Father Disowned Me Because I'm Still Atheist

[Heywood]

Oh I see. Heywood thinks we evil atheists are just giving hateful advice just to be assholes! He has no idea we have merely identified an abuser and counseled the victim to protect themselves.

I don't think atheists are evil. If any of my kids became an atheist, I'd be quite surprised if it changed our relationship.

But some people here clearly believe that some relationships are not worth maintaining and this is one of them. You know who you are.

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I'm really sorry to say, regardless of belief, you were bang out of line in my opinion.

That's your Dad mate, he didn't insult your beliefs, you insulted his. He seems more concerned with the fact that you're unemployed.

I haven't agreed with much I've read that Heywood has come out with, but on this score he's right, you need to learn some tact.

"We would love to have had you at the temple with us. Im sorry that you feel that you have to publicly shame your family on Facebook. We still love you and you can always return. His arms are outstretched still. The last thing you mentioned was guilt.... If there is so much guilt, it's because you know you are doing something you should not... And you need to understand the atonement. It covers everything. "

When I read his father's opening comments I can't but read "guilt trip".

Is guilt tripping one's son because of his beliefs really the best way to open your arms to a relationship? Fault appears to be on both sides but I don't think we should absolve the father of some major issues here.

Yes, the father was laying down a guilt trip and the OP needs to deal with it. He can deal with it in the non productive way that he did....by trying to hurt the father back. Or he can simply demand some respect. Let his father know he loves him, but they will not have much of a relationship if he continues to behave this way.