I Need Some Advice...

[Minimalist]

The truly religious ( i.e. nutty ) will always claim that good fortune comes from their fucking god and bad fortune is your own fault.

There is no reasoning with any of them.

[technophobe]

The truly religious ( i.e. nutty ) will always claim that good fortune comes from their fucking god and bad fortune is your own fault.

There is no reasoning with any of them.

That's their answer to everything. If it's positive, then it's due to God's blessing. If it's negative, then it's God's punishment, or, the one I loathe the most, his mysterious way. Uh-huh. Either way, you get no credit or all the blame, or some trite excuse that supposedly explains why God hates you.

Jonah... I can't relate to your dilemma. My parents were both happy atheists. But I am a dad and I would respect my kid(s) if one of them came to me and said they were "born again." (Actually, my first reply to such a declaration would be along the lines of "Born again? What? Wasn't the first time exciting enough?")

From your post, I'd venture to say that your father might be the best one to approach when you feel that there's an opportunity to discuss religion.

Good luck, kid.

[Thor]

Mom: Son, have you thanked the Lord lately?
Me: What do you mean?
Mom: I'm being serious, son. Have you thanked the Lord for all the blessings He has given you?
Me: Umm...well, I'm certainly appreciative of the scholarships, if that's what you're asking.
Mom: I'm not joking! Have you prayed and said, "Thank you Lord Jesus for these blessings?"
Me: Why are you asking me this?
Mom: Your father and I have been talking. He asked me if I thought you were being appreciative of this good fortune; I told him I didn't know.

At this point I would have said, "I haven't thanked Jesus because I refuse to blame him for the misery in the world."

Mom would probably then say, "What are you talking about?".

I would then respond, "You want to give Jesus credit for my good fortune. So you're saying that Jesus is responsible for granting people good fortune. Well, if he's responsible for granting good fortune to some people, he must also be responsible for denying good fortune to others. So when people lose their home in a natural disaster, come down with a horrible disease, go blind, become paralyzed or don't get into the college they desire, Jesus is responsible for their lack of good fortune. I don't believe that! So, since he's not responsible for others NOT having good fortune, he's also not responsible for my good fortune. So why should I thank him?"

Bet that would set your mother's head spinning.