2006-12-30 16:38:01 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
as long as you're under 18 and living under their roof, you have to do what they say
2006-12-30 16:43:04 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Dress exactly like jesus, moses, or muhammad, or some other hero of your parents' religion.
That's my somewhat flippant answer.
Here's a more thoughtful response... I have been there. You need to decide how far you are willing to go to change their behavior. I ultimately decided that I valued my mother and father so much that I decided not to crush them by being a total rebel or embarrassing them publicly. Rather, I would simply follow their dictates while I was not yet 18.
Aside from their religiosity, after all, they are really great people. They would not listen to me, even though my arguments were intelligent and thoughtful. They simply stopped any discussion and declared that they made the rules until I was 18.
I still don't make a point of being very open about my atheism in front of them, even though I am sure they are aware of it. It is just one of those things they would rather not think about. I have accepted that they will not change, and that I will never be able to be completely open with them about this, unless I am willing to cause a big brouhaha.
2006-12-31 00:59:13 · answer #2 · answered by HarryTikos 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How old are you? Your age makes some difference here. If your parents don't respect your beliefs, or disbeliefs, as the case may be and insist you go to church, then just go. You've already made up your mind to be an atheist. There is no harm learning about a religion. There is no harm in socializing with people at church. They may be able to drag you to church, but they can not force you to worship and have a relationship with God.
2006-12-31 00:45:38 · answer #3 · answered by Carole 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Examine the bible so that you can ask valid questions of the pastor/priest. Come up with a good argument for all of his responses and that way the pastor may eventually give up and at the same time your parents get what they want as well. May mean a little more work but it is less embarrassing to everyone and in reality is a more mature response than most here.
2006-12-31 00:52:00 · answer #4 · answered by Martiedawn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are your parents and still paying for your expenses there isn't much that you can do about it. I used to listen to the service with a different attitude. The priest would always say, "Pray for World Peace" and I'd think, "most of the world's conflict is caused by religion, is this guy a phoney or what?". Have you heard the gospel that starts."And a great noise came out of the sky"? I'd think, "Biblical dummies witnessed a UFO and called it God". Or, you can check out the nice looking women until the service ends.
2006-12-31 00:55:49 · answer #5 · answered by liberty11235 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you a strong well person?! if so then you can handle an hour or so with your parents in Church. You can make them happy that you are with them, and at the same time you can learn a thing or two of what others, your parents included, believe in. Rather than rant on how you don't believe in God, etc. or, are you afraid that you may learn something that might change your mind!
As long as you are under their care, you should do as they wish. Unless you care more about being right and disobey your parents.
2006-12-31 00:48:58 · answer #6 · answered by Diamond 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Tell them you don't share their beliefs. I have been thinking about telling my parents the same thing. It has been several years since they dragged me to church but I feel I need to talk to them.
2006-12-31 00:44:37 · answer #7 · answered by skunkgrease 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Have you tried telling them that you are an atheist and that you dont want to go to church?
2006-12-31 00:41:02 · answer #8 · answered by ana_is_a_cat 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
How old are you? If you are under age, you may have no choice. You can just refuse to go. Can they physically pick you up? That may backfire on you though, as in other restrictions. Just wait until you are legally an adult and then stand up for yourself. When I attended an Assembly of God church, I would people watch and listen to what was going on. It only confirmed my opinion, that the fanatics are wacko.
2006-12-31 00:43:48 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
As a person who believes I find that behaviour disturbing - akin to dragging a vegetarian to an abbotoir. If they want you to respect their beliefs, they should respect yours. Yes, a Christian is called to "witness" to others, but nowhere does it say anything like "Thou shalt drag thine unbelievers into thy midst, and force them to subject to thy beliefs." In fact, Christ taught the dead opposite - that if they were to witness to those who refused to listen, then to leave them alone. NO-ONE made a lasting commitment to ANY deity, because they were forced to go to church, or a mosque, or a synagogue, or whatever!
Consider how old you are (I mean, if you are eight you won't have much say in it, but if you are sixteen you should have some lee-way, for example) - and tell them you wish to respect their beliefs, regardless to the fact you may not believe it yourself. But you cannot respect a belief if it is force-fed to you. Try the Golden Rule (one of Christ's teachings, mind you!) - would THEY like it if YOU tried to force them to YOUR beliefs?
If they insist on praying for you, don't argue - that is their right, just as it is your right to not pray for them. If they wish to say grace, let them. If they try to get you to say grace, tell them that you are thankful for your meal, and all who helped provide it.
But be sure to tell them you want to respect their belief, even if you don't respect WHAT they believe. And then do so.
And I re-iterate - I do believe in Christ, but I do NOT believe in enforced "christianity".
2006-12-31 01:28:45 · answer #10 · answered by d_f_cornish 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you are young enough to be dragged to church by your parents then you are certainly not an atheist.
you would not be old or mature enough to have given it sufficient thought.
2006-12-31 00:43:42 · answer #11 · answered by dirtyoldman 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋