moral because all the evidence says otherwise and the laws found in the bible and other religious writings are merely parroting earlier secular works such as the code of Hammurabi. Religion has attempted to usurp our evolved bottom up morality with it's own brand of top down morality that has only done more harm than good to society as they often interject extremely immoral practices, such as killing and pillaging other non-believers in their God's name since they dehumanize those not of their faith.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:45 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154081"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154081', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154081');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2160112"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160112"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Jessie</cite></strong><br> <p>[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcJxRqTs5nk&w=560&h=315%5D Sorry the link didn't show the video so I'm posting it as embedded.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 1:14 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160112"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160112', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160112');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2160127"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160127"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">tallulah13</cite></strong><br> <p>How can you say that your religion gives you morality when your basic statement here is nothing more than an ignorant lie about what atheists believe and think? Instead of learning the truth, it seems you would rather sit in judgement. The fact that you let a book or a pastor, instead of real life experience, tell you what to think is not a virtue. </p> <p>The sad truth is that if you need someone to tell you that hurting others is bad, if you need the threat of hell or the promise of heaven to be a good person, then you are not a good person at all.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 1:27 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160127"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160127', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160127');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2160912"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160912"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">CrossCountry</cite></strong><br> <p>@notonlythequestionbuttheoverallissue</p> <p>Its laughable that you think this woman can't pass down a level of morality and not subject her children to 'God'!!! America is full of 'religious' people that claim GOD and are complete idiots and have no moral backbone at all! Come on! Americans have the most Christian mega ministries that I have ever seen preaching doctrines of faith and goodness (ya right) and you guys still have some of the worst crime that can be imagined. Your preachers are getting caught for having affairs and stealing money! This adherence to this GOD is the reason for all the arrogance, intolerance and crap that floods the population. Get a grip! This really chaps my ass.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 6:18 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160912"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160912', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160912');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1" id="li-comment-2154066"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154066"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">All her questions have already been answered</cite></strong><br> <p>http://www.reasonablefaith.org/why-we-raised-our-kids-to-believe-in-god</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:31 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154066"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154066', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154066');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2154066#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2154066", "2154066", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2154073"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154073"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">End Religion</cite></strong><br> <p>religion doesn't answer any questions, it only demands you to stop asking and stop thinking.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:40 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154073"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154073', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154073');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="li-comment-2154064"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154064"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Brian Bergman</cite></strong><br> <p>Your opening statement exposes the flaw in your belief system. You didn't believe and you lied. It's like selling a product to customers that you don't believe will work. Sort of sets you up for failure from the very beginning. I would like to propose you read 'Why I'm Raising My Children With God' by Sara Debbie Gutfreund. http://www.aish.com/ci/s/Why-Im-Raising-My-Children-With-God.html</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:30 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154064"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154064', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154064');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2154064#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2154064", "2154064", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2154077"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154077"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">End Religion</cite></strong><br> <p>we do not need your indoctrination pamphlets. Religion does not answer any questions. Instead it commands you to stop asking them and to stop thinking.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:42 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154077"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154077', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154077');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2160141"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2160141"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">tallulah13</cite></strong><br> <p>Oh, no thank you, Brian. I agree with the author that one shouldn't lie to children.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 9, 2013 at 1:33 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2160141"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2160141', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2160141');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment even thread-even depth-1" id="li-comment-2150712"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2150712"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">TN Atheist</cite></strong><br> <p>More people like this mother need to step forward and proclaim their lack of belief in myth.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 4, 2013 at 12:58 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2150712"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2150712', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2150712');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2150712#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2150712", "2150712", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment odd alt depth-2" id="li-comment-2203887"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2203887"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">aNTHONY</cite></strong><br> <p>God is a bad parent and role model. This charge assumes that God is supposed to serve as a model for parenthood. But while there are analogies between God as our heavenly Father and a human parent, the disanalogies are so great as to undermine the assumption that God is to serve as a role model for human parents. For one thing, the analogy should be between us and our adult children, and in that case we do let them make their own free decisions without interference. But even then the analogy is not tight. For we and our children are equals; but God is our Creator and Sovereign. A human father who thought of himself as the end-all of his children’s existence would be egomaniacal. But the infinite God, who is the locus of goodness and love, is the appropriate end of all beings (even of Himself!), the summum bonum (highest good). I am charged with the moral and spiritual education of my children; but God is involved in drawing all people freely to a saving knowledge of Himself. It is not at all improbable that only in a world suffused with natural and moral evil would the optimal number of people freely come to know Him and His salvation. I am bound by certain moral obligations and prohibitions vis à vis my children (e.g., not to harm them); but God (if He has moral duties at all) is not bound by many of these (e.g., He can give and take life as He pleases). God may ask me to bear terrible suffering (though not without recompense!) in order that others might freely find eternal life. </p> <p>God is not logical. This mother is obviously not aware that the logical version of the problem of evil is recognized as bankrupt even by atheist and agnostic philosophers today. (See the discussion of the problem of evil in my Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview.) When we say that we do not understand why God has permitted a specific instance of suffering, it is not because we refuse to “think about it or deal with the issue.” Rather it is because we recognize that we are not in a position to make with any sort of confidence guesses as to why God permitted this specific incident. His morally sufficient reason for allowing some instance of suffering might not emerge until hundreds of years from now or perhaps in another country. Every event sends a ripple effect through history such that its consequences are impossible for finite persons limited in time and space to predict. Thus it is the better part of intellectual humility to say that we do not know the specific reason why God permitted some instance of suffering. What we can show is that the occurrence of such suffering is neither inconsistent nor improbable with respect to God’s existence, as the atheist presumptuously asserts. </p> <p>Obviously, no one is advocating that we should abdicate our responsibility for mitigating or eliminating the evils that afflict our world. On the contrary, Christians have led the way in the fight against slavery, poverty, disease, ignorance, and the manifest evils of our world. What have atheists done for us lately?</p> <p>God is not fair. This is just childish whining. Life is not fair. Get used to it. God is not under any obligation to be “fair.” (God is not Santa Claus, remember?) That does not imply that God allows “luck to rule mankind's existence.” No, it is God’s sovereign providence that rules the affairs of men. God neither promises nor provides an equal lot in life to every human being. What God does do is give sufficient grace for salvation and eternal life to every person He creates. The inequities and shortcomings of this life are not even worth comparing with the glory that God will bestow upon us in heaven. He sovereignly orders the world so that His plans will be achieved, and we can trust Him to do what is good.</p> <p>God does not protect the innocent. Right! Nor is He under any obligation to do so. He did not protect His only son Jesus Christ, who was the most innocent of men, from the horrible death on the cross. But God rightly orders the world so as to achieve His good purposes for the human race. Christ’s innocent death, in particular, brought about the redemption of mankind. </p> <p>God is not present. How do you know? Because we “cannot see, smell, touch or hear” God? If you could, he would be a finite, physical object, an idol, in effect, not God. Modern physics teaches us that there all sorts of realities that are not accessible to the five senses (QoW #273). Should we not believe in them? But we have indirect evidence of their reality, you might say. Indeed, and in the same way we have similar evidence for God.</p> <p>God Does Not Teach Children to Be Good. This is not an argument against God’s existence but just an alleged reason not to teach your children about God. I agree that we should teach children to do what is right because it is right. But the reason it is right is because God commands us to do it. By contrast on atheism there is no basis for moral obligation or prohibition. It’s wonderful that this mother wants to teach her children to do what is right, but on naturalism there is no objective right or wrong. If her children eventually see through the sham, they may become relativists in spite of her. She can only hope that they will “make her proud” and “become decent people” because once they see through the baseless morality she has taught them, there’s no reason that they should do so.</p> <p>God Teaches Narcissism. What nonsense! Jesus taught us not only to love our neighbors as ourselves but even to love our enemies. I challenge anyone to produce even one psychological study showing Christian children to be narcissistic. To the contrary, a number of studies show religious people to be psychologically better-balanced and happier than non-religious people. </p> <p>Finally, although this mother claims that she doesn’t want religious belief to disappear from people’s private lives, the thrust of her whole column is quite the opposite. She already has the freedom to teach her children whatever she wants. So what more is she angling for? She wants to convince readers of her column not to teach their children to believe in God. In other words, she is trying to eliminate religious belief in the private, not merely public, sphere. She is thus a part of the aggressive New Atheism.</p> <p>Read more: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/why-we-raised-our-kids-to-believe-in-god#ixzz2MkTcCeSv</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 6, 2013 at 4:04 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2203887"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2203887', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2203887');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2256765"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2256765"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">The One True Steve</cite></strong><br> <p>@ aNTHONY ...</p> <p>I like the way you make excuses for your myth.</p> <p>RA the sun god is the one true god ... prove he is not.</p> <p>Oh and while you're at it ... Explain why god is male? Why not female? You realize that if a woman had a virgin birth it could only be female. Genetically, biologically that's all that's possible. Please dazzle me with your magic.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> March 31, 2013 at 9:25 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2256765"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2256765', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2256765');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="li-comment-2147798"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2147798"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">roman2819</cite></strong><br> <p>As I interact with Christian friends, I realize that many of us lose the conviction to pray as time goes by. Also, we face difficulties in seeking God's will.This book, Understanding Prayer, Faith and God's Will, looks at real-life problems that we face in prayer, as well as seeking God's will. It then present biblical truths NOT realized before – truths that we can see and apply in our human journey. By clarifying wrong notions about prayer and God’s will. it will change the way you see – and seek – God’s will. When faith is strengthened by knowledge and understanding, we will go on to pray and serve God with conviction. Learn more about the book at: http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781620241431<br/> There are 12 chapters in this book:<br/> 1. Inner Doubts<br/> 2. What does the Bible mean?<br/> 3. Prayer: What did Jesus Intend to tell us?<br/> 4. "Why doesn't God answer more prayers?"<br/> 5. To Pray Again<br/> 6. Does Sin impede prayer?<br/> 7. Faith in God<br/> 8. How does God call people?<br/> 9. Understanding God's Will<br/> 10 Being in God's will<br/> 11 Journey of the Bible<br/> 12 Reading the Scripture Fruitfully</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 2, 2013 at 10:24 pm | <span id="safe-comments-result-2147798"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2147798', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2147798');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2147798#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2147798", "2147798", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> <ul class="children"> <li class="comment even depth-2" id="li-comment-2154080"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2154080"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">End Religion</cite></strong><br> <p>we do not need more fiction on gods and prayer such as the bible or this training book on how to use a bible. If your god were so awesome why would need a book to teach us how to do what could arguably be the simplest thing in the world? All anyone needs to know about prayer is summed up in a sentence or two: Prayer works as well as wishing on a 4-leaf clover. Grow up.</p> <div class="commentFooter"> February 6, 2013 at 9:44 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2154080"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2154080', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2154080');">Report abuse</a></span> | </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> <div class="commentDivline"></div> </div><!-- /commentItem --> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1" id="li-comment-2141493"> <div class="commentItem" id="comment-2141493"> <div class="cnn_special_comment"> <strong><cite class="fn">Science</cite></strong><br> <p>Check your god(S) at the cave enterance before entering.. No god(s) required for studying humans..</p> <p>updated 1 hour 55 minutes ago<br/> Jan. 29 2013</p> <p>Scientists have unearthed and dated some of the oldest stone hand axes on Earth. The ancient tools, unearthed in Ethiopia in the last two decades, date to 1.75 million years ago.</p> <p>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50620121/ns/technology_and_science-science/</p> <p>Ancient DNA reveals humans living 40,000 years ago in Beijing area related to present-day Asians, Native Americans January 21, 2013</p> <p>Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-01-ancient-dna-reveals-humans-years.html#jCp</p> <div class="commentFooter"> January 30, 2013 at 8:33 am | <span id="safe-comments-result-2141493"><a class="hide-if-no-js" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="safe_report_comments_flag_comment( '2141493', 'a0d8abc27d', 'safe-comments-result-2141493');">Report abuse</a></span> | <a class="comment-reply-link" href="/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/ireport-why-i-raise-my-children-without-god/?replytocom=2141493#respond" onclick="return addComment.moveForm("comment-2141493", "2141493", "respond", "37929")">Reply</a> </div> </div><!-- /cnn_special_comment --> 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It's edited by CNN's <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/author/emarrapodi/">Eric Marrapodi</a> with daily contributions from CNN's worldwide newsgathering team and frequent posts from religion scholar and author <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/author/sprothero/">Stephen Prothero</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cnnBoxFooter"><div></div></div> </div> <!-- /about --> <div id="sidebar" class="cnn_sidebar"> <div id="recent-posts-3" class="widget-1 cnn_widget_first cnnPad9Top widget widget_recent_entries"><div class="widget-1 cnn_widget_first cnnWireLtgBox"><div class="widget-1 cnn_widget_first cnnBoxHeader"><div></div></div><div class="widget-1 cnn_widget_first cnnBoxContent"><div class="widget-1 cnn_widget_first cnnBlogMod cnnAboutbox"> <div class="cnnBlogHeader">Recent Posts</div><div class="cnnBlogContent"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/02/the-bible-finale-ratings-rival-the-walking-dead/" title="EW: 'The Bible' finale ratings rival 'The Walking Dead'">EW: 'The Bible' finale ratings rival 'The Walking Dead'</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/02/pope-embraces-disabled-boy-on-easter/" title="Pope embraces disabled boy on Easter">Pope embraces disabled boy on Easter</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/30/christ-was-persecuted-but-what-about-christians/" title="Christ was persecuted, but what about Christians?">Christ was persecuted, but what about Christians?</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/30/rare-tv-appearance-for-turin-shroud/" title="Rare TV appearance for Turin Shroud">Rare TV appearance for Turin Shroud</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/30/at-evangelical-colleges-a-shifting-attitude-toward-gay-students/" title="At evangelical colleges, a shifting attitude toward gay students">At evangelical colleges, a shifting attitude toward gay students</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/joel-osteen-dismisses-the-bible-controversy/" title="Joel Osteen dismisses "The Bible" controversy">Joel Osteen dismisses "The Bible" controversy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/everybunny-loves-beer-religiously-themed-brews/" title="Everybunny loves beer: Religiously themed brews">Everybunny loves beer: Religiously themed brews</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/pope-francis-visits-murderers-and-theives/" title="Pope Francis visits murderers and thieves">Pope Francis visits murderers and thieves</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/condoms-on-campus-no-thanks-were-catholic-college-says/" title="Condoms on campus? 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id="wp-calendar"> <caption>January 2013</caption> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th> <th scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> </tr> </thead> <tfoot> <tr> <td colspan="3" id="prev"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/" title="View posts for December 2012">« Dec</a></td> <td class="pad"> </td> <td colspan="3" id="next"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/" title="View posts for February 2013">Feb »</a></td> </tr> </tfoot> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="1" class="pad"> </td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/01/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, January 01, 2013, Iranians seek relief in Christmas celebrations">1</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/02/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Wednesday, January 2, 2013, My Take: Blood on Chinese hands in Tibetan self-immolations, Nigerian forces kill 13 Boko Haram militants after church attacks">2</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/03/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Thursday, January 03, 2013, 'Jesus Wife' fragment gets more testing, delays article, Targeting 'Les Miserables' to Christians pays off at the box office">3</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/04/" title="Crisis of faith over Vatican cash machines, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Friday, January 04, 2013, On religion, Capitol freshmen are more diverse than their incumbent colleagues, Vatican can't take credit card payments">4</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/05/" title="My Take: New Year’s resolution – don’t get murdered, Priests in same-sex relationships may become Anglican Bishops, My Take: Jesus was a dirty, dirty God">5</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/06/" title="College students raise funds to fight slavery, Food, self image and God">6</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/07/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Monday, January 07, 2013, White House officials reach out to Jewish community to answer Hagel concerns, Amid Orthodox Christmas, Egypt's Christians fear for their rights under Islamist government">7</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/08/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, January 08, 2013, My take: 'Atheist' isn’t a dirty word, congresswoman, Atlanta pastor, Evers' widow named to speak at inauguration, Christians divided on gun control, Giglio: Jesus was the original abolitionist">8</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/09/" title="Washington National Cathedral to wed same-sex couples, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Wednesday, January 09, 2013, Thousands protest in Shiite provinces in southern Iraq, Saint-like prayer for Chavez, The spiritual but not religious likely to face mental health issues, drug use, study says, My Take: An open letter to Justin Bieber">9</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/10/" title="Biden's gun panel meets with faith leaders, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Thursday, January 10, 2013, Expectations high for first Hindu member of Congress, Giglio bows out of inauguration over sermon on gays, Bucking previous trends, survey finds growth of the religiously unaffiliated slowing, Obama to swear-in on a stack of historic Bibles">10</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/11/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Friday, January 11, 2013, Hobby Lobby finds way around $1.3-million-a-day Obamacare hit - for now">11</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/12/" title="Hindu holy book coming to a nightstand near you, My Take: Christians ought to shrug off inaugural pastor rejection, Gun issue divides religious community, Evangelical Christians prepare for ‘largest ever grassroots push on immigration’">12</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/13/" title="Why Washington's National Cathedral will start hosting same sex weddings">13</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/14/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Monday, January 14, 2013, 'American Taliban' wins right to group prayer in prison, Precious relics stolen from church">14</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/" title="Reverend: Newtown chose compassion, love, Split ruling on discrimination against UK Christians, Buddhas in 3-D: Technology and the battle to preserve Asia's heritage, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, January 15, 2013, iReport: Why I Raise My Children Without God, First on CNN: Obama picks D.C. Episcopal priest to deliver inauguration benediction">15</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/16/" title="Flight attendant wins right to wear cross, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Wednesday, January 16, 2013, Survey: Few religious groups want Roe v. Wade overturned despite belief abortion morally wrong">16</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/17/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Thursday, January 17, 2013, My Take: 'What would George Washington do' about Chuck Hagel?">17</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/18/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Friday, January 18, 2013, Take a listen: God is all over inauguration, Godless mom strikes a chord with parents">18</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/19/" title="My Take: An almost chosen nation">19</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/20/" title="Obama chooses Bible steeped in history">20</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/21/" title="Obama ends oath with 'So help me God', Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Monday, January 21, 2013, My Take: Obama delivers Lincoln's Third Inaugural, Iran begins trial for U.S. pastor held since September">21</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/22/" title="Latino minister fires up Ebenezer on King Day, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, January 22, 2013, King: Obama MLK Bible use 'heartwarming'">22</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/23/" title="Obama thanked for living in 'glass house' at National Prayer Service, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Wednesday, January 23, 2013, Cubans pray for a Chavez recovery">23</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/24/" title="Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Thursday, January 24, 2013">24</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/25/" title="Twitter must identify racist, anti-Semitic posters, French court says, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Friday, January 25, 2013, 'None' leaders to chart path for more political, cultural power for religiously unaffiliated">25</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/26/" title="Group: U.S. pastor's family was told he has been moved within Iranian prison, My Take: An American Jew finds MLK – and a new understanding – on the West Bank">26</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/27/" title="Iran sentences U.S. pastor to 8 years in prison, group says">27</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/28/" title="Lawyers for Catholic hospital argue that a fetus is not a person, Recounting the nightmares of the Holocaust, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Monday, January 28, 2013">28</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/29/" title="Woman escapes with kids from Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Case fuels debate over when life begins, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Tuesday, January 29, 2013, Poll: Quarter of Americans say God influences sporting events, Transgender teacher sues Catholic prep school for alleged discrimination">29</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/30/" title="Netanyahu cartoon sparks anger, Murdoch says sorry, Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Wednesday, January 30, 2013, Author of Scientology book: ‘There have been a lot of tears in this story’">30</a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130402190240/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/31/" title="Unholy details of a religious 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