God and Family?

Question

Ok, I'm 15 almost 16 years old. I have 3 sets of grandparents (due to divorce and remarrying) 1 set is never goes to church, another goes to church every Sunday and are good people, the final are born again Christians. I am in the top of my class at school and one day hope to be a scientist. My question would be how do I be who I want to be without hurting someones feelings? I love all my grandparents, but the one set that are born again Christians are forcing God and everything down my throat. Sending me e-mails, books, even at points criticizing me for what I believe right now since I don't readily agree with them. Is it so wrong that I can't belive in God when I believe so much in evolution because there is hard evidence to back it up? I don't want to hurt anyones feelings for what I choose to believe, whether it is in God or not. How do I make my grandparents stop trying to force me into something???

Answer 1

You must be your own person and believe what you want to believe. As hard as it seems you sound like a sensible person try asking them nicely to give you a little space.

Answer 2

That's a great question. As a born again Christian, I apologize for the force feeding if that is what is actually happening. The emails and books might be in regard to what you call "hard fact." My friend, evolution is not hard fact based on science, it is more fictional than you think. These so called scientists are "evolutionary scientists" with a pre-disposed bias toward evolution which has not been proven. Those who say Darwin proved evolution are lying to you. It is pure theory. First of all, science cannot prove the origin of anything. Second, not all scientists hold to naturalistic evolution. Read Philip Johnson's "Darwin's Black Box." Michael Behe is a chemist at Lehigh Univeristy in Pennsylvania and showed how the cell is irreducably complex which points to intelligent design rather than bilogical evolution. Anthony Flew was the foremost scholar of evolutionism who recently recanted of his position saying "he would always go where the evidence led him." and has now embraced intelligent design. God is not only the Creator of the universe, He has also provided redemption through His Son Jesus Christ that all who trust in Him may have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
God bless you.

Answer 3

Try telling them that you need your own time and research to figure out if you really want to believe in god. I see your position, I want to be a scientist too, and they have things like the Hubble and evolution that give lots of evidence that the science theorys are true. But There is also lots of evidence in the Bible that points to that God is true. In the Bible, it said that one day, the wall that sepated Russia from Germany would be crushed. No one thought that was possible, but do you see that wall today? No! It also says that there will be an Anti-Christ coming soon, so when you see a man causing the countries around Israel to be friends (they are enimes now), and they will build a temple, then you can make you decision. When that prophecy comes true, then you will see if evoultion is right or if God is right, and I will make that decision too.

Answer 4

When I was 18, I decided to stop going to church and just live my life day by day. I said to myself that if God is real, than I will find him on my own.
Like you, I found that evolution makes a lot more sense, and can be proven.
What I have decided is that the bible is right, but not complete. It does not get down to the grit of the science of the universe.
It's like Newton's theories of gravity vs. Einstein's. Einstein's is just a more narrow scope of the force.
You believe in the same story of Your grandparents bible, you just know more about the how rather than the why.

Answer 5

You have the right to choose for yourself. Your family also has the "right" to express their opinion as well. Whether their intentions are goon natured, or overly aggressive, the thing that you should remember is that they are only doing what they are doing because they love you and are concerned for you. Ho0w much different would life be if you had no one in your life or your family who cared about you.
Tell them you appreciate their concern and acknowledge that.
That being said, you have the right to choose for yourself. Just take everything with a grain a salt and don't make a big deal out of it; because the bigger deal you make, the bigger their reaction and response.
At some future day, you may come to like what they are saying, so it is good not to burn any bridges.

Answer 6

I very much respect that you're trying to do the right thing. Sometimes people we love and that love us get too overzealous in trying to get us to discover something they really value and that makes them happy.

I've found it helps to separate the person from their inappropriate actions. You love them, but if you feel they are being overbearing, there's a problem. As others have written, you have to try and tell them how what their doing makes you feel. If they refuse to honor your wishes, spend less time with them.

Perhaps it would help if you picked one of them you felt was the most empathetic (usually female) and in a quiet and respectful manner tell them how what they're doing is making you feel. Don't try to change their beliefs.

Another approach is to go through an intermediary (e.g., someone both you and them respect). This can be especially useful if you can't have a discussion with them without things getting heated.

Answer 7

Your grandparents love you so much and they obviously want what is best for you, but it seems that in their zealousness they are overstepping the mark. No one should try and force you to become a Christian, God has given you free will - but please at least listen to what they are saying.

I have been a Christian for over 37 years now, and I have experienced God working in my life. No one can take experience away. Evolution is not hard fact and more and more scientists are becoming Christians because of their findings.

Read Romans chapter 1 v 18-20 and 1 Corinthians chapter 1 v 18-21 and let me know what you think!

Answer 8

Try explaining your viewpoints to them. Maybe take them to a science museum, or send them a copy of Ken Miller's book, 'Finding Darwin's God'. Miller is an evolutionary biologist at Brown University who has no trouble being religious at the same time.

If that doesn't work, well, you'll be heading off to college in a few years and you can do whatever you want at that point. Just make sure you move far enough away so that no one stops by to visit.

Answer 9

If they really loved you they wouldn't try to force their own opinions upon you. Religious belief is each individual's choice and should be respected as such even if this goes against one's own beliefs.

My advice is to be yourself. If your heart and your head tell you that there is no God then follow them. It's your life, not your grandparents'.

Sometimes you have to be honest with people even if it hurts their feelings. If they love you they will understand although it may take some time.

Answer 10

Well darling! first thing first, tell them how you feel, let them know that you don't want to hurt them, but you are a big gal and can choose what you want in life with their help, not pushy though. I consider myself as a Christian, (not perfect) and I totally respect that you arenot ready for that kind of commitment, knowing God is an awesome thing, believe me, I know and have seen how He helped me and my family thru difficult times. I know that He'll help you too if you let Him. Talk to Him in prayer, you don't need to close your eyesm talk to Him as a friend. He'll show you what to do, trust me. This God business is real, and I am glad to know Him.
Let your Garnadparents know how you feel, let it all out. Time will come for you to choose. You can feel it when its a right time. Hope this helps, I try! God Bless you.

Answer 11

I don't think you can stop them from trying to force religion down your throat. They'll be impervious to your reasoning.
I guess the best thing for you to do is to treat them as you want to be treated yourself. Follow your hope of being a scientist one day and be gracious and quiet about it around the relatives who don't understand. I'm sure you do this anyway. Do your best to retain your composure whatever they do and remind yourself that it's your life and not theirs.