If you have family that has different beliefs than yours....?

Question

How do they react to your beliefs?
Do you ever discuss beliefs with each other?
Do you find they are tolerant of your beliefs?

While I love all of my family, I tend to try and avoid discussion about religion/beliefs with them. One of the more devout Christian family member is always tolerant that I do not share the beliefs, but I can hear in his comments that he still holds the "My beliefs are right," view. It is very subtle, but I still pick up on it. It upsets me to the point that I avoid all conversation about it with him. I wonder if I come off the same way...?

Answer 1

Nope, most of them are completely intolerant and have reacted rather badly to my not sharing their faith. It goes well beyond just the "Jesus is the only way" deal. Example: Telling me that I am abomination, that I am sick, that I am going to burn in hell, etc...

Answer 2

You probably do come off the same way. Because if you really believe something, would it make sense to be "maybe wrong"? I will not stake my life on something I am not convinced of. On the other hand I hope I communicate respect for those who don't believe what I believe.
Take for instance all the hullabaloo about evolution that we've been exposed to for some reason on Yahoo Answers. Those who are convinced of evolution hold the belief that you have to be absolutely stupid not to hold their view. You are anti-scientific and just plain wrong, even though many scientists doubt and some even dare deny evolution.
So don't be surprised that a person feels "my belief is right". He is convinced enough, hopefully, to live by it. That does not exclude respect.
Are you willing to tolerate the fact that he believes what he does? Or in order to be tolerable would he have to take the view: "I think this is true, but I may be wrong". No religion could be built up with that kind of belief. Certainly not a religion that has had millions of people die for their belief.

To answer your original question, I think many, if not most families have a variety of belief systems within them.
It should only be a problem when there is absolute intolerance. Conviction shouldn't cause a problem when accompanied with respect.

Answer 3

Hi! I can understand. My family is Catholic and I am Jehovah's Witness. We are both claiming to be Christian, but the differences are so far left of center and I am in the Minority. Unless I am having a really bad day I avoid all conversation with my parent and sister and cousins.
Maybe you do come off the same way, that I don't know.
I had to finally set some guidelines with the family.
Talk about what ever they want to, even while I am there, but DO NOT use it to break my cookies or I will be among the missing for good.
Seeing my parents already banned me for years for getting Baptized I don't have too much of a problem returning the favor and the family is trying hard to over come that fact and is real careful of my feelings now.
Especially since I have taken over the Dr apts, Shopping. Maintenance of the homes for my parents and other elderly family members.
It is amazing that My religion teaches respect for the elderly was not in vogue until it was needed!
Now I am pretty darn popular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

My family is scattered far and wide on the topic of beliefs.
I am a non-denominational Christian.
One sister is Wiccan.
One sister is Atheist or Agnostic. (She waffles between the two.)
One brother claims to be Christian.
One brother was a Denominational Christian, but he died in August.
The other sister was undecided when she died in 1992.
My Father was a non-practicing Catholic who died in 2001.
My Mother was a Baptist, converted to Catholic, was bounced out of there because she wanted to get her "tubes tied" and went back to her family's American Indian (Lakota) tribal beliefs. She died 4 months after my Father.
My Mother's Mother was Lakota, converted to Baptist, and then converted to Lutheran. (She is 99 years old, now.)
My Mother's Father was Baptist all the way.
My Father's Father was Catholic all the way.
My Father's Mother was Presbyterian, I believe, converted to Catholic, and very devout.

We still get along fine. We have the occasional discussion of why we believe what we believe. I have more fun talking with the Wiccan sister since she is so much different than I. I also enjoy discussing the Lakota beliefs with my Grandmother. My Mother and I used to have long talks about religion.

You can be different without losing respect for one another. I went through a period when I thought I was supposed to convert everyone, but the truth was different. All I am supposed to do is SHARE THE WORD OF GOD. I did that, and will do so again if they want to hear it. I think of my witnessing as simply planting a seed. If it is going to grow, God will see to that. I just have to be available to water the seed and nurture it along.

Answer 5

Jesus said there will be division in families Matthew 10:33-38 /1 Corinthians 5:11-13 / 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 . Pray for them

Answer 6

My family is mostly various denominations of Christian, and they are all aware that I'm Pagan. We don't have any problems, and they're very tolerant of my beliefs. We sometimes have overall theological discussions about the differences in various religions, and with my mom I will get into more specific "my beliefs and how they differ from yours" discussions.

Answer 7

I don't honestly know what religion any of my family members are. I'd assume christian, but Christmas is more an commercial holiday now, so maybe not. Not jewish, I'd probably notice that. I don't really care what they are, as long as they have faith in something. Religion is the one thing I won't talk to my family about into much detail. I feel everyone should choose their own faith without much help. As far as me, I've never mentioned to them what I am, just what I'm not.

Answer 8

My family and I do not share a religion. At the beginning they were very resentful, and always complained that I was not following the family religion and that I was putting my religion before my family. They would put obstacles in my way, forcing me to choose between them and my new religion.

I tried to bend over backwards to placate them, and began missing meetings so that I could be with my family. I did this for about 10 years, then finally one day I decided to stop apologizing for my religion, and to live it to the best of my ability. From that day on, my family stopped being antagonistic and began to respect my religion. They do not have any desire to join my religion, but they do respect it now, so I am grateful for that much.

Answer 9

No. My sister is an particularly vocal atheist. I disagree as i'm a christian, yet I nevertheless love her and understand her merely a similar. the only time i could stay away from somebody in accordance with faith is that in the event that they have been a type of human beings so strident approximately imposing their ideals on me (because of the fact the author-furnish is) and/or others (condemning human beings interior the call of religion over way of existence options they disagree with, etc.) and it grew to become insupportable. sounds like i could be greater afflicted by ability of the "religous" author-furnish, than the moral yet agnostic/atheist/different written off guy or woman.

Answer 10

I think they tolerate me as 'that religious weirdo'. My beliefs go right over their heads. Today I called one of my sisters to discuss a family matter and was surprised to find out she was entertaining guests. I asked if her Catholic husband was fasting and abstaining because it was Good Friday. She said she didn't know what Good Friday is! (Sometimes I forget how secular is my family.) I don't think they have negative feelings about my religious belief; they just don't get it. I don't hassle them about being non-believers, and they don't hassle me about being a believer.