I basically came out to my mom...

[downeygirl]

In passing, a friend of my mom told her that dogs do not have souls - so they won't go to heaven. So she brought it up with me, "So, Jennifer, what do you think about dogs not having a soul?" I sighed. Great. Here it comes.

I say, "Well, you'll have to ask Antoine about that, he believes in that stuff, I don't." Antoine is my brother and is VERY Christian - much more Christian than my mom. She stares at me for a second and starts laughing. And I mean LAUGHING... for like 5 minutes. She's in TEARS. Her laughing is making me laugh.

Then finally she catches her breath and says "You said that so seriously!!" And then we both start laughing again for like a couple of minutes.

And she calms down and says "So you don't believe in souls?"... No. "After you're dead, you're just dead?" Yes. "So you don't believe in Heaven either?" Nope. "You don't believe in God?" No. She wipes the tears that are still in the corner in her eye and just says "You're funny. You're always so serious" And she continues chuckling a little bit. And then we just dropped it and moved on to whatever else...

And that's it. Wow. That's what I was afraid of??? Maybe I AM too serious.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Maybe I AM too serious.

Perhaps it's that you have an accepting and cool mother.

[Napoléon]

Or perhaps it's that she's in denial about what you said and she thinks you're actually joking.

[Raskolnikov]

Seems a bit ambiguous as to whether the penny has really dropped...

In my family, it's definitely mum who takes her religion the most seriously. My dilemma is: if I tell her, she'd be convinced that my wife and I and our little son are all doomed for eternity (without her renewed and vigorous intervention). It's not worth the hassle and the heartache.

Religion poisons normal human relationships sadly.

[Minimalist]

That's what I was afraid of???

Wait till Antoine hears.

[apostasin]

Your Mom is awesome and you should feel awesome.

[downeygirl]

Or perhaps it's that she's in denial about what you said and she thinks you're actually joking.

I think she believed me. She hasn't mentioned it since though... so I dunno.

---

That's what I was afraid of???

Wait till Antoine hears.

IKR.

I don't think she'd tell him-- But I do dread it when/if he does find out. He might perform an exorcism on me.

---

Maybe I AM too serious.

Perhaps it's that you have an accepting and cool mother.

She's always been cool and accepting.. I don't know why I feared bringing this up with her. Usually I dodge these topics pretty well. Or I say something completely neutral. I'm just glad I finally said it.

[Napoléon]

I think she believed me. She hasn't mentioned it since though... so I dunno.

You know your own mother better than me (or do you ). But from the way you told it, it certainly came across as though it went completely over her head.

[HappyHumanist]

Maybe your mom is an atheist at heart!

[C.W. Sims]

I don't think she'd tell him-- But I do dread it when/if he does find out. He might perform an exorcism on me.

If he tries this just casually let it slip that without the Pope's approval that is most likely a sin. Total bullshit of course. As the story goes that Christ told all of his disciples to cast out demons, but how many Christians actually read the damn book and would know that, right?

I actually had an almost identical coming out story for my coming out as gay. My mother's friend told her that she thought I was gay because I was hanging out with her gay son, and ew not like that. So the next day, Christmas Eve we are at my grandmothers and she asked me if I think I might be gay. I answered yes I thought I might be. Christmas day comes around and she flat out asks if I am gay, so I told her that I was. She was sad and cried for a few days at the thought of how hard my life would be and then it all got better and now she accepts me and even tells people all about her gay son.

In your case I hope it is the same. She seems pretty cool, or at least as if she really doesn't care one way of the other. I truly hope that is the case and you two can continue on as always.