Coming out of the closet as an atheist?

Question

I was raised in a catholic household but after many years of disagreeing with many points of the catholic religion and doing a lot of research I have realized Im an atheist. Religion is man made. There is no scientific proof of a God and I believe the bible is a fabrication. However I am afraid to tell my parents, any suggestions?

Answer 1

It may be best if you don't tell them. It can cause a lot of trouble. If your parents are elderly there is no reason to upset them.

Do you think that it will change something if you tell them? Your parents don't have to be involved in every aspect of your life. You don't discuss your sex life with them do you? lol :)

Save yourself the drama. If one day it seems they are willing to be open and respectful of your decision then tell them. Otherwise preserve your relationship with them and just don't discuss it.

Answer 2

There is not scientific proof of anything if you read Heisenberg and Plank. It's a dice throw and that's not what science is supposed to be about.

So, you want to live your life as a gambler. Shooting dice.

Your choice. One year science says Pluto is a planet and the next year it ain't.

One wonders what will you do if science every says THERE IS A GOD.

Which will you deny at that point, science for saying it or God.

Remember science is NOT around to DISPROVE God or anything. Science is around to establishs PROOFS no matter what, so it IS possible SCIENCE can ONE DAY PROVE GOD, to say otherwise is to say SCIENCE IS BIASED and BIOGOTED, which it isn't.

The most important scientific discoveries and theories came from Catholics, like the Big Bang which was postulated with great accuracy by a Catholic Priest in good standing, who predicted Gamma Radiation in the background was was measured much later by scinetific instruments, thus establishing Big Bang as the ultimate theory. A Catholic Abbott is the FAther of Modern Genetics and make plant grafting possible and also proved evolution works on a botantical basis.

Einstein says God and Religion is important to Science and Science is important to Religion.

Einstein says God Doesn't Shoot Dice!

Hawking says God does, but Hawking hasn't proved doodley squat. Einstein's work gave us the A Bomb and showed us that the observed position of stars will change near gravity wells like the sun. Hawking's work hasn't proved nothing about nothing, yet.

Answer 3

I am 54 and have only meet a handful of true atheists in my life. Are you certain that there is NO God(s)? If you need proof of God then you need proof that there is no God(s). This is the major problem with atheism that most people that claim to be atheist refuse to acknowledge. They can say that no God exists because there is no proof but this is actually not a logical assumption.

If you just don't know or can't prove that there is no God(s) then you would be an agnostic, of which there are many. I fall into that category. An agnostic may not believe in God(s) but cannot show for certain that he/she/they do not exist. Do you see the difference?

If, after careful thought, you are an agnostic then just tell them that you have no conviction that the teachings of the Church is correct. They may be upset but they should try and help you find your way, what ever way that may be.

If you can truly prove that no God(s) exists then you need to sit down with them and show them your proof and save them from a life of worshiping a false God.

Answer 4

Don't tell lies; you have been an atheist here many moons ago.

It's not surprising that you had problems with your religion; every religion has it's problems; many believers would often question intricate parts of religion; that's where faith...mixed with reason come in.

Of course religion is man made; did you think that Aliens made religion? Religion is simply the quest of man looking for God.

Scientists may have much more simple things to prove before they dare have a scientific proof of God,,God is not Science...he only created Scientists and the poor scientists today with their puny little brains may have to find a way to photograph a quark before they dare define the maker of quarks.

You say that you think the bible is a fabrication; many atheists have said so but I can't find one who could tell me what are the fabrications in the bible, who fabricated it and when it was fabricated.

My friend, different people believe in different things; even scientists believe in things they have not seen...like quarks..
If you believe in science, go study science; then you will be meeting face to face with things made by a creator but can't be conceived by mortal man.

Answer 5

You might say something like this:

I haven't yet seen God, but I keep my eyes open.
I haven't yet heard God, but I am listening.
I haven't yet felt the presence of God, but I'm open to the experience.

This is an honest, sincere position for most people. It doesn't rule out the existence of God --which you cannot logically do. On the other hand, this position does not pretend to swallow dogma that has been force fed to you.

Incidentally, if you agree with this position you are not an atheist, you're an agnostic. An agnostic is simply somebody who is honest enough to admit they don't know everything. It's the only intellectually honest position for many people. I think that almost everybody is an agnostic although relatively few people will admit it.

Answer 6

Wait a while until you have a more firm understanding. They're going to be worried for your immortal soul. Listen to the podcast from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Dan Barker used to be a minister. He and his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor provide a lot of help for people who are trying to live without god in a god-centered culture. Penn Jilette's podcast is good, too, as well as The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe and Point of Inquiry.

Most of all, develop a sense of humor about this. It is not worth entering into huge battles over unless your family's religion is about to hurt someone. Recognize that your family may never fully accept this, but that it's their prerogative to have their own beliefs.

Answer 7

If they are devout catholics, then I would say, don't tell them anything. It would just end up being an endless source of ire in your family. Just look at some of the discussions here on yahoo for an example.

If they are practicing catholic but not preachy, then explain to them that while you respect their beliefs, you don't share them. If they want to know why then try to explain it as non offensively as possible. If you want them to understand where you are coming from, then it is best not to step all over faith.

Answer 8

How were you made were is the scientific proof of that. Did you come from a monckey Oh and were did the monkey come from. You should really pray because right now your headed to hell and I hope that that is some thing you believe in Because you will find out how real it is and have you ever considered maybe you should just not be cathlic instead of completly dropping God.

Answer 9

If you are absolute in your beliefs, then it does not matter what others think. If you are feeling shame or guilt, then maybe you should do a little more soul searching. The existence or non existence of "God" really isn't the issue with people who feel they are atheistic, it is the knowledge that they don't believe there is a power greater then themselves. If you truly feel there is no God, then what does it matter who knows? Religion is for nourishing our souls in preperation for a life beyond our death, if you feel there is nothing beyond us, then don't worry. Peace.

Answer 10

You fear because you are unsure of the outcome. You have no idea whether you will be accepted or rejected by them. So, as with all ventures into the unknown, you must ask yourself if you are prepared and able to handle the worst case scenario. If you are not, then I would advise you to keep your parents on a "need to know" basis. If you are prepared, be truthful. To do differently, dishonors who you are and who you are becoming.

Answer 11

Congratulations on achieving rationality. As for telling your parents, make sure you can live without their support before you tell them. I eased into it by voicing "doubts' in casual conversation about the nature of gods and religion until by the time I told them outright, they already suspected and had reached an accommodation with it.