(June 8, 2010 at 7:34 pm)Jocenel Wrote: How can people (like my mother) hold on to their faith so strongly? Is it because my mother has been taught that way? Is it because people can't stand the truth?Hi Jocenel. Welcome to the A.F.
My mother is also very religious-catholic-she is 87 now and she is coming to the end of her life. I've been an atheist for many years. She doesn't know. It would hurt her so much if I told her. I dont think it would be fair to try to make her turn away from her Faith. She does get comfort from it. Mom has had a lot of bad times in her life as well as good (like most of us) and it's all Gods Will as far as she is concerned.
Maybe though, if your mom is expressing doubts as to whether God has abandoned her, she might be open to a different way of thinking? Only you can judge.
I think it's easy for some of us here to say being Atheist is easy. I think for some of us it's not such a positive thing, not at the start anyway. It can be scary to throw away a perceived "safety net" and go it alone. It takes major re-thinking on almost every aspect of your life and relationships. I would say it's a gradual realisation for some of us. You wont come to any conclusions overnight. It can be an on-going process but it's great when you become comfortable with non-belief. It's very free-ing
