Should I disown my grandson for being an atheist?

Question

I have 8 grandchildren, and I won't be around forever (the doctors give me a couple more years). And so I'm writing my will, deciding how to divide up my money after I'm gone, and I'd pretty much decided on trust funds for each of the 8 grandkids, but there's one who is an atheist and has been for years. His parents aren't really religious either and aren't doing anything about it. Do you think I should cut him out of my will?

Answer 1

Let's see.....in recent questions, you state you are: 21 years old, a time traveler, a male prostitute and also a midget. I think your grandfather has plenty of reasons to disown you that have nothing to do with religion. Nice try.

Answer 2

First off, sorry about your prognosis, and bravo for taking care of your will now. Too many times problems ensue with that many children left behind with no prior plan. Since we are talking about a grand child, one of the parents has to be your child. If they are atheist, do you think you have some accountability for their lack of credence? I think there is only so much you can do. I am sure you did the best you knew how at the time you and your spouse did it. However, it is important to understand that God endowed us all with a quality that is free will. Maybe they don't believe in a God the way you picture it, but they may believe in their own ability. Since God lives in each and every one of us, since we are his children, it may help you look at this a little differently. I don't know whether this helps, but if you want to shun one of your grandsons because he does not believe, how would you have felt if you had been shunned for having raised non-believers yourself? Are they good people overall? Are they being considerate, kind and raising good adults? Either way, why make the grandson suffer for someone his parents did not do, which they obviously did not take over from your teaching either? If you cut him completely out, the message you might be sending is that Christians are not as all-loving as they claim to be. Just some food for thought!

Answer 3

My father recently died and the devastation his death has caused his grandchildren is so awful it is frankly sickening to read that you plan to to punish your own grandchild for being a free thinking individual, separting him out from the rest of the family at your death.

Your money is yours and you should do whatever you want with it.

If your grandson is bright enough, strong enough, independent enough to think for himself in a crowd such as your family must be, well, he doesn't need your money and he'd probably know that lots of christians are just hateful people, and he'd get over it.

You, however, will have to answer to christ, who already told you that he'd throw you in the sea with a millstone around your neck if you caused a child distress. He also told you about the prodigal son. He also told you to ignore the speck in your neighbor's eye, because of the log in yours. He also told you that ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY. No special categories at all.

SO, granny, either you are a hateful, manipulative hypocrite looking to stir up trouble and pain in your own family, or you're desparately misguided and unable to think clearly. I really don't see the love of Christ overflowing you, so I wonder why you think your way is superior to his.

Answer 4

Leaving your grandson out of your will just because he is an atheist is not the Christian thing to do. I know you don"t approve the way he lives, and what he believes but, let him know you love him, and you are praying for him.Divide the money between them all, then you will have a clear heart. I am sorry about your health. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep praying. God Bless you.

Answer 5

I give your grandson props for openly admitting to the family that he's an atheist. I have been one for years, but just don't have the gumption to admit it to the family for this exact reason. I think that cutting him out of your will will only make him that more resentful towards you, and besides, it will definitely not change his mind about it. If you think you're accomplishing anything or proving a point, you are, and that is that you do not accept your grandson or love him the way he is, and he will resent that for the rest of both of your lives. I wouldn't recommend it.

Answer 6

I'm a midget with an IQ of 155... so why won't people take me seriously?
Just because I'm only 3 foot 5 doesn't mean that I'm not smarter than you. Ugh. You morons.

My boss is an atheist... does that mean he worships the devil?
I'm from a small town in Montana, and suddenly I'm here in New York... and I'm not sure I like it! My boss told me today that he was an atheist, which he said means he neither believes in or worships God!!! I thought he seemed nice, but now I'm really confused! What should I do?!


A midget with an atheist boss should kill his atheist grandson to stop the disease from spreading.

Answer 7

Religion is not something you push into someone and not something someone should be punished for. If you want to cut him out of your will, find a different excuse. If your love for your grandchildren depends on religion, well... I can only say that as someone (presumably) much older than me, I expected you to know better the value of family and love. Your life, your choice.

Answer 8

Cutting him off wouldn't be very Christian of you. Try reading "the prodigal son".

On a personal note, how does he interact with you. Does he show you a lack of love? Is he isolated whereas your other grandchildren dote on you? Judge him by his deeds, not by his spiritual choice. Atheists are not evil by nature. If it is your religion to condemn someone just because they believe differently from you, then so be it. It is not a religion I would choose.

Answer 9

Absolutely not! Does not the shepard look to retreive the lost sheep?

What's more that boy has been taught to think for himself. While you value God, he doesn't. It is a conscious choice and he will live with the consequences presuming he is wrong.

You certainly cannot blackmail him to get him to change his beliefs. You could convince him to pretend for your benefit, and believe me, I have seen a lot of people fake religious sincerity to gain inheritances I am watching that happen in my husband's family now..where at least 2 of the 3 remaining "in" kids are genuinely not leading the Christian lives their father thinks they are..they are the worst morally in the lot of 6. However you won't change what is in his heart.

Your love is supposed to be unconditional, as is God's. God doesn't not love his children that don't tow the line. Christianity believes people have to be saved to get into heaven but not all religions believe that.

Ultimately no one really knows what God wants, but if we are all his children, then he loves us all, even if he does judge those that do not do as he bids.

It is God's right to judge and not man's. This is stated in the bible. For you to cut off one grandchild, purely based on whether or not he believes in God, or pretends to believe is petty and a reflection of you taking on a right only given to God.

I notice that you don't threaten any of the others based on their deeds? For example, I could see not giving money, or attaching serious strings to one you know will be irresponsible with it. Surely at least 1 in 8 is going to burn away that money on poor choices? Why is that child's share not at risk?

I've seen that one too..kids inherit money only to have it all gone within months or a couple of years.

In any case, you should appreciate that your grandson is holding strong to his beliefs, even if they disagree with yours. That is a sign of character - he has chosen to be his own person, even if that risks his immortal soul. That's a lot more honest than the masses that just pretend to believe, or worse, that believe then continue to do evil and immoral things.

Answer 10

Hi
I don't think you should disown your grandson for being an atheist. I myself am a christian too, and I have found judging people for not believing just doesn't work. If you want him to be a christian you should show Jesus' love to him. jesus showed his love to us by giving.
GIve him his inheritance, as a seed. Sew in him and believe God for his salvation. Because that is what you want, I presume. To meet him at the East Gate of heaven...