When your kid starts learning religion from elementary school classmates, it is time to take things into your own hands. This was a great book that provided lots of useful suggestions on discussing religion with children. The author made great points on teaching religious literacy, protecting kids from being indoctrinated, teaching kids to deal with religious bullies, handling religious family, and many other useful topics. Mostly she stressed the importance of raising kids willing and able to think for themselves and ask tough questions.

This was excellent both for giving practical talking points and for providing other resources for figuring out how to share religion with our son in our secular household. I borrowed my copy, but I intend to pick up one of my own to share with my husband.

Excellent

This book is amazing. Alot of it seems like common sense, but I really loved the idea of religious literacy. After talking it over with my husband we'll be incorporating a lot more religious stories into our nightly book time. This is a great book for anyone struggling with presenting religion to their children and still allowing children the autonomy to ask questions and figure out what they believe.

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 ⭐️

-1 star because I think I could find most of the information covered in this book somewhere online myself. +1 stars for saving me the time and giving the information for the source material, plus other material I know I need to check out as well.

This book covers so much in such a small amount of pages, but has everything I think a person starting the religion conversation with your kid needs. I didn't read the appendix portion, but like that I have the information there for reference if specific questions come up in my conversations with my child.

If for no other reason this book is worth the purchase/read for the "dealing with sticking issues" section. Which I think everyone that's not religious has experienced at some point of time when you have a village of people involved in the care of your children.

It will definitely be one that I refer back to as my children grow older and come to grips in what they do or do not believe and to try and help out with their questions about other religions ( It has a nice cheat sheet in the back that gives a quick basic look at a variety of other religions)

Not only does this book give great examples and at times humorous ones from her life which will help me guide my kids into understanding and tolerance of all religions ( and a few I could actually relate to) but she also points out how religious literature could help out with the tolerance, and who doesn’t want their children to be well read?


I think the topic of religion was handled well and with compassion and facts. She didn’t single out any religions or say being religious or non religious is bad but she focused on acceptance, tolerance and education. She focused on how to teach our children to think for themselves and to be tolerant and accepting of all religions.

I for one found this book to be just what I needed as my children are growing older and being introduced to different religions and people ( and already both have encountered the “ You don’t go to church so you’re going to go to hell” ). I didn’t know how to talk to my kids about religion(s) now with this book ( and its recommendations )I have a wonderful guide full of facts, understanding and compassion to help me and to help them.