Atheist Quote by Ernestine Rose
“It is an interesting and demonstrable fact that all children are atheists and were not religion inculcated in their minds, they would remain so.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Natural History of Religion,” 1885
Children are naturally non-religious; without early indoctrination they remain atheists.
In simple terms: Kids start without religion unless taught.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the role of early education in belief formation.
Themes
religion
atheism
socialization
education
child development
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
sociological
reflective
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school curricula
- family traditions
- community practices
Key Concepts
cognitive development
social influence
belief formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors cause belief changes later in life?
- How does culture shape religious identity?
A Different Perspective
Adults may later adopt beliefs despite early atheism.
![“[Children are] like talking animals. Their consciousness is so different from ours that they constitute a different species. They don't have to be particularly interesting children; just the fact that they are children is sufficient. They don't know what anything is, so they have to make it up. No…” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/913/fran-lebowitz-690_animal_children-are-like-talking-animals-their_2862786.jpg)
![“Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul [of Tarsus], Teresa of Avila, Joseph Ratzinger, and Edith Stein-in all their intellectual rigor-as allies in the the struggle against this dismissive atheism.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86d/robert-barron-13186_allies_again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheis_35728.jpg)
