Hello! I write you people because you are most likely to be more experienced than I am on this matter.
I was raised catholic but I stopped beliving a long time ago. However, I never said to anyone I dont belive in god because my family is very religious, and judgemental. At the point I continued going to church sometimes and prying on family meetings. Recently I have been reading a lot about the subject, and following Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens on their books and conferences. I no longer live in my parents house and I decided I cannot be a hypocrite anymore and when the subject came out talking with my roomates, who defend the tradition of every religion as if they were justified just because they traditions, I had my first discussion about it.
My arguments were that parents shouldnt impose their religion on children (specially when they are young and highly suceptible to fantasy and fear) just because it was imposed to them, by telling them hell is real, all the lies of the bible or coran, and most importantly they should not circumcise them.
I belive lying to children and controling them with fear, circumcising them, and forcing them to belive without evidence are inmoral acts, they are wrong. And I know for my own experience (my church was opus dei).
They went wild, when I touched religion they treated me as a monster. Quote: "I feel embarrased of you when I hear you say that".
They state that my atheist beliefs are as fanatic as any fanatic religion beliefs
Am I wrong? They argue I should not judge, that each family should do as he thinks better with his children and what is inmoral for me may be moral for them. Are those topics immune? Shouldnt be taken into discussion rationally?
How does one avoid these harsh confrontations? I sense I will be having several in the future and with a lot of beloved people. I want to stand for what I think but I hate being treated as a monster for not beliving.
Thank you!
I was raised catholic but I stopped beliving a long time ago. However, I never said to anyone I dont belive in god because my family is very religious, and judgemental. At the point I continued going to church sometimes and prying on family meetings. Recently I have been reading a lot about the subject, and following Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens on their books and conferences. I no longer live in my parents house and I decided I cannot be a hypocrite anymore and when the subject came out talking with my roomates, who defend the tradition of every religion as if they were justified just because they traditions, I had my first discussion about it.
My arguments were that parents shouldnt impose their religion on children (specially when they are young and highly suceptible to fantasy and fear) just because it was imposed to them, by telling them hell is real, all the lies of the bible or coran, and most importantly they should not circumcise them.
I belive lying to children and controling them with fear, circumcising them, and forcing them to belive without evidence are inmoral acts, they are wrong. And I know for my own experience (my church was opus dei).
They went wild, when I touched religion they treated me as a monster. Quote: "I feel embarrased of you when I hear you say that".
They state that my atheist beliefs are as fanatic as any fanatic religion beliefs
Am I wrong? They argue I should not judge, that each family should do as he thinks better with his children and what is inmoral for me may be moral for them. Are those topics immune? Shouldnt be taken into discussion rationally?
How does one avoid these harsh confrontations? I sense I will be having several in the future and with a lot of beloved people. I want to stand for what I think but I hate being treated as a monster for not beliving.
Thank you!
