Help, I need someone to talk to

[robvalue]

Hi there onebluethinker, I'm really sorry to hear what you have gone through. I was lucky enough to have not been raised by a religious family, so I can't imagine what it must be like to have to deal with this.

I think everyone has given good advice. Clearly you have made your own decision, and it is probably a case of making things easy on yourself while you live with your parents. Keep all the discussion about it with your atheist friends, or at least people who actually want to have a sensible discussion about it. I know from experience that if you try to debate religion with a religious person, you never get anywhere. It makes it all the more difficult when this is someone you care about like your mother. So it's probably best to let things be between you unless she comes to you about it and actually wants to talk properly without just telling you that you are wrong. (Which you are not! Welcome to the land of reason )

I'm glad to hear that you have a great friend who understands you, that is the most wonderful thing. I've always thought it is better to have a small number of friends who you can really talk to than a large number of those you can't.

You've made a really difficult step that most people are not strong enough to take, standing up to what you have been told to believe by thinking for yourself. If more people did this, the world would be a better place. I hope things continue to improve for you, and you always have plenty of fellow atheists here ready to talk when you need us.