I'm afraid of being agnostic, I need help

[Jenny A]

I guess I just have a hard time believing they could be so wrong on something so big. I love my parents and they've always tried to do right by me. So although I've come to know what they believe is "stupid", it's hard for me to turn away from what they've taught me. Because they've done so much "right" in my life, a part of me feels like they have to be right in this area. But my logical side knows better.

I love and respect my parents and they did many many things right. I owe my education, work ethic, parenting model, marriage model and many other good things to them. But part of growing up is realizing that even good, smart, loving people can be wrong. They can be wrong about very fundamental things.

I am now an atheist parent. I'm not sure that atheism will be the thing, but I suspect at some point my kids will realize that I'm very wrong about something. I hope it doesn't hurt them as much as your discovery hurts you.

But discovering your parents can be really wrong, is part of growing up.

I just feel lied to and cheated of a peaceful childhood. Although I love my parents, I feel like they've really damaged us kids in this area. I was home-schooled and kept away from outside influences, mainly non-religious influences. I was told all the time that I was sinful and nothing I could do would ever be good unless I had god.

Long story short, I love my parents but I'm also very angry at them for how they raised us kids.

Your parents are a little extreme because of the way they tried to limit you to their point of view by attempting to remove the possibility of your hearing other points of view. But I'm not sure I'd call it lying. To lie, you have to know you are not telling the truth. Your parents are stubbornly mistaken.

I understand your anger. You would hardly be human if you didn't feel it. I understand the love too. What you really need here is time, time for the anger to fade. You might find yourself replacing it with pity eventually.