Alright, before I explain what's going on, let me just say this: I've just been accepted into both the University of Alabama and Auburn University, both with full scholarship offers. Needless to say, I'm super excited!! 
Also, my mom has turned into a bit of a religious fanatic; she loves watching the TV evangelist Joyce Meyer.
Anyway, on to my story...
Last night, I was in the car with my mom coming back from Costco. We had been talking about what sort of dorm I would like to live in while I was in college. After a brief lull, this strange conversation occured:
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.
Me: (lying through my teeth) Well, yeah, I've given thanks to God.
Mom: That's good. You keep talking about how much you don't like church and how you can't stand your youth group.
Me: Just because I hate church doesn't mean I can appreciate good fortune, Mom. It doesn't matter that I think those kids in youth group use Jesus as a free psychiatrist; I'm very lucky to have received those scholarships. I realize that!
This is how my mom (never my dad) asks me in a not-so-subtle way if I'm an atheist/agnostic/whatever. She's asked me this several times now, even occasionally bringing up the dreaded "a" word. I haven't come out of the non-religious closet simply because I don't see the need to open Pandora's box. I would rather not get into a fight with my parents over something as silly as religion. Besides, I have college to worry about!
Do you guys have any advice as to what I could say to my Mom? Knowing her, she'll bring this up again in the not-so-distant future. I could really use some help in this matter.
Also, my mom has turned into a bit of a religious fanatic; she loves watching the TV evangelist Joyce Meyer. Anyway, on to my story...
Last night, I was in the car with my mom coming back from Costco. We had been talking about what sort of dorm I would like to live in while I was in college. After a brief lull, this strange conversation occured:
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.
Me: (lying through my teeth) Well, yeah, I've given thanks to God.
Mom: That's good. You keep talking about how much you don't like church and how you can't stand your youth group.
Me: Just because I hate church doesn't mean I can appreciate good fortune, Mom. It doesn't matter that I think those kids in youth group use Jesus as a free psychiatrist; I'm very lucky to have received those scholarships. I realize that!
This is how my mom (never my dad) asks me in a not-so-subtle way if I'm an atheist/agnostic/whatever. She's asked me this several times now, even occasionally bringing up the dreaded "a" word. I haven't come out of the non-religious closet simply because I don't see the need to open Pandora's box. I would rather not get into a fight with my parents over something as silly as religion. Besides, I have college to worry about!
Do you guys have any advice as to what I could say to my Mom? Knowing her, she'll bring this up again in the not-so-distant future. I could really use some help in this matter.
"If your god has to make peace with me in my final hour when he has my whole lifetime to prove his existence to me...do you think I should bother?"
"But the happiness of an atheist is neither the vacuous enjoyment of a fool, nor the short-lived pleasure of a rogue. It is rather the expression of a disposition that has ceased to torture itself with foolish fancies, or perplex itself with useless beliefs." - Chapman Cohen
"But the happiness of an atheist is neither the vacuous enjoyment of a fool, nor the short-lived pleasure of a rogue. It is rather the expression of a disposition that has ceased to torture itself with foolish fancies, or perplex itself with useless beliefs." - Chapman Cohen
