I hope we all had a great day with friends and family.
I see quite a few of my favorite people on here tonight. Hayden Lyfe, The Dude, Red Eye Agnostic, and Godzilla. I hope your day was wonderful.
I was with my two dearest friends and our children. One is a Christian, one is an atheist, and I am an agnostic deist ( or so I have been told). We talk about religion and politics quite often and we all agree on most every issue. The existance of God is not a concern of ours.
I think that it is wonderful to embrace each other and our own personal beliefs because we respect and love each other.
Is it that way for you also?
2006-12-25 18:43:26 · 23 answers · asked by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hi Miss Puppy
2006-12-25 18:45:27 · update #1
Yes. My birth family contains Protestants (various denominations), Catholics, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics, and Pagans. Some were very strong in their beliefs, and some were not.
I don't recall ever witnessing any member of my family fight about religion, but I'd heard that there were occasional arguments. For the most part, there was tolerance in the form of truce. By which I mean we tolerated the idea that different people in the family had different beleifs, even if individuals did not approve of the beliefs themselves.
On the bright side, I did get a chance to learn about the practices of several different religions while I was growing up, and because I had loved ones of several different faiths, I feel that made me more tolerant and understanding of the faiths of others.
On the down side, I saw a lot of people smugly convinced that they were the only ones with the right answers, and who quietly judged everyone who didn't believe the way they did as lacking. I also heard all sorts of conflicting stories and beliefs and things that conflicted with observable phenomena in the world, and that basically helped give me the impression that a lot of religious people are ignorant, or deliberately choose to believe in certain ways (often in conflict with their own poorly-understood religion!), not because they are good ways, but because those ways are what they _want_ to believe.
2006-12-25 21:03:02 · answer #1 · answered by coyoteold1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's been a very peaceful holiday season this year, the best I can recall actually. This year we all decided, in October, to put our cards on the table and talk about our beliefs and the holidays well in advance, so everyone knew what to expect. My family members all have different beliefs...we have two Secular Humanists, one Christian, one Orthodox Catholic and an Atheist. Tonight, we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant and the waiter (looking rather uncomfortable) wished us a Merry Christmas about ten times, unable to figure out why only two of us were saying it back and the rest were only smiling and nodding. Later, the Christian (who has never really understood what I talk about) said, "Uh...I wanted to give you something, but I'm not sure if I should, what with you being a Human Separatist and all..." We had a bit of a laugh about that and I reminded him that it's "Secular Humanist". The gift turned out to be a gold crucifix, and we all agreed that perhaps it was best given to my Catholic son, who absolutely loves it. No hard feelings, we are respectful of each other, and we love each other, like your family. There was no stress, no drinking, no fighting...it was just a really nice time this year.
2006-12-25 18:55:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's 100% personal choice. I never had religion pushed on me by anyone. I grew up believing in god, but we never attended church. As I got older I leaned toward agnosticism, then when I was 27, I decided god is a purely man made idea and now consider myself an atheist. My husband is not an atheist and his mom is a minister. All of his family is religious and a lot of mine is too. My parents go to church now, but never did when we lived at home. I don't discuss religion with anyone but my husband and best friend. They are the only ones who really know I'm an atheist b/c I don't discuss it. Where I live, 98% of the population is christian and I'd be discriminated against. I don't believe you have to be a chrisitian or any other religion to be a good, honest, moral person.
2016-05-23 07:13:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seems most of the generations in my family have different Religions. Mostly one of the Christian sects. Others have gone the Occult way.Such as the Odd fellowship and the Masons. Also Astara. And Pagan.
2006-12-25 18:54:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi there !!! Yes; I do. My son is an atheist and we discuss our views on God, Christianity and atheism. The "trick" is to not try and change one another. We discuss with an open mind set but do not argue. I have the faith to trust God to change him [my son] should He [Jesus] decide to. He being a college sophomore, has agreed with my proof of a Creator by the use of scientific evidence. But he confided in me, that should he admit openly about God's existence, he would have to commit to Him [God] and this would get in the way of "doing his own thing" ! So; therefore, I let go and let God !!!
2006-12-25 19:14:31 · answer #5 · answered by guraqt2me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My family was split down the middle. Mom's side is Roman Catholic and Dad's side is Sikh.
Since we have all grown up, all except one of us siblings has chosen to be Sikh. One is an atheist. None of us has chosen to be Christian/Catholic.
Mom's family doesn't much like us, and always tries to get us into arguments about religion, but we refuse to argue, because we respect their beliefs even though we disagree with them.
That makes them like us even less.
I, too, think it would be nice to embrace each other with love and respect. Oh, well, I keep trying.
2006-12-25 19:01:32 · answer #6 · answered by huztuno 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The last 48 hours I have had 7th Day Adventists, Mormons, Baptists, Agnostics, Atheists, Lutherans, a recovering Catholic, Sikhs and who knows what else in my home.
I'm hoping for a few JWs to stop by this week so I can cover all the bases. Just for fun.
2006-12-25 18:51:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely!
I am a kahuna. My brother is a Baptist. My cousin used to be Baptist; but is no longer. He found his answers in Masonic ritual; my Neice is Catholic.
Everyone should acknowledge God in a way they see fit. Christianity was shoved down my throat three times a week; but I never found God until I got away from organized religions.
2006-12-26 00:30:17 · answer #8 · answered by Rev. Two Bears 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grandmother - Christian
Mum - Pagan
Dad - Athiest
Sister/bro - Agnostic
Me - Kemetic Orthadox
Husband/his family - Agnostic
Aunty - Catholic
Best friend (who I consider family) - Muslim
It is possible for a variety of religions to get along - I wish the whole world would get that,,,
2006-12-25 19:06:05 · answer #9 · answered by annyka 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My parents are non-practicing Christians. I think my mom believes in God, but I'm not sure if my Dad does. My brother is a Universalist Unitarian, and his girlfriend is a Wiccan. I'm an atheist.
We did not "say grace" at Christmas dinner and I don't remember the last time our family did.
We don't talk about religion.
2006-12-25 18:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋