I have been confronted with numerous occasions in school where I just went along with it. I have sat at a table where most of the people were talking about this person who didn't believe, and they kept saying 'Man, she's going to hell.' And I just couldn't bring myself to speak up and point out the ridiculousness in that. My whole family is devoutly religous, and almost everyone in the community I live in, and I often hear them making illogical, hypocritical statements but I can never bring myself to give my opinion on it in fear they might isolate me in some way if I don't act as they do, and believe what they believe.
What should I Do? I know I can really put some of these statements my friends and family are making on a regular basis in the dust with evidence backed, thought provoking responses, but is it worth the risk of losing good friends, or, I wonder could it even endanger what my parents think of me if I didn't believe there is some dictator sitting in the sky?
2006-12-09 05:38:38 · 15 answers · asked by Poo 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well... sometimes people say "bless you" or "god has helped us out" and I just thank them or agree, just to avoid getting into a whole big unnecessary confrontation... but usually I just don't do the whole "passive god" thing.
2006-12-09 05:43:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you want to be taken seriously in the buisness world, than you need to think your opinions through throughly and speak your mind. But you also have to know when to open your mouth and when to keep it shut. I have always been open about my opinions of religion with my family, friends, and co-workers, and I have had good arguments with my family and friends, but we don't let it affect our relationship between eachother. I don't know how your family and community are different than mine, but when you leave that community you are going to have to voice your opinions, or nobody will take you seriously. I was once up for a big promotion at my office, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and my boss (who was a muslim) was asking me a series of questions to see if I was right for the job. He asked me, "Are you a religous man, and if so, what religion do you believe in?" I already knew he was muslim, and I wondered if he wanted me to say I am a muslim. I told him I was a Christian, and had been for ten years. He told me that he had asked the last person he interviewed the same question and they had said they were muslim, but when he asked about the religion the man didn't know anything about it. I ended up getting the job. My boss was trying to see if I would stick to my opinions or if I would give into the pressures of others, and that is very important in the buisness world. My advice, voice your opinions, but learn from others.
2006-12-09 05:50:45 · answer #2 · answered by Michael 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are really your friends, you will not lose them as friends just because you guys don't agree on something. At the same time, my wife is going thru that with her family. There are all hypocritical JDubs who have shunned her because of the logical religious choices she has made. You would be amazed at how fast all of her family and friends found out and started calling her an apostate. HER OWN FAMILY, I'm talking mother, brothers, sisters and so on!?!?
I couldn't believe it at first, but after talking to so many Christians about their faith, I could imagine that it happens pretty often. Personally I could not imagine putting faith ahead of my family.
(sigh) Christians...
2006-12-09 05:42:21 · answer #3 · answered by southswell2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think as atheists we are all faced with this to some degree. In my case I don't hide the fact I am atheist but when I am at work I don't go out of my way to tell people either. I remember when I was in school, announcing one was an atheist was a sure way to get ostracized and even beaten up so most just kept it secret. You need to balance your desire to be forthright and honest with your need for personal safety. It is a tough choice.
2006-12-09 05:47:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I stopped believing in the religion I was raised in before I left home, but didn't tell my parents until after I left home. In my case, my parents took the news a lot better than I expected.
As for your friends, I think you should assume that the only friends worth keeping are ones that respect you as who you really are. If they drop you because you don't have their religious belief, then you are better off without them. You'll find other friends who will be genuine friends.
2006-12-09 06:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by Jim L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it rational to think of that it is easy to fool a real god via pretending to have self assurance that which you have not got self assurance? i'm skeptical approximately that, too. If there's a real god, it might have a lot of hostility in the direction of such egocentric (and stupid) thoughts. What if it in simple terms rewards humble honesty? -- Regards, John Popelish
2016-12-13 05:48:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keeping your beliefs to yourself is a valid option, but lying about what you believe is not. If you go as far as to recite the creed with the congregation, you are lying. If you simply attend a service out of a willingness to go along to get along, I have no quarrel with that. Same thing to keeping quiet when others talk about their religious beliefs, as long as they are not asking you direct questions. If they do, you have the right to be evasive, but I would not advise you lie. Say something like, "I don't think I can verbalize my beliefs very well." Let them assume what they will.
I'm out of the broom closet myself since I retired, but I still don't give Christians a hard time when they talk about what they believe unless they give me a hard time.
2006-12-10 15:30:01 · answer #7 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian and the only one in my biological family and have many friends who don't share my beliefs. Real friends won't isolate you and if they do, do you really want them as your friend? It's important to be true to yourself and hopefully, you family and friends can respect that. As for your parents, I sure hope they don't judge you in ANY way due to your beliefs, this is a real touchy one. My personal opinion always has been and always will be that parents should give their children unconditional love and acceptance. Peace :-)
2006-12-09 05:51:36 · answer #8 · answered by me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only you can answer that. I can see how you would be hesitant to speak out. Wait a while. When you are fully grown and out on your own, it will be easier to stand up for what you believe. Most religious children are taught their way of thinking. Sad but true. Many of these children will also change their views on a lot of things with maturity and age.
2006-12-09 05:44:24 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your silence just feeds them. You should speak up.
But if you don't want to, you could just clam up until you're out of the house and no longer at the mercy of the people there.
2006-12-09 06:21:56 · answer #10 · answered by Phil 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋