My parents are Roman Catholic. My mother keeps pestering me about getting confirmed and is thinking of having everything arranged and talking to a priest about it soon. I don't really see myself as a Catholic. I'm just fifteen, and don't think I'm ready to box myself into these beliefs. I see it as unfair for her to try to force them onto me. I've told her that I don't want to be confirmed, but she acts like I haven't said a word and when I tell my siblings about it (they're ten years older than me), they tell me to treat it as a tradition. Should I really just give in to this, when I completely disagree with it?
2006-07-02 19:34:28 · 11 answers · asked by amygdala_data 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
tell her you dont want to be catholic anymore and you should do whats right when you feel the time is right. I was cahtolic but i never got confirmed. If she refuses to listen then dont go along with it. take action and dont go to the confirmation or go to a friends house on the day of it. write your mom an email and tell her she is being unfair.
2006-07-02 19:38:24 · answer #1 · answered by badferret 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Alrighty, to be confirmed means that you have totally accepted the Holy Spirit and that all past sins are forgotten/forgiven. AND that henceforth, I vow to never break one of The Ten Commandments for the rest of my life. That's about what I figured when I was confirmed in the mid-seventies. I really didn't want to go through it either, but my dad was a devout Catholic and he would not tolerate anything except that he felt it was his job to see that it was done. Gee girl, I know where you're coming from. I was taught that if you were not Catholic you were going to hell. But then I thought, Jesus loves everybody doesn't he? That would mean billions of people would go to hell just because they weren't Catholic. Even if they were good people. Really, really good people. I'd like to tell you that if you don't want to do it, don't. But you live in a situation where you have no choice. HEY, here's a thought. Apparently you go to cathecism, and have time with a priest or nun now and then. Tell them, (with the due respect they deserve) that you don't feel inside that you're ready to take the step of Confirmation yet. Maybe by talking to one or more of them, you could have their point of view and quite possibly conference a talk with mom, so that mom can't play like she's deaf to your feelings on this subject anymore. Perhaps you can all be a little more enlightend with the outcome.
Well, that's my two cents worth. For what it's worth.
2006-07-02 19:57:40 · answer #2 · answered by Rollover Mikey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For yourself, it would be a good idea to sit down and figure out what you do believe, and where it differs (specific points) from Catholicism. If you can bring yourself to do it, study the Catholic catechism and other church documents enough to:
1) know the points that absolutely must be present in someone's faith in order for them to be confirmed, and
2) show the specific points among these which you yourself do not believe in.
This is also important for two other reasons:
1) To as far as possible show your mother that this is not "just rebellion", that you *really* do not believe in this.
2) To prove to your priest that he cannot in good conscience confirm you.
If you find another specific religious group that in fact does reflect your beliefs, you may wish to look into formally joining it, and formally leaving the Catholic Church. It is difficult to leave the Catholic Church, but if you have formal membership in another religion, then eventually they will have to let you leave.
Bottom line: under no circumstances should you be confirmed if you do not believe in it. Whatever is not of faith is in fact *sin*(1).
2006-07-02 19:55:13 · answer #3 · answered by songkaila 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you tell the priest that you don't want to be confirmed, then you won't be confirmed. Also, you have to go to catechism for this. Have you gone? If so, tell your catechism teacher that you don't want to be confirmed. S/he has a say in this. If you haven't yet gone to catechism for this, then simply don't go. And if your mom forces you to go, tell the catechism teacher and the priest that you don't want to be confirmed, you are just doing this because you're being forced. No one will confirm you then.
My friend used to teach catechism, and if he suspected any of his pupils were not ready, then he wouldn't officially recommend them for Confirmation. The parents would be UPSET, but it's the right thing to do, to say "so and so isn't ready for Confirmation" because so and so must
Don't worry, talk to the priest, and your mom can't force you to go through with it.
2006-07-02 20:33:12 · answer #4 · answered by Dolores G. Llamas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give in to your mother. Make her happy. Become confirmed and then forget about it until you get much older. You may decide to stay a Catholic or not. Does she make you go to church as well? Confessions? You are too young to make a DEFINITE decision about all this so go along and make her happy. I became confirmed because my mother wanted it (my dad couldn't have cared less). It didn't hurt me even though at this time I have no religious beliefs....although I believe in God.
2006-07-02 19:43:17 · answer #5 · answered by wunderkind 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask her, if she would have you to live a lie. Anyone can tell you that just attending church and going through the rituals are not enough. You must believe in what you practice. What most people won't tell you to do is follow your own heart, see what out there and what is right for you.
And then pray it is the right religion! LoL! That all you can really do.
2006-07-02 19:44:58 · answer #6 · answered by Childress Y 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunatly you are getting alot of pressure that you shouldn't be. you should not give in if you do not believe in the religon. Explain it to your mom. you may belive in a god(tell her either way), but how you personally feel if you did something that you did not belive in. what kind of consequences spiritually would you get? try doing it from a different angle. wouldn't it be more of a sin (from her point of view) to do it when it is not in your heart, and live the lie for your mother's sake, or not do it. best wishes.
2006-07-02 19:51:57 · answer #7 · answered by singitoutloudandclear 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to priest yourself and ask him to explain you why in his opinon it is important for you - you should be able to speak very openly - religion worlkers usually decent psycologists
2006-07-02 19:49:17 · answer #8 · answered by RonW 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
say ***** u and ur pope thts what i did the pope says be fully faithfull in god but he rides around in a bullet prof box lol
2006-07-02 19:45:40 · answer #9 · answered by shooter_n_her_ass 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your priest and tell him. Ask him to have a talk with your mom, maybe then she will listen to you.
2006-07-02 19:39:45 · answer #10 · answered by sweetgurl13069 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋