Forced into going to church?

[katiefranco]

You might be giving money to an atheist pretending to be clergy.
http://www.clergyproject.org/

That would be ironic if you took freedomfromfallacy's suggestion to steal the money and keep it for yourself.

An atheist pretending to be a priest taking money from parishioners under false pretenses, (fraud) gets robbed by an atheist pretending to put money into the collection bowl which they in turn had stolen from their elderly grandmother.

Nice atheist morality! Well done team.

I suspect a lot of sarcasm and irony was involved in that statement, not an actual suggestion.

I would suggest putting something other than money on the plate, however.

Personally I'd openly refuse to put anything on the plate.

I definitely wouldn't actually steal the money, that would be well, yeah, very ironic, haha. I could try putting something anti-religion in the plate, that'd be brilliant. As much as i'd love to refuse, I just KNOW my grandmother is hyper-sensitive, which is why I never really oppose to anything. She'll go to ridiculous extremes in her reaction to something like that.

[The Valkyrie]

I suspect a lot of sarcasm and irony was involved in that statement, not an actual suggestion.

I would suggest putting something other than money on the plate, however.

Personally I'd openly refuse to put anything on the plate.

I definitely wouldn't actually steal the money, that would be well, yeah, very ironic, haha. I could try putting something anti-religion in the plate, that'd be brilliant. As much as i'd love to refuse, I just KNOW my grandmother is hyper-sensitive, which is why I never really oppose to anything. She'll go to ridiculous extremes in her reaction to something like that.

One of my Aunts is like that - strictly, devoutly Catholic.

For Christmas a few years ago she got me a new copy of the Bible, even though she knows I'm an atheist. So I bought her a copy of "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens.

As you can imagine that went down like a lead balloon . . .

[Cyberman]

Damn - I'd better email the clergy project and tell them their cover's blown! Now they can't pass themselves off as an outreach group for ministers and similar whose belief in god etc is wearing off.

[Rahul]

I suggest that you "redirect" the money to something actually useful. Like the local food bank.

This reminded me of something that happened on my trip I just got back from.

We arrived in a hotel late at night in the middle of Arizona. The wife and kids wanted to order pizza so they were digging around the room to see if they had any flyers for it. My ten year old reported, "All I found in here is a bible, dad."

I responded, "Too bad they didn't put something useful in there."

[pineapplebunnybounce]

That's an absolutely perfect idea. IF the offering plate wasn't in the front of the church. I mean, it's right where anyone and everyone will see you bring that offering. I could rant about it for a decade, it's ridiculous.

You might be giving money to an atheist pretending to be clergy.
http://www.clergyproject.org/

That would be ironic if you took freedomfromfallacy's suggestion to steal the money and keep it for yourself.

An atheist pretending to be a priest taking money from parishioners under false pretenses, (fraud) gets robbed by an atheist pretending to put money into the collection bowl which they in turn had stolen from their elderly grandmother.

Nice atheist morality! Well done team.

(bolding mine)

Why would it be stealing? From my understanding what fff is saying is just pocket the offering she was supposed to give and put in an antireligious note. It is her money, the church is not entitled, atheist clergy or not who gives a shit, they're not entitled.

On the actual issue, I second the suggestion, one antireligious quote every week. Or baby cooking recipes. It'll make you feel better.

[Minimalist]

Get some of these phony $10 bills that sanctimonious xtian twits like to give waiters and waitresses. Give it back to them.

[Zazzy]

Welcome, Katie.

I don't have any advice for you. I'm just sorry you're in this position. My parents were atheists, but they taught me to respect old people to the point of subservience, and now in my middle years, I still do, no matter what. I feel conflicted about it sometimes, but not too much. They're old. They'll die soon.

[Owlix]

OP: You may have answered this, but alas, I did not read through the entire thread.... Sounds like you have the common 'my house, my rules' thing going on. Unfortunately for you, I would say if this is the case, grin (or don't) and bear it. If she's responsible for you she's got the power and right (so far as americans are concerned) to control you because she's your legal guardian. Or, that's not the case but you're staying there free....

I was lucky, mom (dad died when I was about 18 months) didn't do that. I mean, yeah, she did until I was, 6 or 7 or something. She said the same thing to my two older sisters as she did to me: "You're old enough now, you understand what god is and catholicism in general. I'm not going to force you to go to church, you make your own choice."

If you don't have that choice, you're stuck until you're not under her guardianship, or paying rent to her for a more equal place in the residence, or moved out entirely.


Emancipation is an option, but with very hefty consequences, and most definitely requires a shit ton of research before you even consider it.

[Ben Davis]

Hi from the UK!

Yeah, this sounds like she's trying to force her religiosity on to you. She may well have good intentions (e.g. 'young people make mistakes, I'd better help...') but as they say, the road to hell is paved with such...

You could try using her interventions as opportunities to explain your blossoming understanding and to discuss reasons why religion is so important to her. That might help maintain your bond while you educate her in your personal development.

Good luck!

[Aractus]

Welcome!

Hi, so I'm new here, as well as fairly new to atheism (a few months.) Anyways, my grandmother who I live with knows that I am, yet forces me to go to church every Sunday, and makes me go to holiday services. So, I'm not THAT annoyed by going, I'm more annoyed that she makes me bring her offering to the plate. (In front of everyone.) I mean, is there a reason for it? It pisses me off to a crazy extent, and just, ugh. Is there anything I could do about this without causing too much drama? I'm just really annoyed at this point.

I don't disclose to anyone, and I mean anyone, what I put into my church. And any real Christian would abide by a similar methodology. I know, and I've mentioned this before, a couple at church in their middle ages who are both practising doctors and who live a more simple life than I do, and although I can't prove it - because they don't do it in front of anyone for any recognition - the bulk of their income must be donated to charity.

So you are right to be offended, and you should say to your grandmother that with due respect she can put in her own offering and you will put in whatever you feel like.

If your church is not involved in the community then I can totally understand why you wouldn't want to give. I want my money to be accountable! I'm an Anglican, and as you should know - but probably don't - we (Anglican's that is) do more charitable work here in Australia than any other NPO including the RCC, even though they're bigger, and including all the churches like the Salvation Army Church that specifically specialize in such ministries.

Furthermore, just a couple of weeks ago (and you can search my posts as I already mentioned this), I was at the funeral for a Christian lady who lead a truly amazing life. She used her own home as a shelter for the homeless - and I do not know anyone else (obviously myself included) who would be so generous as to donate their own home to charitable means! I would not let the homeless sleep in my house. But she did, and did so for over a decade and I'm still amazed by that every time I think of it, and not just it, but many other parts of her life where generosity most certainly lead the way.

And just for the record, because I seem to get this a lot here, no - what she did, and what the Anglican church does for the community generally, never ever, ever, is discriminatory in any way. That would undermine the most basic principle of charity which is to be available to "all".