Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
In a deeply religious country like the Philippines, growing up Godless is almost unimaginable. Most would even say sinful. Predominantly Catholic, part and parcel of growing up here is learning one’s prayers. So how do children of non-religious parents—atheists, even—turn out?
Do they become soul-less criminals? Do they grow up to be individuals who lead hedonistic lives without drive and direction? Or worst of all, do they become Satanists? A recent article published in the Los Angeles Times would like us to think otherwise.
The article quotes University of Southern California Professor of Gerontology and Sociology Vern Bengston as saying, “Far from being dysfunctional, nihilistic and rudderless without the security and rectitude of religion, secular households provide a sound and solid foundation for children.”
Bengston oversees the Longitudinal Study of Generations, which for 40 years and counting, is the largest and possibly the longest-running study of religion and family life spanning generations of families in the US.
Upon observing non-religious families and examining how parental influence trickles down to non-religious children, Bengston was surprised to find that non-religious families had high levels of familial solidarity and close emotional bonds. The strong ethical and moral principles the parents held were also passed on to the children.
“Many non-religious parents were more coherent and passionate about their ethical principles than some of the ‘religious’ parents in our study… The vast majority appeared to live goal-filled lives characterized by moral direction and sense of life having a purpose,” Bengston stated.
