During the time this site was dead, it actually freed up some time for me to pull out the book (manuscript) I started writing 30 years ago. I get it out from time to time to update the references and polish up the ideas. It felt good to get back to it.

I think was spurred me on to get back to it is that when I first started writing it, my daughter was about 9 years old, and now my grandson is 9 years old and is exposed to people trying to convince him to believe in God.

I had started writing this book decades ago to help me strengthen our family's humanistic values, while being attacked by neighbors and family members telling my children that they were going to hell, etc., since we didn't go to church.

My daughter, son in law, and his family are all atheists, as am I, but my grandchildren are exposed to friends and family members who are strong religious believers. My grandson, while catching me up on what's new with him recently, blurted out to me "Oh, and I believe in God." (He likely knew that might surprise me.)

I thought about replying with "which God?" or something else clever, but I figured I'd just leave it alone. I did tell him that I've studied religion quite a bit, and if he ever wanted to talk about it, I'm happy to have a conversation.

I have some reasons for not believing in gods, and others can share their reasons for believing in their god, and he's a bright boy. I think it's good for him to just think on it a bit and make up his mind as time goes by.

We'll see how it goes, but I wouldn't ever want to talk someone out of their belief. I'm more about bringing up points to help people make their own decisions.

Anyway, it gives me a good reason to get back to finishing up my book, just in case I ever want to publish it. So, now I'm back at writing my book. Not sure if I'll ever try to get it published, but it makes me feel good to write it and kind of sort out my own thoughts for conversations that might come up in the future.

Not sure if it's appropriate for me to share with him some children's books I have in my bookcase from an humanistic viewpoint -- but I might leave them out next time he visits and see if he's curious enough to read them. I just don't want to indoctrinate him or purposely dissuade him from trying to fit in with his friends, but I'm sure ready to assist him if he wants a discussion. I'm sure he knows I'm only too happy to talk about it. I'm also sure he'll come around to non-belief at some point, but I'd like him to come to that conclusion on his own.

How have you handled questions and comments from grandchildren about religion?