Alabamian Atheist in Need of Advice

[smax]

I can sort of relate. I was raised Christian and practiced it for a long time, but I'm not sure I ever truly bought it. I know I wanted to buy it, and even tried to buy it, but deep down I'm quite positive that I always had doubts.

For that reason, I feel I can relate to your dilemma with your parents. I never expressed any of my doubts or concerns about Christianity or the bible growing up because I knew that, in the very least, my environment would be awkward after that.

I suspect you have greater fears than that, and that saddens me. Reluctantly, I have to agree with many of the members here who have adviced you to keep your real views private from your parents.

On a somewhat related note, I have a daughter your age, and my wife and I have raised her to believe whatever she feels is right. That said, having come from a Christian background and broke away, I've always known that she would share my views as long as I encouraged her to think critically and freely. She is, like myself, an Agnostic Athiest. As such, she often faces social pressures and consequences, with her peers telling her that she will "burn in hell" for her views. She's obviously not afraid of burining in hell, as there is no compelling evidence that any such place even exists. But it does bother her that her peers think such fate awaits her. It makes her feel somewhat alienated, even though she has many friends.

The point is, even if you could tell your parents how you really feel, I suspect, like my daughter, you'd have difficulty with some of your peers. With that, I don't see what it could hurt to at least wait high school out before coming out. High school has enough challenges without adding unnecessary social complications to the mix.

But, at some point, a person does have to be and represent who they really are. I don't think a person can find fulfillment and happiness otherwise. I know I couldn't find either of those things until I finally started being me.