DiscussMormonism.com

KevinSim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:42 am

I am a devout Latter-day Saint, and yet I do have doubts about what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches.

KevinSim wrote:I'm aware that the Unitarian Universalist Church often functions as a sort of church equivalent for atheists, so maybe there are programs for kids through them. Is there anything else?

Some Schmo wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 06, 2023 3:37 am

Play dates are not unique to churches. Growing up, my daughter had lots of kids to play with, and at places with no agenda.

KevinSim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 06, 2023 3:29 am

…Do atheists have programs like this for their young children? I'm aware that the Unitarian Universalist Church often functions as a sort of church equivalent for atheists, so maybe there are programs for kids through them. Is there anything else?

Marcus wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 06, 2023 7:02 am

We don’t label their foreheads, so I’m not sure how many atheists, agnostics, and/or believers we actually have, but i’m on the Library Board in my small town, and we have a full schedule of activities. We do way more just try to find fun things to do for an hour twice a month, though. Here’s a sample of non-religious activities we have:

Once a month we have Lego night for kids and parents, during the school year we have a STEM-oriented club for young inventors that meets weekly, and we have craft activities for the younger set all summer long. We hold parties oriented toward youth for every possible Holiday, sponsored by various businesses in town. We have a book club for young readers that meets in our reader’s room as well as designated quiet reading times that are VERY popular with the middle school aged kids and their parents. We also sponsor early evening family movies in the Park monthly from April to August, which are very well attended. All of these are free, for atheists and non-atheists alike.

My kids are grown, but the school they attended still holds a weekly early morning children’s chess class taught by a local grandmaster who volunteers his time, and there is a track club for ages 8-12 in the afternoons, organized by a local doctor who runs marathons and wants to give back. There are swim clubs in my area for literally all ages, as well as recreational basketball, baseball and soccer for all.

The church at the end of my street has a kids choir and as far as I know, professing one’s religious position is not a prerequisite for participation. I know because I am friends with the pastor, who (gasp!) knows I am atheist and is still willing to be seen with me when I attend his ziti fund-raising dinner, or when we sit next to each other at school board meetings.

NONE of these activities in my town, library, schools or even churches require children or families to document their religious position in order to participate.

Where exactly do you live, KS, that you face such limited and restrictive opportunities?

KevinSim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 06, 2023 3:29 am

The first and third Wednesday of each month my grandson (who my wife and I are raising) enjoys going to Activity Day for Boys, an hour of playing games in our church's cultural hall with a dozen boys roughly his age, facilitated by two adults who do a pretty good job of finding fun things for them to do. Do atheists have programs like this for their young children? I'm aware that the Unitarian Universalist Church often functions as a sort of church equivalent for atheists, so maybe there are programs for kids through them. Is there anything else?