Back to where i started

[Elskidor]

Well, hopefully it just gets easier over time, and then you get to move out and truly be free to do whatever. As for finding an atheist group...well, there is here, lol. There are a lot of places on the internet, but you may want to hide your internet history if you're afraid of sibling/parent snooping. It is ridiculously stupid that something as simple as having a different opinion can cause so much BS, but whatever and good luck.

[Clueless Morgan]

Well, i did it. I "came out" to my mother and father. They reacted not negatively, but instead passive-aggresively. Basically, my dad told me that i wasn't an atheist, but instead a christian sceptic. That i have to say the prayer at dinner now, and that i have to go church whenever they go. I'm basically back at square with, with the added resentment of my idiot brothers. I'm looking into finding a youth atheist group, but so far i can't find any. I'm depressed, resented, and either musunderstood or ignored by my father. But i guess it could be worse.

I'm sorry to hear that you're dad is being such a dick. Hopefully you're old enough that it won't be too long before you can move out, but in the mean time, if it won't incur too much backlash, I like other posters' suggestions of fucking with them.

In the event that you have to say grace and don't have anything unique prepared I recommend the short and simple standard Catholic grace: "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

I've never in my life prayed before eating but I'm a fan of two before-meal prayers:

"Good food, good meat, good god let's eat"

and

"Bless us, oh Lord, for these Thy gifts which we are about to receive. And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of no food, I will fear no hunger. We want you to give us this day, our daily bread. And to the republic for which it stands, and by the power invested in me, I pronounce us ready to eat. Amen." (From Sister Act)

[SteelCurtain]

Just remember your parents are allowed some time to adjust. At best parents are eager to accept and encourage nearly anything about their children, but you have to take into account the crazy shit they believe about what happens when you die. They believe that because of this "rebellion" you will no longer spend eternity with them. No one's perfect, and while your dad reacted like a douche, I'd like to believe that's him coping with something he has no experience with, and if you are a positive representative of atheism for him, then his opinion should change.

Embrace the "christian skeptic" role. Ask questions. Learn as much as you can about logical fallacies, the typical apologetics, evolution, etc. Make them explain to you the ridiculous things and inconsistencies in the Bible. Don't accept bullying. Make them responsible for their behaviors in conversations. Ask these questions at church. For some reason, a child asking honest, probing, and difficult to answer questions about their religion to religious authorities is woefully embarrassing to parents.

Be rational. You are dependent on your parents---don't take that for granted. Their house, their rules, no matter how stupid the rules. (Unless they are harming you, obviously.) I assume they pay for your car, car insurance, your cable, your food, your cell phone, your internet access, clothes, etc. Be respectful, but demand respect for your opinions and ideas.

[ThePinsir]

Congrats on "coming out".

Your dad sounds like he has some sort of superiority complex - which is my fancy way of saying he's a douche lol.

If you haven't already, I'd advise that you get REALLY well versed in the counter-apologetic arguments so you're well equipped to defend your views (or lack thereof lol).

I'd be tempted to be a smart ass at a dinner prayer, something like:

"Jesus, thanks for taking food away from millions and millions of mommies and daddies and babies in Haiti and Africa and China so our family can have food to eat! Thank you for my family's health while other people's babies die of leukemia. I love you Jesus. Amen!"

After one of those, it'd be funny to see if he makes you pray again lol