I will never tell my father I am an atheist.
Here's why:
He's not very religious and doesn't go to church, but he believes in god and that loved ones are reunited after death. He is comforted by this belief because he has lost his parents, his only sibling, his wife (my mother), his only son (my brother), and his two step-sons (my half-brothers). I am his only daughter.
If I tell him I'm an atheist, that's like telling him I am choosing to be left out of the great family reunion that will happen in heaven.
Telling him I'm an atheist so that I can feel better ("I can be myself!") would be incredibly selfish.
He would respect my choice. But he would be devastated by it. He has suffered so much already; I will never hurt him by doing this.
I am not posting this to dissuade anyone else from "coming out" to their family. Everyone's situation is unique. But I would advise that, before doing so, you give serious thought to how this decision might affect them.
Here's why:
He's not very religious and doesn't go to church, but he believes in god and that loved ones are reunited after death. He is comforted by this belief because he has lost his parents, his only sibling, his wife (my mother), his only son (my brother), and his two step-sons (my half-brothers). I am his only daughter.
If I tell him I'm an atheist, that's like telling him I am choosing to be left out of the great family reunion that will happen in heaven.
Telling him I'm an atheist so that I can feel better ("I can be myself!") would be incredibly selfish.
He would respect my choice. But he would be devastated by it. He has suffered so much already; I will never hurt him by doing this.
I am not posting this to dissuade anyone else from "coming out" to their family. Everyone's situation is unique. But I would advise that, before doing so, you give serious thought to how this decision might affect them.
