I have an older sister who is the last of my near relatives who I still have a fairly close if guarded relationship with. To my utter amazement she went back to school in her mid 50's and earned her second Masters, this one in religious studies, then became a minister in the First Church of Christ. While it is not a fundamentalist faction they and she believe in the core tenets of Christianity e.g. Virgin conception, miracles performed, and resurection. As I said, I was stunned that as intelligent, worldly wise and educated as she is that she could believe such utter nonsense, but she does.
I do not discuss her nor my beliefs with her because I worry that doing so would cause permanent estrangement between us and I love her want to retain whatever closeness we have. To anyone else considering coming out as an atheist to family or friends I think you might want to weigh the value of doing so against the possibility and worth of losing whatever relationship with them that you have.
I do not discuss her nor my beliefs with her because I worry that doing so would cause permanent estrangement between us and I love her want to retain whatever closeness we have. To anyone else considering coming out as an atheist to family or friends I think you might want to weigh the value of doing so against the possibility and worth of losing whatever relationship with them that you have.
