Atheists dealing with their religious families

[Clueless Morgan]

I'm starting a new thread since we're derailing The Bible thread that's talking about the show on History Channel...

Here's a link to the other thread:
The Bible
The derailment began with my post on the second page; here are some of the pertinent posts:

I decided to reread Forged by Bart Ehrman since watching Bible Secrets Revealed and an interesting thing happened.

I was reading it while out to breakfast with my mom and a friend we know from the coffee shop and this friend asked me what I was reading so I told her it was a book about the forgeries that are in the bible and my mom started asking me questions about it and it made me realize something:

I don't think she remembers that I'm an atheist.

I guess telling her daughter she was going to hell didn't make an impression on her. It sure made one on me.

Welcome to the club. My father said I was hell bound and didn't hardly blink an eye. I guess he believe that his heavenly lobotomy will take care of any sadness he might feel for his son throughout eternity.

Welcome to the club. My father said I was hell bound and didn't hardly blink an eye. I guess he believe that his heavenly lobotomy will take care of any sadness he might feel for his son throughout eternity.

Parents can be douches, not realizing the damage they are causing their children, because they are incapable of seeing past themselves and the silly beliefs to which they adhere.

My relationship with my father is nonexistent. I realized years ago that it was not worth salvaging what he clearly destroyed during my childhood.

My mom knows I don't go to church but doesn't say anything to me about it. I don't think she knows I'm an atheist, but as long as she doesn't ask I won't tell.

And the bit I'm replying to:

Perhaps one day we'll have a discussion about it and I'll learn whether she feels the same way Cinjin's father feels. Then I might have to do some reevaluating.

Do you WANT to have that conversation? I can't imagine how I'd feel in your position, knowing about the experiences of folks like Cinjin.

I've given this a little thought since first reading this post (and I'm doing the thinking on a few glasses of wine, so...) and I can't imagine ever wanting or trying to have this conversation. Of course, my mother gets angry if people ask her if they can pray for her. Is this something people need to do with their parents? I feel crappy asking, but I want to know, and this is outside of my parental experience. If it makes anyone feel better, even though my father is a BIG atheist, I don't have a relationship with him because of his narcissism. So atheist parents are not the be-all and end-all.

I'd put it this way: If the conversation comes up I'm willing to have it. But with the dynamics of my family and the fact that topics like this are almost never discussed I find it unlikely that this conversation will happen (a conversation specifically about belief) unless I force it to come up, which in and of itself is unlikely as I'm not the type to bring things up unnecessary topics of discussion if I know will be upsetting to people I love.