atheist looking for advice

[SteelCurtain]

Jack, I was in this very same position as a teenager. Unfortunately, only you can judge and try to predict how your parents would react to "coming out" as an atheist. You gotta weigh the pros and cons here. Do you think they'd pull you out of school and put you in some sort of spiritual counseling? Or do you just think they'd make you go to church more? Whatever you think would be their likely response, you need to weigh that against the feeling of not being yourself or lying to your parents. Prudence is the key, here. I never believed in any god, and yet I waited until I was in college and financially independent before I came out, just so there was nothing that my parents could try to use as leverage.

As far as debating your parents, knowledge is key. Take an online logic course. Do the research on subjects like the founding fathers and evolution so that you're armed with that knowledge and can talk to your parents with confidence rather than with emotion. Get information from reputable, peer-reviewed sources. You can introduce ideas and information without worrying about changing their minds, but just bringing new stuff into their world and hope that they'll do the legwork.

[Foxaèr]

Advice?

Call them on their bullshit.

They could kick you out, but then you could legally take them to court.

Let them deal with that.

[Chad32]

Keep a weapon on hand when you go to bed, though, so you don't get Kidnapped for Christ, if you're in that kind of area.

[Foxaèr]

The problem is that children are way too afraid of what could happen to them if they upset their parents.

The truth of the matter is that they cannot legally kick you out of the home. And if they go to unlawful measures of making you see their point of view, go to the authorities.

There is no reason to suffer with ignorant parents.

[professor]

Hi Jackriot, your user name carries a bit of an edge.
If you decide to use that with your parents, they might decide to dull it some.

I realize many kids feel their parents are amazingly stupid and find them improving in intelligence in a remarkably way as that kid hits 30 or so.

I know if it was me and I was paying the bills for my kid to go get brainwashed into evolution, in that particular area- I might be more thrifty with my support for your endeavor.
Probably no concern if you chose engineering.
Engineers have to deal with the real world.
The atheists have told you to do some research. I suggest the same.
You might be surprised.
Watch some debates.

[The Valkyrie]

Hi Jackriot, your user name carries a bit of an edge.
If you decide to use that with your parents, they might decide to dull it some.

I realize many kids feel their parents are amazingly stupid and find them improving in intelligence in a remarkably way as that kid hits 30 or so.

I know if it was me and I was paying the bills for my kid to go get brainwashed into evolution, in that particular area- I might be more thrifty with my support for your endeavor.
Probably no concern if you chose engineering.
Engineers have to deal with the real world.
The atheists have told you to do some research. I suggest the same.
You might be surprised.
Watch some debates.

"Brainwashed into evolution".

That's the mindset of the creationist. OP.

Best advice I can give: ignore Prof and choose what YOU want to do with your life.

[Chad32]

They love to project their faults onto others. Saying we're the ones being brainwashed, and lacking morals, and so forth.

We didn't come from monkeys! we came from a dirt golem and his rib wife, dangit!

[Minimalist]

The prof is dumb enough to be your father. He's the resident joke around here.

As for you, you are screwed until you are out on your own. It is your misfortune to have two neanderthals for parents and at 15 there is damn little you can say that will make them change their mind. As was noted above, you can lead a horse to water...... That applies doubly for horses asses which is what you have there.

Smile. Ignore their idiocy. Time will solve your problem.

In the meantime, if you need to vent come here and feel free to do so.

Remember, all the believing in the world does not make the story true.

[AFTT47]

Jackriot, I would caution against thinking of your parents as stupid. There are many very bright people who are theists. Most of them are perfectly rational in other areas of their lives too. They just have this hard-wiring for religion. Maybe the ultimate example was Issac Newton - who many consider to be the smartest scientist who ever lived. I doubt he would have been a creationist if he had had access to the knowledge we have today but even measured by the religious belief of his contemporaries, he was pretty pious.

If your folks are good parents - the only issue is religious disagreement - then just agree to disagree for now. Since you have aspirations of higher education, you should really knuckle down in school to get the best grades you can. You might need a scholarship because your parents are under no obligation to pay your way through college if they don't approve of your field of study.

Good luck.

[The Grand Nudger]

LOL "If my kid wanted to be a credible scientist I wouldn't dole out the dollars", eh Prof? There we have it, christian parenting.....no wonder yall are going the way of the dodo. That you think engineering is "safe" is a testament to your ignorance. Engineering would be brutal on your beliefs...engineers don't clap until there's enough magic in the theater to start the engine.......shit works or it doesn't. Your shit doesn't work..full stop.

OP...you're gonna be fine. If it wasn't religion you'd find something else that just didn't sit well between yourself and your parents. They don't need to know a goddamned thing about evolution for -you- to pursue your dreams, so I wouldn't worry about it, or them....personally.