Hypocrisy at its finest. Brava to your child.

Everyone is programmed by their parents, teachers, friends. Children mimic what they see until they can formulate their own beliefs. Most people have a difficult time rising above that programming. Hate breeds hate, political affiliation breeds affiliation, et al. Of course, there are exceptions but they are in the minority. I won't waste my time telling other people what is right because there is no right for all, only for you.

I was in my late teens when I told my mother I didn't believe... she told me I was too young to know. Ridiculous.

aren't we born Atheist? Smart kid. Kids speak the truth more easily than adults.

Oh yeah, if they are curious to question it then they're old enough. i was 8 yrs old when i started to question it, but had awesome supportive mom like yourself.

When your kid is old enough to say santa isn't real, your kid is old enough to say god isn't real.
...guess God and Santa are kinda the same thing.

Besides, isn't not believing in things the default state?

children have open minds not empty heads

Those who have been brought to believe feel insecure when others don't. This is because it devalues their own perception and would force them to question their reality. Any doubt could result in the crashing down of there world. Same could be said of us as free thinkers, but we tend be able to offer actual evidence to support our viewpoint and understand that we could be wrong.

They are a part of society that appears to insists on everyone comforming and being indoctrinated to their ideals. So in their world a child who knows/thinks there is no higher being is a threat as is anyone who would ask how they know there is one.

The 1st amendment should protect children from being indoctrinated into religious beliefs and hate crime laws should apply to forced indoctrination. Most children are vulnerable to the manipulation used to get them to conform and those who question become outcasts. We must allow their minds to mature, learn, and be allowed to choose for themselves.

Your daughter appears prepared to stand her ground against these people in protecting her views.

Some children are way more intelligent than some adults. Your daughter sounds like one of them.

Though presumptuous, it is far from the only falsehoods children are told at public expense. Public 'education' is government managed misinformation and programming.

My children were taught that they had fangs.

Children are strongly influenced by their parents. Highly likely they will believe what ever you believe because they are not developed enough to know better.

I feel sorry for many who don't believe and are treated as an out cast from the family. Religion more often divides people from their freedom of thinking and you are what you think.

Your daughter is one smart cookie!