Hi everyone! This is my first time posting and I am so excited to be doing so. I have a question that I will get to after my brief intro.
I was raised in a non religious household...in fact, so non religious that my dad and I have always joked and gag-gifted Lordy type things. In 2002 I had a life changing event that left me not knowing how to carry on. A friend of mine was "Christian" (a terrible representation of one anyways, lol) and suggested that I read the bible for answers. I think I got a few pages in when I realized that it was so not for me. None of it made sense and it really just seemed like a story book using grown up words. Absolutely nothing resonated with me. I decided to shelve my need for answers and figured that something would click eventually.
A couple of years later I met the man who I would marry. He was (and still is, 10 years later) everything I have ever wanted. Funny thing is, he's Muslim. I spent the next 6 or 7 years trying to get him to tell me something, anything really, that would make me want to convert. I practically begged him to quench my thirst for answers but again, nothing he told me meant anything. At some point I realized that there would never be anything he would be able to tell me that would be enough.
I remember the day when I had that moment...the same one that you see on those wedding dress shows when they realize they have found THE dress. I was reading a blog about a man who was dying...he happened to be an atheist. He wrote something about death that made me want more...and MORE. I read for days, weeks, months! Truth be told, I have been reading and absorbing for a few years now. I can say, without hesitation, guilt or shame (I felt shame...is that normal?) that I am an atheist! And it isn't a dirty word like I used to think it was. Like, I'm not a rioting, devil worshipping animal...I'm still the same me, I just finally know in my heart that my parents didn't rob me of a grand belief system and I'm still a super decent person.
I'm not spiritual, I don't believe in Karma and I can't be "saved". How liberating it is to finally know and have confidence it that!
Anyways, on to my question. It has to do with me "coming out". I'm not planning on making a big announcement or anything and I'm comfortable facing my in-laws (lol, they live thousands of miles away!) when they learn about the real me, but I do have several Christian friends and lots of Muslim family members and I'm wondering how to handle people approaching me trying to debate my belief system. I know it isn't their business or place to do so, but I know it will be coming. I don't want to shut them down and I certainly respect them for having beliefs (though I know they are worshipping an idea based on nonsense) but I don't feel confident enough in my....non-belief?...to go head to head with anyone yet.
Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to handle the believers who will try to get me to see their lordy light?
I was raised in a non religious household...in fact, so non religious that my dad and I have always joked and gag-gifted Lordy type things. In 2002 I had a life changing event that left me not knowing how to carry on. A friend of mine was "Christian" (a terrible representation of one anyways, lol) and suggested that I read the bible for answers. I think I got a few pages in when I realized that it was so not for me. None of it made sense and it really just seemed like a story book using grown up words. Absolutely nothing resonated with me. I decided to shelve my need for answers and figured that something would click eventually.
A couple of years later I met the man who I would marry. He was (and still is, 10 years later) everything I have ever wanted. Funny thing is, he's Muslim. I spent the next 6 or 7 years trying to get him to tell me something, anything really, that would make me want to convert. I practically begged him to quench my thirst for answers but again, nothing he told me meant anything. At some point I realized that there would never be anything he would be able to tell me that would be enough.
I remember the day when I had that moment...the same one that you see on those wedding dress shows when they realize they have found THE dress. I was reading a blog about a man who was dying...he happened to be an atheist. He wrote something about death that made me want more...and MORE. I read for days, weeks, months! Truth be told, I have been reading and absorbing for a few years now. I can say, without hesitation, guilt or shame (I felt shame...is that normal?) that I am an atheist! And it isn't a dirty word like I used to think it was. Like, I'm not a rioting, devil worshipping animal...I'm still the same me, I just finally know in my heart that my parents didn't rob me of a grand belief system and I'm still a super decent person.
I'm not spiritual, I don't believe in Karma and I can't be "saved". How liberating it is to finally know and have confidence it that!
Anyways, on to my question. It has to do with me "coming out". I'm not planning on making a big announcement or anything and I'm comfortable facing my in-laws (lol, they live thousands of miles away!) when they learn about the real me, but I do have several Christian friends and lots of Muslim family members and I'm wondering how to handle people approaching me trying to debate my belief system. I know it isn't their business or place to do so, but I know it will be coming. I don't want to shut them down and I certainly respect them for having beliefs (though I know they are worshipping an idea based on nonsense) but I don't feel confident enough in my....non-belief?...to go head to head with anyone yet.
Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to handle the believers who will try to get me to see their lordy light?
