Quitting church

[brewer]

bold mine

Nice guilt trip. But is one of the tools often used isn't it. 

Why should she "owe" a belief or faith to anyone? Why should she have to "honor" anyone with a belief? 

And who is this someone who can defend the faith better than her parents or priest, you? 

Go fishing on some other site. This one got away. And you're a dick!

I didn't say anything about owing a belief or faith to anyone--that is an individual's choice. I think a teenager should honor their parents by giving their beliefs a fair hearing. I am guessing at the circumstances, but if they are like many parents, they are not prepared for the sophisticated attack on their beliefs that their children become exposed to in school and on the internet.

If Erica want's to ask me who or what book, than she may. My advice to get all the information available was not to you.

bold mine

She had been giving them a fair hearing her whole life. They were found lacking.

Define attack? Would that be logic, reason, the ability to recognize a fantasy delusion? 

School and the internet are the devils handy work, hahahahahahhahahaha

[Crossless2.0]

School and the internet are the devils handy work, hahahahahahhahahaha

Ah, yes . . . those public school days when my teachers banded together to discredit Christianity, rather than teach me math, science, history, and how to read critically. The experience was so brutal my fragile faith couldn't handle it.



Nevertheless, I don't blame Christians for this ad hoc excuse. I'd cast about for someone or something to blame, too, if I had to defend such a pile of nonsense. Conspiracy-mongering and playing the victim of sinister cultural trends is preferable to taking seriously the reasons one's group is slowly losing ground among vast numbers of the better educated.

[brewer]

School and the internet are the devils handy work, hahahahahahhahahaha

Ah, yes . . . those public school days when my teachers banded together to discredit Christianity, rather than teach me math, science, history, and how to read critically. The experience was so brutal my fragile faith couldn't handle it.

It's a well know fact that INFORMATION and KNOWLEDGE kills god.

[Crossless2.0]

Ah, yes . . . those public school days when my teachers banded together to discredit Christianity, rather than teach me math, science, history, and how to read critically. The experience was so brutal my fragile faith couldn't handle it.

It's a well know fact that INFORMATION and KNOWLEDGE kills god.

. . . unless they run up against credulity and infantile neediness. Then the gods flourish.

[mlmooney89]

I didn't say anything about owing a belief or faith to anyone--that is an individual's choice. I think a teenager should honor their parents by giving their beliefs a fair hearing. I am guessing at the circumstances, but if they are like many parents, they are not prepared for the sophisticated attack on their beliefs that their children become exposed to in school and on the internet.

If Erica want's to ask me who or what book, than she may. My advice to get all the information available was not to you.

1) She has been going to church while not believing, I think that is amazing on her part for honoring her parents. If they couldn't help her see "the truth" over 17 years then I think she is just one of us and there is no helping her.
2) People who leave the church are not usually leaving because one or two people can't explain it right they leave the church because in their own minds they see how all of it is illogical.
3) Why do you think the school and internet are the culprits? In most of the cases I've seen the teenagers already doubt and don't want to believe anymore they just get online to find others to talk with about it. The internet isn't the big culprit of killing the faith it just gives confidence. And school? HA! Have you seen most of the schools that the brainwashed children attend? Here in America's southern states we are fighting to get the teachers to STOP preaching to the kids.

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Erica I am so glad that your family is accepting this. So many people fall out completely with their families over religion. It's good to hear a good ending for once.

[Jesster]

Honor your parents... right. Parents don't automatically deserve honoring. Yeah, you should follow their rules while you are living under their roof, but only honor them if they deserve it.

[Crossless2.0]

Honor your parents... right. Parents don't automatically deserve honoring. Yeah, you should follow their rules while you are living under their roof, but only honor them if they deserve it.

In addition to following their rules, here are a few more suggestions for how one can honor one's parents (assuming they aren't cretins and deserve honoring):

1.  Hey, Mom and Dad, thanks for knocking out that mortgage every month and for paying for everything else we need. I really appreciate how well you care for me.

2.  Mom, you look tired. I'll cook tonight.

3.  My chores are done. Is there anything else you would like me to do, Dad?


This is not how it's done:

You believe it without good reasons? Good enough for me, Mom and Dad. I'll believe it too, and I'll find someone who can put the words in my mouth in case anyone raises a valid-sounding objection to these beliefs so I never stray. You know, because I love you and your feelings are more valuable to me than intellectual integrity or my own well being. Do you have some political opinions I can uncritically swallow, while I'm at it?

[robvalue]

I missed this first time round.

Welcome Erica, and thanks for sharing your story

I think you have to do what's right for you. Others have already given excellent advice.

[purplepurpose]

Some people wish to persuade well polished ideas of peaceful religion, where they want to live eternally, BUT need to start to pay for it by trying to become servants of "selfishness". I think that's well balanced idea from philosophical and moral point of view.

I personally, don't see a reason in becoming religious "servant", even if God and heaven described exists.

[Pat Mustard]

And yes, I'm western. Actually, I'm from the Netherlands, which is mostly a secular country. That does make it easier when I'm not with my family. 
The church that my family attends (not me since this week!) is a really really strict church; even in America this would be on the extreme side.
So yeah, I'm really glad to have made this leap 
And thanks again everyone!

A bit late to the discussion, but let me guess, Restored Reformed Church?

My brother lived and worked in the Netherlands for a few years, so I've been over a few times myself.