How do you tell christian parents that you are pagan?

Question

I'm so tired of the rules and regulations placed upon me by a church that I do not agree with. My friends and are all pagan and wish to stay that way. My only problem is, how do I tell my parents? Do I just not? Even my possible boyfriend is pagan. I'm so tired of christian beliefs being forced on me, when I don't believe in them. I'm pro-choice, I'm for gay marriage, I like vanity, lust, greed...it's what makes me human. And to be told that it is wrong by someone else is...in itself WRONG....so how do I explain this to the people that I live with? My parents? My grandmother? Help!!! (I am straight by the way LoL, some people believe that others are for gay marriage simply because they too are gay)... I'm not going to hell because I don't believe in hell, so how can one religion condemn me to a place I do not believe in?

That I believe in things that most christians do not believe in and paganism....nature many gods...

Answer 1

Sounds like quite a tough situation.
It's really good that you're wanting to be upfront with your parents and not live a lie - you're showing real strength of character.

I think the key question is by "pagan" do you mean you believe in many of the things that Christians don't believe in (gay marriage, freedom to choose an abortion etc) or do you believe in a completely different religion (paganism is more about worshipping nature and often involves casting spells etc - something that your family might be more worried about).

It sounds to me like you're going through a really healthy process of figuring out how much of what you've been brought up to believe you want to take on yourself. I know a few people who have never done this and they end up really squashed little individuals who say they're Christians but don't seem to really want to be there.

I grew up in a really strict Christian home too, I saw all the hypocracy and how for all their talk of love and morality, sometimes those outside the church seemed to have a better idea about what these were really about.
My sister decided to distance herself from the church but I think the thing that made the difference for me was that I became friends with a student at my church who seemed to see things differently. She campagned for Amnesty International, had friends with nose rings and went to pubs and nightclubs. She just didn't seem so uptight but she really seemed to know Jesus.

I'm now 26 and training to be a priest/pastor in the UK. I want to build a church that really works for real people - a church that looks like Jesus - that your friends could be part of without having to change to fit into "Christian" culture etc and where people really like eachother.

There are other people like me - I read a book recently "Blue Like Jazz" that I think you'd like. He doesn't preach at you but he's got a lot of really interesting things to say and I think you're friends would like him too.

Hope things work out for you
Sally
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