How can I break away from my religion and keep family ties?

Question

I am from a close hindu family and though I am still young, I find that I have no belief in close to any aspects of hinduism. I find I have to pray to these Gods like Shiva, Vishnu, extc. and listen to improbable stories from the Ramyana like flying monkeys lifting a mountain. (Sorry if I got that one wrong and sound disrespectful, I read it a while back.) But I question if they are even real or just myths/legends from long ago made up. Infact I I am sure that I can believe in no God without evidence. I am not saying there is no god(s) or there is God(s) I truly feel that I am an agnostic at heart. My parents probably would shrug or be like "That's fine." but the rest of my relatives are very religious and would probably be hurt to know that deep inside, I can't believe. How can I tell them and keep the peace without ruining the relationship? But it is so hard for me to listen to these prayers and pray when I feel nothing but disbelief. Am I being selfish and wrong want to breakaway?

Answer 1

You're not selfish and wrong to break away. Your motivations aren't selfish. You aren't trying to rebell. You just don't want to live a lie - which is a normal thing!

It's good that your parents will be ok with this! I broke away from Christianity myself. A few things that might help:

When they discuss these things with you, always remain calm. If they start to get upset, tell then you'll talk to them about it when they can calm down.

You don't have to "confess" or tell them anything. If it comes up, answer their questions nicely. Be sure to tell them "I love you" and "I respect you" a lot. For some reason, when you reject their god, people seem to think you're rejecting them!

Good luck!

Answer 2

No you are not being selfish or wrong. I did the same thing with a family mostly devout Christians. Honestly, for a while, it did cause problems. And every now and then a family member will still make a comment. But for the most part, we all respect each other's beliefs. The best way is to really just tell them. Make sure when you are explaining your view that you do not put down or insult their beliefs.

Answer 3

It sounds like you are a very thoughtful person. Most devoutly religious people are not thoughtful; the more devout the less thought.
Religion may be a part of family traditions that occasion celebrations and family cohesion. Richard Dawkins writes that religion of any kind is bad but I think that some religious celebrations may be fun.
By the way, if I had a flying monkey in my religion, I might like it a whole lot better than some blood thirsty nut god.

Answer 4

Why can't you take the best and leave the rest. Then you have something in common with them and your own identitiy too. That's kind of an independance instead of dependance. Past independance is interdependance between adult. I hate negative people myself. If their happy, I'm happy, but can't lie ot yourself. And you don't need to spend a lot of time telling them what you don't believe. Tell them something positive you do believe. That is what you need to develop anyway. I hope they have all kinds of interests and ideas that are good. As a matter of fact I'm into collecting all kinds of good stuff and staying away from negatives like the plague. Like, how do I tell them a negative. Don't. If you never mention it they may never also. Unlikely, but who knows, and then when something comes up you have a specific question. Say nothing, say thank you and come here again. lol I wish that, if I didn't have a positive answer, I would shut up until I had one.

Answer 5

You sound like a typical young person, who wants to break away from what the generations before them believed in. This is happening to families of all faiths. I hope you have the sense to realize that because you know longer believe in God that doesn't makes Him unreal. There is a God and it is the responsibility of each individual to search for Him or not.

Answer 6

Why shouldn't he be allowed to come returned back? does not that be sending the message that in case you screw up in society you're screwed for existence, despite in case you turn your stay around? i recognize it particularly is the techniques-set of a super kind of people inspite of the undeniable fact that this is in comparison to Ricky Williams ever harm every physique yet himself. He took his punishment so enable him be. As for the unlawful drugs, human beings the two forget approximately or do not choose to undergo in techniques that his present day suspension became into not because of the fact of an unlawful drug. He examined beneficial because of the fact something in his on a daily basis vitamens. Agree or disagree yet provide the NFL credit they stood by using their regulations and suspended him besides. nonetheless there is a lot hypothesis that had the Denver Broncos not leaked the beneficial attempt Ricky does not are turning out to be suspended. we will in no way particularly recognize. we can locate a lot of gamers for the period of the years in assorted activities who have been way worse than Ricky.

Answer 7

Tell your parents how you feel, as after all, you are only being logical. If your relatives cannot understand it, then they are the ones at fault. Belief is personally, and one should not feel dissapointment because somebody doesn't beleive something. I remember when I told my mum I didn't beleive in God. She said 'well i'm dissapointed about that' and I said 'well i'm dissapointed that you think that way'.

Answer 8

You do what you feel best - but - in my religion - God put "honor thy father and thy mother" in the Ten Commandments for a reason. Not that you have to follow their religion - but the relationship you have with them should be honored - even if you have to bend a bit to make that work.

Answer 9

If you can convince them that your love for them is far stronger then religious views you can over come this hurdle.It is LOVE which is the only true religion and nothing else matters.

Answer 10

If you don't believe you aren't going to be able to make yourself. I think your family is being selfish if they don't get over that. It isn't you.