This is for all you atheists/agnostics out there that have to tell your religious parents what you are, but are scared to do so. I just did it today, and this is sort of what NOT to do lol.
About 30 minutes before my mom and I were about to go to church I told her that I don't believe in the Catholic religion. Yeah, BIG MISTAKE. If you're going to do this don't do it 30 minutes before you're going to church/temple or whatever you're going to lol.
This will probably be the most painful part of letting go of your religion. When I told my VERY religious mother who isn't very open minded btw, it was horrible. She didn't accept me and said I needed to go to church to "cure" me. I felt betrayed, unloved, sad, angry, unaccepted, and for the first time like a minority. I was really upset and called my dad at work and explained what was happening. He isn't that religious and a hell of a lot more open minded. So telling him was fairly easy, and he even said that it's ok to question my beliefs.
He told me we'd talk about it when he got home, and to just go to church anyway to make my mom happy. So I did.
I had a huge conversation with my parents when I got home, and there was anger, sadness, but at the end acceptance. I finally felt truly enlightened and happy.
Anyways, morale of the story is if you have a parent that is more open minded than the other do one of two things. Tell that parent first OR tell both parents together. If one or both of your parents don't accept you for what you are, and try to force their religion on you then just be patient. They are your parents and you should try to respect them. Eventually you'll move out and won't have to deal with it. Also if you just keep talking to your parents they may start accepting you and stop trying to make you something you're not.
I probably forgot some things but here's a video that I wish I found before this happened, it probably would have helped a lot. Watch it and take its advice, and good luck telling your parents about your freedom of dogmas!
Still have questions? Just ask me and I'll help you how I can.
-ps, MAYBE this can help if you're gay/bisexual as well.
Actually, the non-religious group isn't such a minority. The total self identified non-religious people in America is more then the total African Americans in America. If we actually came out and worked together, we would be able to hold some pretty heavy sway in society.
Actually, the non-religious group isn't such a minority. The total self identified non-religious people in America is more then the total African Americans in America. If we actually came out and worked together, we would be able to hold some pretty heavy sway in society.
That is pretty interesting. Maybe if we all did come out you wouldn't have to be Christian to win an election for any office
I feel glad that I don't have a religious family and just got away with the seemingly customary christening. I have never had too deal with any religious tension (until recently however...) my mother has become increasingly defensive of religion; I don't know if she is playing devils advocat or what but the debate is fun I suppose. But my primary school was quite Christian, we would have bible studies (which was just copying stories from the bible... tedious and boring) and we would pray every day (again pointless and empty for all but about 2-3 kids out of 200-300 at the school).
Maybe politicians should be forbidden to talk about their religious beliefs.
Considering that in the U.S. we are suppose to have separation of church and state, the above should be a given ... too bad it isn't, even our money says, "In God We Trust" ... it's highly contradictory to what our forefathers wrote. Of course, many of our forefathers were also contradictory in their own thought process.
