Family not accepting you're an Atheist

[UniverseCaptain]

Following on from OP. My dad is onto another marriage and become religious. Claiming I'll come around to god in the end. Slightly creepy when religious folk try to force their views upon someone. I definitely find it difficult to associate with religious folk, perhaps I'm being too harsh. But doing stuff with my dad knowing he's now into god in a bigger way feels weird. I believe he used to vaguely believe in god, but now seems sure and really into it with his new wife. I do know some people get into god in old age , Pascal's wager or something along those lines. Maybe I need to give him the benefit of the doubt. I have always stayed a million miles from anyone I thought was remotely religious, because you can't prove it at all. It's like believing there is a random chicken in the sky running the show. Fortunately the rest of my family haven't mentioned religion since I started the thread, so their views could be anything right now.

[brewer]

New wife that's religious----> dad wants to get laid more often----> dad finds god----> new wife prays horizontally!

[vulcanlogician]

Following on from OP. My dad is onto another marriage and become religious. Claiming I'll come around to god in the end. Slightly creepy when religious folk try to force their views upon someone. I definitely find it difficult to associate with religious folk, perhaps I'm being too harsh. But doing stuff with my dad knowing he's now into god in a bigger way feels weird. I believe he used to vaguely believe in god, but now seems sure and really into it with his new wife. I do know some people get into god in old age , Pascal's wager or something along those lines. Maybe I need to give him the benefit of the doubt. I have always stayed a million miles from anyone I thought was remotely religious, because you can't prove it at all. It's like believing there is a random chicken in the sky running the show. Fortunately the rest of my family haven't mentioned religion since I started the thread, so their views could be anything right now.

My dad became a Baptist later in his life. All his life he was some kind of deist.  We even had a small fight or two over it. So I kinda feel what you're going through. It sucks because, my whole life he and I were kind of dismissive of religiosity like the Baptists possess. And now he says stuff about Jesus's resurrection and stuff, and I just nod politely. He has times of lucidity though. He's called me up to discuss concerns he had over his church guilting him out of money... knowing that I wouldn't automatically take the church's side.

Interesting that you brought up Pascal's Wager. It makes me think: does Pascal's deal actually sweeten the older you get? I guess it does. Less investment for the same dividends. lol

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Reading over these replies, I reckon I was pretty fortunate. I had a father who didn’t give two shits about religion, one way or the other (which made him something of a standout in Norn Iron). When my mother found out I was an atheist, her attitude was not to worry, because God would forgive me.

Boru

[Ronaldo]

Hello,

Does anyone have a difficult family that won't accept you're an Atheist? I've always been an Atheist, but my family all believe in a higher power. I don't mind people believing different to me (as long as they don't get abusive about it in any way), but they simply can't comprehend that I'm an Atheist - if it's ever mentioned they imply I'm in denial, which is ridiculous. I am more looking for input from someone in a similar position on how to approach this better mentally, not holding my breath though as I can see the forum is inactive.

Best Wishes

TheEnd8888

Does your family have to know?
I choose not to tell them

[brewer]

Does your family have to know?
I choose not to tell them

Do you spend a lot of time hiding and deceiving?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Following on from OP. My dad is onto another marriage and become religious. Claiming I'll come around to god in the end. Slightly creepy when religious folk try to force their views upon someone. I definitely find it difficult to associate with religious folk, perhaps I'm being too harsh. But doing stuff with my dad knowing he's now into god in a bigger way feels weird. I believe he used to vaguely believe in god, but now seems sure and really into it with his new wife. I do know some people get into god in old age , Pascal's wager or something along those lines. Maybe I need to give him the benefit of the doubt. I have always stayed a million miles from anyone I thought was remotely religious, because you can't prove it at all. It's like believing there is a random chicken in the sky running the show. Fortunately the rest of my family haven't mentioned religion since I started the thread, so their views could be anything right now.

My dad became a Baptist later in his life. All his life he was some kind of deist.  We even had a small fight or two over it. So I kinda feel what you're going through. It sucks because, my whole life he and I were kind of dismissive of religiosity like the Baptists possess. And now he says stuff about Jesus's resurrection and stuff, and I just nod politely. He has times of lucidity though. He's called me up to discuss concerns he had over his church guilting him out of money... knowing that I wouldn't automatically take the church's side.

Interesting that you brought up Pascal's Wager. It makes me think: does Pascal's deal actually sweeten the older you get? I guess it does. Less investment for the same dividends. lol

(Bold mine)

Child: Mummy! Look at what Gran gave me! She’s so nice!

Mum (smiling sweetly): No, dear, she’s not ‘nice’. What she is is a miserable old bat trying to get into Heaven.

Boru

[Ronaldo]

Does your family have to know?
I choose not to tell them

Do you spend a lot of time hiding and deceiving?

Are you the resident troll? Hi

[The Architect Of Fate]

Are you the resident troll? Hi

You are more of a troll than Brewer will ever be. Brewer doesn't resort to poorly worded comments and poorly researched memes

[brewer]

Are you the resident troll? Hi

You are more of a troll than Brewer will ever be. Brewer doesn't resort to poorly worded comments and poorly researched  memes  

My troll attempts are failing? God Damnit!