Respecting Christian family and friends

[watchamadoodle]

That's a good idea, but I doubt that I can make my mother into an atheist, and I'm not sure if it would be a good thing. She is 70. Basically I've been trying to conceal my atheism and doubts, so she doesn't worry about me going to hell. If she says something about God or asks for my prayer, I just agree. Sometimes I suggest going to the Christian bookstore or watching Christian preachers on TV. I'm trying to show my respect for Christianity, but I find myself secretly giggling or exasperated.

No, it would take a lot of work to completely convince her. That's not my point. But if you can get her to the point of saying "well there are many unanswered questions" then you and her will have that in common. It's the situation that I have with my mom. She believes solely because she wants to believe, but she knows that I have unanswerable questions and if she brings up churchey stuff she knows that I'm not satisfied with the absence of answers, not that I think she is stupid or a liar. Its a nice detant and she's older than 70.

O.k. I think I understand your suggestion. My mother already knows that I have doubts about Christianity, but she doesn't know the specifics. I try to avoid discussion, because I don't want to cause her to question her faith. I enjoy history, archaeology, paleontology, etc., and she takes a more literal view of the creation stories in Genesis, so that is one specific issue. Of course many Christians believe parts of Genesis are allegory.