Should I tell my parents I faked being christian?

[Der/die AtheistIn]

Not in the near future, but when I'll come out as atheist. Should I also tell them I faked being christian?

[Longhorn]

That’s really heavily context dependent. How do you think they’ll react in the first place?

If they’re open to the conversation and you feel this is something you want them to know then yes. Is it important to you?

[vorlon13]

'Faking it' would be distinguished from 'really doing' it how ?

[Der/die AtheistIn]

That’s really heavily context dependent. How do you think they’ll react in the first place?

If they’re open to the conversation and you feel this is something you want them to know then yes. Is it important to you?

Part of me really wishes to tell them, but I'm a little scared to say that I faked it. If I think about it I could use the fact that I feared rejection as an argument for my acting. I think they would be shocked to hear that I faked being a christian, maybe not as much if I would tell them in steps.

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'Faking it' would be distinguished from 'really doing' it how ?

I don't believe in a God and I think neither my parents do. My mom told me that she imagines that a God exists for comfort, dad might do it too. I go to church with my family and sometimes say prayers out loud but I'm not emotionally invested in them so I don't know if that can be considered praying. When it seems that I pray without speaking I'm actually faking it. Also, when someone asks me if I agree with anything religious related I respond "yes" without meaning it.

[Abaddon_ire]

Not in the near future, but when I'll come out as atheist. Should I also tell them I faked being christian?

No. Not if it causes a problem for you. Not if it causes a problem for your parents.

My own kids "came out" as atheists, but it was easy for them because I am an atheist. I never promoted atheism to them and admit to some surprise when they both announced spontaneously that they wanted nothing further to do with the superstitious baloney. God got consigned to the same bucket as Santa. My reaction was "Bugger, I am going to be blamed for this". The ex-wife is still RCC.

So how about my own long deceased parents? Well, it was a case of see no evil, hear no evil largely. My mother was well aware of my position, but entirely tolerant. My father was a seriuosly committed RCC addict. In the end, it suited everyone to simply find their own way.

You do not have to come out and have some big mad showdown with all and sundry. You have no reason to pick a fight. Live your own life. Nobody owns you.

[notimportant1234]

I think I'm with abbadon_ire on this ,when you say to your parents that you are an atheist going further to say that you were fakeing christianity is a matter of choice , wich is settled on spot , depending on impact and necesity.

[Abaddon_ire]

I think I'm with abbadon_ire on this ,when you say to your parents that you are an atheist going further to say that you were fakeing christianity is a matter of choice , wich is settled on spot , depending on impact and necesity.

Well, sometimes confrontation is necessary, but it is not the only route or even the best route. 

The correct way to go will largely depend on the nature of the parental relationship. 

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to lay all of the cards on the table with both of my parents before they passed, but that was a matter of sheer luck and happenstance. Others of my friends have not been so lucky. This is why I am telling Die Atheistin that invoking conflict is not necessarily the best road forward.

[Whateverist]

Deleted original response after reading OP.

If you decide to tell them later think about why.

[Edwardo Piet]

Not in the near future, but when I'll come out as atheist. Should I also tell them I faked being christian?

Only if you're anxious to tell them if you don't tell them. Ideally you won't feel that or won't feel it for long enough for it to make it worth it to tell them.

[Minimalist]

D/A I sense that you are running these scenarios through your head looking for the ideal time to say it.  As far as they are concerned there is no ideal time.  If you said you were a child molester they would still have hope that you could rise to the rank of archbishop or something.

Instead of the perfect set up what will probably happen is that they will say something to piss you off and you will just blurt it out.  So stop worrying about it.  Que sera, sera as the Italians say.