I'm no longer a christian, how do I break this to my parents?

[greneknight]

I don't see the need for secrecy. What can possibly happen? My parents know I don't believe in God as a being but I'm still an altar boy. I don't think parents are that immature. I have read of cases of Christians in the Bible Belt - the fundy kind and they are nasty. If your parents are the fundy kind, then don't tell them. They'll make you handle a venomous snake or something - I read about a church that had someone killed by a snake because they thought God would save them. But if your parents aren't the fundy kind, then by all means tell them. They'll probably have a good laugh over it or better still, they might tell you they don't believe either. My parents couldn't care two hoots whether God was alive or dead or non-existent. If you asked my mum if she believed God really existed, she'd say she didn't know and she didn't bloody care. She'd just think you're rude because polite people don't talk about religion. But doing religious rituals is more a culture and they'd be a little surprised if a child refuses to attend church because he didn't believe in God. My mother would say "But everybody doesn't believe in God so what's the harm in attending church?" If Godschild were my dad, no way would I tell him. He'll probably give me a good hiding until I tell him I believe in bloody Jesus as God and I'm not being facetious here because "bloody Jesus" is good theology - go ask any priest.

[Minimalist]

I am assuming you're a minor; perhaps you could talk to someone who wouldn't tell your parents like a school counsellor?

Definitely don't talk to any fucking preacher.

[Darth]

Guys, these parents had an intervention for their kid when they found that he/she was being NICE. They aren't run of the mill christmas-easter christians, they aren't even every sunday christians. I think that to advocate that they tell their parents, especially when we don't know their age, is the height of irresponsibility. If they had an intervention for them when they found out that they were being nice to people, what will they do when they announce that they are an atheist? Disowned? Sent to intensive christian camp? Pulled out of school?

[Annik]

I am over 18 and my family is only semi-religious. Hinting at my atheism on Facebook stirred up a shit-storm. I don't think it's a good idea right now.

[ThomM]

I am over 18 and my family is only semi-religious. Hinting at my atheism on Facebook stirred up a shit-storm. I don't think it's a good idea right now.


I assume you still live with your parents then - since YOU did not indicate otherwise

I have a question for you

WHY is it important for you to have your parents know you are an atheist?
(Or are no longer a christian)

[System of Solace]

I am over 18 and my family is only semi-religious. Hinting at my atheism on Facebook stirred up a shit-storm. I don't think it's a good idea right now.


I assume you still live with your parents then - since YOU did not indicate otherwise

I have a question for you

WHY is it important for you to have your parents know you are an atheist?
(Or are no longer a christian)

I assume you were raped by a 70 year old hairy Mexican man named Carlos San Duey as a child, as you did not indicate otherwise.

[greneknight]

I've finally gotten the opportunity to study evolution.

This is so strange. A few years ago, there was some celebration of Darwin all over Europe. My dad took me to Frankfurt and there was a huge exhibition in the Haupbahnhoff. It was a big thing in England too. There were celebrations and exhibitions everywhere. It was either Darwin's birthday or the day he wrote his book or something like that but the celebration was for the whole year, if I recall it correctly.

Everyone in Europe knows about evolution. Everyone has the opportunity to study it. My Mum got me a book called "Why Evolution is True" in that year because everyone was reading about evolution at the time. I was only about 10 at that time and I found the book heavy going. Later that year, when I was more ready to read the book, I read it again and boy, it was the best book I've ever read. It was rivetting, to say the least. I discovered that evolution is not just true, its BLOODY TRUE. Every area of science confirms it.

The writer was very good. He showed even geology, the movement of the earth's crust and distribution of the animals and the evolutionary pattern it took would mean that the fossils of some ancient animal could be found in one spot and sure enough, paleontology confirmed it.

Later, I got hooked on evolution and I read The Language of God, a book written by a devout Christian who's a top scientist and he showed from genetics why evolution is fact. Anyway, I don't know what the big deal is. All churches in Europe accept evolution, even mine.

Then my dad bought me Dawkins' two books - one is a fabulous book that's very easy to read on animals and the other on evolution. The evolution book by Dawkins is not very good. He's a bit long-winded. I prefer "Why Evolution is True".

I think someone said that if you don't accept the truth of evolution you must be ignorant, insane or stupid. I think a lot of young people are just ignorant because I used to have a picture book of Noah's ark and I thought it was true because I was very young then. A lot of people are too stupid to understand evolution. The insane ones are those in the Bible Belt in the US. I've seen ridiculous videos on youtube about a priest who wears a cowboy hat and teaching children that men lived with dinosaurs.

[Mystic]

Personally I told my parents and immediate family after a few months then I don't believe in Islam. I haven't told my extended family, I've told a few friends...but here is some reasoning that perhaps should be a factor in your decision.

1) If your parents would not love you and your relationship will be damaged severely if you tell them, do you want to have a relationship based on a false perception of you?
2) If your parents would love you despite your decision and embrace you still, don't you feel that you should give them the chance to prove themselves to you and not assume bad about them?
3) If you don't know either way, don't you want to know, how your parents truly would react?

Honestly, I'm having a hard time not telling the community and it makes me feel in turmoil. Everyday I feel like announcing it on facebook. It's only due to feelings of my family that I don't do it. But I know I can't live like this forever.

At the end it's a personal decision. The easy decision is not always the correct one, but it's up to you if you want to make that one.

I honestly don't know what is correct, but I felt like I couldn't keep the truth away from my parents for too long, because I wanted them to have a relationship with whom I truly am, and not someone I'm not.

[greneknight]

Personally I told my parents and immediate family after a few months then I don't believe in Islam. I haven't told my extended family, I've told a few friends...but here is some reasoning that perhaps should be a factor in your decision.

1) If your parents would not love you and your relationship will be damaged severely if you tell them, do you want to have a relationship based on a false perception of you?
2) If your parents would love you despite your decision and embrace you still, don't you feel that you should give them the chance to prove themselves to you and not assume bad about them?
3) If you don't know either way, don't you want to know, how your parents truly would react?

Honestly, I'm having a hard time not telling the community and it makes me feel in turmoil. Everyday I feel like announcing it on facebook. It's only due to feelings of my family that I don't do it. But I know I can't live like this forever.

At the end it's a personal decision. The easy decision is not always the correct one, but it's up to you if you want to make that one.

I honestly don't know what is correct, but I felt like I couldn't keep the truth away from my parents for too long, because I wanted them to have a relationship with whom I truly am, and not someone I'm not.

Hi MysticKnight,

In another thread I said that I thought you were a Baptist or a fundy Christian but apparently I'm mistaken. Sorry about that.

I would caution you not to tell your community. There was a case of a chap who's a journalist in Saudi and he said something in his Facebook and he was arrested and they wanted to execute him. If you live in a Muslim country, you must not tell them. They're barbaric in these Muslim countries. They might even stone you to death or cut your head off. I saw a video of these things before and it's REAL.

What I would do if I were a Muslim is I'd say all the pious things, get a permit to leave the country ostensibly to preach Islam (in these countries they are very oppressive. I imagine you need a permit to leave the country). I'll then go to England and seek asylum. After that I will CURSE Allah, Muhammad the paedophile and all the Islamic saints and icons. I will eat pork, smear lard on the Quran and post videos on youtube and send them to my former Islamic country. This is what I would do to such a ridiculously oppressive religion.

[System of Solace]

Personally I told my parents and immediate family after a few months then I don't believe in Islam. I haven't told my extended family, I've told a few friends...but here is some reasoning that perhaps should be a factor in your decision.

1) If your parents would not love you and your relationship will be damaged severely if you tell them, do you want to have a relationship based on a false perception of you?
2) If your parents would love you despite your decision and embrace you still, don't you feel that you should give them the chance to prove themselves to you and not assume bad about them?
3) If you don't know either way, don't you want to know, how your parents truly would react?

Honestly, I'm having a hard time not telling the community and it makes me feel in turmoil. Everyday I feel like announcing it on facebook. It's only due to feelings of my family that I don't do it. But I know I can't live like this forever.

At the end it's a personal decision. The easy decision is not always the correct one, but it's up to you if you want to make that one.

I honestly don't know what is correct, but I felt like I couldn't keep the truth away from my parents for too long, because I wanted them to have a relationship with whom I truly am, and not someone I'm not.

Hi MysticKnight,

In another thread I said that I thought you were a Baptist or a fundy Christian but apparently I'm mistaken. Sorry about that.

I would caution you not to tell your community. There was a case of a chap who's a journalist in Saudi and he said something in his Facebook and he was arrested and they wanted to execute him. If you live in a Muslim country, you must not tell them. They're barbaric in these Muslim countries. They might even stone you to death or cut your head off. I saw a video of these things before and it's REAL.

What I would do if I were a Muslim is I'd say all the pious things, get a permit to leave the country ostensibly to preach Islam (in these countries they are very oppressive. I imagine you need a permit to leave the country). I'll then go to England and seek asylum. After that I will CURSE Allah, Muhammad the paedophile and all the Islamic saints and icons. I will eat pork, smear lard on the Quran and post videos on youtube and send them to my former Islamic country. This is what I would do to such a ridiculously oppressive religion.

A few Muslim countries threatened war on Britain (I think) because some guy burned 300 copies of the Koran. So, I suggest you hold back a bit.