Im not tolerant of anyone pushing their beliefs on my children. Now that they are older, Im not so much "mama bear" because I talk to my kids to help them think and make decisions. Im honest with them. So now my kids question what is told to them. Im usually called in on the conversation and that's when things tend to get firm. I do have family who ask the religious rollers "are you sure you want to do that?", meaning do you want to have this talk with her kids. That question often stops some of them in their tracks.

I grew up in that area myself. My dad raised me Jewish but I never believed at any point in my life. Even when very little. If people asked I'd usually just say I was Jewish, I'd say atheist to people I knew well and thought of as peers though. Growing up I was afraid to say atheist though these days I'd say it is a lot better than years ago. My step mom is quite Catholic (really into those kids religious movies) and she's much more accepting than someone like her would have been ten years ago.

The Atheist Experience from Texas takes calls on their Sunday show. Many people call in and some are young and have questions related to telling their parents about that they do not believe in god. [atheist-experience.com]

I don't have children, but my mother raised my siblings and I to believe what we thought was true. She made sure to teach us to respect our own beliefs above all and that not believing in someone else's religion, no matter if they're related to you, close to you, or just a stranger, is not a bad thing. Beliefs are merely opinions with logic and reasoning of some sort behind them. Let your children know that you will respect and love them no matter what they believe. You will protect them if you think they are being used, of course, but ultimately, their beliefs are up to them. If you can't do that, you are being just as pushy as the Christians. Your children are going to believe in what they believe, no matter what you say. It doesn't help to make them feel like they need to fake it to be respected or fear you because you won't accept them. You know that feeling. Make them realize that judgment is not necessary in life.

Let my kids (son & niece) know that all religion is an opinion. I shared my lack of belief in Jesus, God and explained details of all religions when the topic came up. Then, I let them make up their own minds.

If you're teaching them good values and explaining the world to them, including that your relatives have their own belief system which may be different than yours but. We all have the right to choose, you shouldn't worry.

Tell them to keep their beliefs to themselves

My wife is a believer and my mom says enough prayers for the entire world. is often a contentious topic in the household. My wife assumed I believed because we met around the time I left the church. She assumed I would be reborn but 15 years later I am not. She has never regularly attended church but often inserts her beliefs into conversation. We have 3 kids. My youngest daughter (age 8) has been dropping some rather heavy philosophical questions on me lately. My theory is that children should be exposed to the world and left to make their own decisions. I feel that the mind of a child is too impressionable to comprehend the question of human existence and the worshiping of a creator. Church tends to, for a lack of a better word, “brainwash” young impressionable minds into believing something they do not understand. I think it is awesome that you come to realize that you have a choice to decide what you believe. Believers will always push and feel they need to save you or the children (case in point my mom). I would remind these children as they grow up that the world is a magical place full of amazing things. Every human being seeks the answer to the question “ am I here?” However, you don’t have to worry about that until you get older. People may try to tell you about God and that’s fine but Mommy has her own ideas. Let the children come to you with questions. Not to dispute the family members but to open their minds to possibilities and the power of individuality. As far as the family members. They will not change. You cannot change them either. Don’t waste your time worrying about this. Your kids will grow up to be educated and will form their own opinions (whether that mimics yours or their father’s). Hope this helps. Trust me I sympathize with you. Try having your daughter ask you how the first tree was made if there were no trees around to make seeds. My believer wife had too much fun watching me try to tiptoe around that question. My theory is to not totally discourage Creationism or solely preach them my agenda. I feel that none of us know what the right answer is and that’s ok. Just focus on the now and enjoy those kids.

Have "the" talk with your kid/kids!)
(No, not THAT talk)
Tell them that lots of people are convinced of things that don't have a lick of proof. Show them some instances, like flat earthers, dinosaur deniers, "the world's only 6 thousand years old" etc, things you can easily disprove.
Then tell the kids you are certain they've already heard about the bearded guy in the sky.
Let them see how many "gawds" there have been thru history, including the photos of the Pacific islanders who made a fake airplane because they knew that had to be from the gawds.
If they go religious after that, I dunno...