RE: Helping Christians to lose faith?
April 1, 2015 at 1:54 pm
(This post was last modified: April 1, 2015 at 1:55 pm by TheRealJoeFish.)
In my family, all four of my grandparents are still around, and vary from not particularly religious to extremely religious. I won't suggest that I'm an atheist to them, and if they ask, I will lie, because I think 1) it would be impossible to convince them and 2) the only thing it would accomplish is causing them great distress.
My fairly religious parents know I'm an atheist. My mother says she "wants to understand where I'm coming from." I think this is partially because she's convinced herself that an atheist worldview doesn't make sense, and she's trying to reconcile that with her fairly high opinions of me. But I also think it's because she has doubts herself, at least about organized religion in general. I am not going to aggressively pursue the subject (certainly not around Easter!), but if she asks me about my beliefs or we get onto the topic I'll be very open and, quite frankly, I'll attempt to be persuasive. My father, on the other hand, simply doesn't want to understand. Whatevs.
Of my younger brothers, one is an "agnostic" - I think he means "atheist who doesn't want to tell his (southern USA) neighbors he's an atheist" - and the other is, at least outwardly, fairly devout. The agnostic brother (the older) and I are pretty much on the exact same page. The youngest is both 1) very intelligent and 2) going through very difficult late teenage years. So, I'm not going to push anything on him, although I've let him know that if he ever wants to discuss anything I'm willing. I ultimately think that, like myself, some of his problems stem from an awareness (at least on some level) that he's being intellectually dishonest in maintaining that he's still faithful. But in time.
I don't really have advice; what I can offer is sympathy. I'd guess that the answer is: it varies from family member to family member. I want to be thought of as 1) not pushing the issue in any way at all, but 2) answering any questions and explaining every position as fully and honestly as I can.
My fairly religious parents know I'm an atheist. My mother says she "wants to understand where I'm coming from." I think this is partially because she's convinced herself that an atheist worldview doesn't make sense, and she's trying to reconcile that with her fairly high opinions of me. But I also think it's because she has doubts herself, at least about organized religion in general. I am not going to aggressively pursue the subject (certainly not around Easter!), but if she asks me about my beliefs or we get onto the topic I'll be very open and, quite frankly, I'll attempt to be persuasive. My father, on the other hand, simply doesn't want to understand. Whatevs.
Of my younger brothers, one is an "agnostic" - I think he means "atheist who doesn't want to tell his (southern USA) neighbors he's an atheist" - and the other is, at least outwardly, fairly devout. The agnostic brother (the older) and I are pretty much on the exact same page. The youngest is both 1) very intelligent and 2) going through very difficult late teenage years. So, I'm not going to push anything on him, although I've let him know that if he ever wants to discuss anything I'm willing. I ultimately think that, like myself, some of his problems stem from an awareness (at least on some level) that he's being intellectually dishonest in maintaining that he's still faithful. But in time.
I don't really have advice; what I can offer is sympathy. I'd guess that the answer is: it varies from family member to family member. I want to be thought of as 1) not pushing the issue in any way at all, but 2) answering any questions and explaining every position as fully and honestly as I can.
How will we know, when the morning comes, we are still human? - 2D
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
