Religion problems

Well, I've been an atheist almost my whole life now, which isn't very long, but I have my heart set on no religion, and I am truly happy and satisfied with my choice. My mother knows I am an atheist, and she is a christian, and not to be rude but sort of...

a scary one! She will start screaming at me telling me she didn't raise me to become an atheist "like my father". Well guess what, my father may be an atheist but he did nothing to prove to me there was no god. I just knew it myself, and so I chose to not believe in anything at all. I am sick of people always fighting over religion, to me it is like fantasy, or a dream nothing that can come true. Anyways, I accept and am respectful to christians and all other peoples religions. I don't think differently of my mother because she is a christian, I am actually happy for her that she has something to look forward to and believe in, but I am different and she doesn't see that it's alright to not always be the same as other people. Why should she automatically think that because I am an atheist I am going to hell? Why should she think differently of me because I don't believe what she does? It just hurts me that she doesn't accept me, and I will not change myself for her or anyone. How can I make her see that even though I'm not christian I'm just like her..

"I hear so many 14 thru 18 year olds on here, who say they are athiests, I keep wondering if it's just the "thing" to be...without exploration, without research, without walking thru this world a bit...how can one come to this conclusion?"

I actually agree with you that atheism is "trendy" among many younger people. Organized religion is part of the establishment, and what better way to buck the establishment and be your "own person" than to declare yourself an atheist, especially if all your friends are doing it too? Better still if one is rebelling against one's family and that family happens to be religious. It's certainly different than those of us who abandoned organized religion only after many years of research, thought, and struggle.

But, the same is true for highly religious teenagers. Many are raised with these beliefs, and they have never been taught or encouraged to question them,and seek their own answers. Still they seem so sure of their faith, even though it's never been tested.

When a person reaches his or her teenage years, parents should not be stifling attempts to branch out and learn new things. If atheism is "just a phase" then so be it. But allow the children to test their beliefs and at least see if they hold up against that scrutiny.

Your mother's religion does not allow her to accept your views. But for now, since you're still living under her roof, I would avoid the topic of religion as much as possible. I know that will be difficult, and sometimes you won't be able to do it. But it could be years before your mother comes to terms with your being an atheist, if she even does at all. All you can do is dodge religious discussions. Once you're out of the house, that will obviously be much easier. If she brings up religion with you, just smile, nod, and do your best to give vague answers. I hate to sound pessimistic, but it's very unlikely she will change her mind about your views, if she is the kind of Christian you've described.

Some organized religions believe that if you don't "believe" in God, or don't accept Jesus into your heart as your savior, that you are hell-bound...blah blah, blah...I certainly can understand how this can slam the door to ever wanting to explore any type of theology in the future. Even I find that thinking arrogant. There are many, MANY religions "out there" that do not believe this...

I hear so many 14 thru 18 year olds on here, who say they are athiests, I keep wondering if it's just the "thing" to be...without exploration, without research, without walking thru this world a bit...how can one come to this conclusion? Not saying that a person might not come to this same conclusion down the road. However, when a person closes their mind to something, they are slamming a door that, with time, cannot open...pride and complacancy won't allow it...

The mind is like a parachute, it works better when it's open...

p

I agree. I find ignorant atheists almost as disappointing as ignorant theists. I'd far rather people hold an opinion they can back up with rational argument than have one just because everyone else is doing it. It can be quite painful seeing other atheists attempting to defend their position when it's abundantly clear they don't properly understand the issues themselves.

Though I think it's fair to say this is because I'm first of all a rationalist and a skeptic - my atheism is merely a side-effect.

sorry to hear that about your mother. But you have to hold true to what you believe or dont believe.

"you have to hold true to what you believe or dont believe."

No you don't. That's a recipe for ignorance. Question what you believe, and why. And if you figure out you're wrong, good! Figure out what the correct answer is, and you're better off than you were before.

"I agree. I find ignorant atheists almost as disappointing as ignorant theists. I'd far rather people hold an opinion they can back up with rational argument than have one just because everyone else is doing it. It can be quite painful seeing other atheists attempting to defend their position when it's abundantly clear they don't properly understand the issues themselves."

Precisesly...I'm not leaving out the "Jesus or Hell" folks here, either...tho, it looks like you understood my premise...being skeptic...and having a closed mind, are NOT the same thing...there's always room to change one's mind...given the right evidence.

p

"Why should she automatically think that because I am an atheist I am going to hell? Why should she think differently of me because I don't believe what she does?"

Because it was what she was taught... And she was also taught never to question why... To continue a religion for thousands of years you cant have people questioning you... especially when you dont have all the answers...

We may or may not be living in the last days - looking at the evening news it appears it may very well be, we are - what you said scares me because if it is the last days, the Bible speaks, man's hearts will 'wax cold' - once done, they cannot be saved - so it appears to be a very serious matter.

"Why should she automatically think that because I am an atheist I am going to hell? Why should she think differently of me because I don't believe what she does?"

Being "taught" something, and believing it come hell or highwater, is a safe place for those who do not wish to explore on their own...she is suffering the same closed mind, as some are on the other end of the spectrum...The only person you can change in life, is yourself...accepting her for who she is (giving her what you want from her), might be exactly what will put a crack in her thinking...

You cannot keep, what you cannot give away...give her exactly what you want for yourself...acceptance...that doesn't mean you have think the same, just accept that "this" is how she is.

p

***Why should she automatically think that because I am an atheist I am going to hell?***

She's just old-fashioned. Part of being old-fashioned, is often to misunderstand, and misrepresent what it means to be Christian.

*** Why should she automatically think that because I am an atheist I am going to hell?

...because that's what Christianity teaches. Sadly, if your mother believes such nonsense, there's probably not much you can do to change her mind. However, you might inject another bit of false hope that counteracts her current false beliefs. Read to her 1 Corinthian 7:14,

"for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife", and explain that it means that really only 1 family member has to believe, and all are saved. It's a pleasing lie she's likely to accept.

agreed with religionisgood, on both answers really
& there might be a flaw with that toadaly,
some mothers might react by saying, "oh, so you're rellyingin me to lifyt you to salvation?" or something like that. BUt hey, try it, you never know.
It could be worse(believe me, it could be worse, I had a friend whose mother despised her & treated her like a slave & made her live in a walk in closet because she didn't believe the bible)
Best of luck.

ill pray for you and something to happen that would leave you so broken and humbled that you might change your mind because I know my sis and my dad are going through the same thing Atheism- a religion explaining that there are no religions its wiered if you ask me

solution not religion but relationship with Jesus christ the one true God that humbled himself to come and dye a humin death on the cross for our sins I just want to tell you without that relationship I would be dead

"ill pray for you and something to happen that would leave you so broken and humbled that you might change your mind"

Wow. Charming. If it weren't for the fact that prayer doesn't do anything, I might be worried. As it is, it's still a pretty repulsive thing to wish on someone.

"Atheism- a religion explaining that there are no religions its wiered if you ask me"

It's not a religion. It's a lack of belief.

Hm.. thanks everyone..
Don't worry 373737..ect.. my life is already not very great as it is.
But believe me.. no god is going to save anyone from anything, and that is the truth.

I didn't ask for religious people to wish me bad luck or whatever the hell you just said, I asked for help, so please stay on topic thank you.

And yes- I have no belief whatsoever. I don't believe in god, heaven, or hell. Get that through your head?

***It's not a religion. It's a lack of belief.***

...in deities.

***ill pray for you and something to happen that would leave you so broken and humbled that you might change your mind***

That's a sick thing to be praying for... that's similar to damning or cursing someone... how shameful...

***I just want to tell you without that relationship I would be dead***

Some people aren't that weak-minded... they don't need religion to live.

@phrannie -

Yes, a lot of young people these days are not religious, get over it. Maybe it's because of all the murder and suffering that goes on, wouldn't "god" be doing something to stop it? I'm not religious because I simply don't want to be apart of it. I believe in no such thing, to me it's just fantasy. I'm an atheist, thats my conclusion, and it will never change.

373733773737373 - what would Jesus say about praying for something like that. Shame on you. You obviously havent read anything he said about peace and love and not judging people

Yes, a lot of young people these days are not religious, get over it.

I don't give a diddley if people are religious or not... You must be another one of those quasi-speed readers who miss the point.

arachnid...It's a proven fact that praying DOES help people...that doesn't say God exists...maybe it points more to the "power of the mind"...none the less...it's a fact.

p

People aren't atheists because it's trendy, they are atheists because it's logical and because religion is well full of crap.

I am an atheist, nothing about religion captures my belief at all. Do you think I just got up one day and decided to become atheist to rebel, against what exactly? It's something I put a hell of a lot of thought into, and've been interested with history and science since 2nd grade, I'm real fluent in those areas.

It doesn't bother me at all, if atheists mock religion or think that evolution means a monkey turned into a man billions of years ago, aslong as they're fairly liberal as well, we're cool. Just because a person is mistaken, doesn't mean they can't share their opinions, and have an opportunity to learn something new.