I asked the question....?

Question

....about my parents being uncomfortable with my Atheism (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArkNb6Vyi0.aJeL4SNiD_v3sy6IX?qid=20070114230355AAygL9x). I really was appreciative of all the help I got, but I tried to execute my plan and it didn't quite work. Now my dad wants me to go to bible study on thursday nights and my mom yelled at me for 'not having an open mind,' so now I need to 'research both sides of the argument,' because 'I'm still too young and immature to reject what I don't like or understand.'
So please, any more sites to help bu ild my argument and convince my parents to accept my Atheism is really helpful.
Thanks in advance!

To 'A follower of Christ':
1. I know; the seeds of doubt were planted in second grade when I asked my Sunday School teacher how Noah got everything on the Ark.

2. That doesn't really make a lot of sense, but I understand that you also think I'm too young.

Answer 1

You may be stuck going through the motions for the sake of peace. It doesn't mean you can't think. If you don't feel comfortable asking difficult questions in a group, you can still study along, taking note of what the contradictions, hypocrisies and other problems are. Many atheists have studied the Bible in self defense. (It is a large part of the cultural background.)

There ARE some good ideas in the Bible. The problem is the literalists who think it's all history and can't tell the good examples from the bad. Get what good you can from it and innoculate yourself against stupidity with the rest. And though you may resent the "wasted time", you're head is your own. Find ways to use it that they can't see.

Answer 2

Good luck finding more information/sites that might help convince your parents. That said, I don't think you will. On the bright side, even though they can make you go to church and bible study, they have no control over what you believe. Your search for the truth, even if it's an atheistic truth, needn't be adversarial. You can always think of your religious studies as a kind of sociological experimentation. Good luck!

Answer 3

Ask them questions about there religion and be persistent tell them what you don't understand about there being a god... and be very sincere.... If they can't convince you that there is a god... Well then sooner or later they will have to accept the fact that you're an atheist. Best of luck on your journeys and your relationships with your family... your family is very important don't stray from them because of your religious beliefs unless you absolutely have to. I hope all goes well and ends well.

Answer 4

Ouch. Try researching some of the contridictions and such in the bible and bringing them up in bible study (if you do go) until they get sick of it and kick you out. And maybe ask your mom why she doesn't have an open mind about the other 10,000 religions on the planet - or why anyone who disagrees with her necessarily has a closed mind.

Answer 5

If your parents say you are too young and immature to reject religious belief, then you are also too young and immature to hold it as well.

Just tell them you're agnostic, and you'll make your mind up when you're old enough.

Believe what makes sense to you, and don't let anyone, even your parents, try to bully you into their way of thinking.

Answer 6

Quietly study Buddhist philosophy. "The Quantum and the Lotus" is a good book, depending on how old you are and your level of understanding. Written by Matthieu Ricard and Trinh Xuan Thuan.

Analyze everything through what you know, be patient with your parents and study what they want you to learn... I know it sounds hard but it gives you wisdom and knowledge... you can always remain atheist in your mind and question the answers, nobody but YOU can change your mind. I learned well by studying from everybody's viewpoint, especially within Christianity AND Islam, even though I might not have agreed with a particular viewpoint. It gives you much strength and wisdom.

_()_

Answer 7

I don't think there's a way to win the battle you're talking about but there might be a way to sidestep it altogether.

Is there harm in going to the bible study and learning about what they believe? It's probably not going to do you any harm and it's going to make them VERY happy.

Besides, you get to learn more about religion. In my experience many atheists / agnostics in my acquaintance know more about comparative religion than people who profess one faith or another. You'll be able to talk intelligently on the subject and in later life you'll be thankful since you'll be able to spin the arguement back on the inveitable person who believes you need to be 'saved'.

One pagan (with a theology degree)'s view.

Blessings,
Zimmi

Answer 8

I went through the same thing you are.. still am.. I havent told my parents about becoming a pagan. Just put up with it as best you can and hang in there! Your parents may be able to foce you to go to Church but your mind is YOUR MIND. They cant take that away from you.

Answer 9

Hypocrits! Where's their open mind? Are they too old to reject what they don't like or understand? Seriously! Have they researched both sides of the argument?

If they haven't you don't have too.

Answer 10

May I ask, why are you an Atheist? Is it because they teach Evolution in school?

1. Just because it is taught in school, doesn't make it true.

2. Evolution doesn't disprove the bible, the are many christians who believe that God used evolution to create man and woman.

Think about this.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:3

How can the universe begin from nothing without God?