My grandparents are religious christians and I am an atheist. Should I tell them?

Question

As I said, I am an atheist. I am 14 and have been for about 3 years. My parents only found out a year ago and my father (who's Jewish) has been okay with it while my mother(who's Christian) has truly been a jerk about it. I want my grandparents to know but I am afraid they will disown/hate me. Just to say how awful my grandparents church is, when I was 8 they showed us a video that said all Non-Christians should DIE

Answer 1

No, I would not tell them. There's no need, unless they are trying to force you to claim to be a Christian. Even then, I would probably say something softer, like "I'm not sure I believe all that," rather than using the very specific word "atheist."

Why do you want them to know?

Answer 2

I don't know Zack .... I highly doubt that they would hate or disown you. They are your grandparents and I am pretty sure they could NEVER hate you! With that said I doubt you telling that you are an atheist will make them happy. They may not respect your decision. I wouldn't hide my atheism but I wouldn't make a big announcement either. Let it come up naturally and be prepared to discuss it with them if they push.

Perhaps just enjoy your grandparents and don't discuss religion with them. Religious choices are so personnel... You learn as you get further along in life to NOT discuss religion with too many people. I am just happy that we all are free to decide what we want to believe.

Answer 3

My best friend is having a bit of the same issues. His parents and grandmother are strict Catholic and he's atheist. They've made his decision a living nightmare and he really regrets telling them. Around him they say snide comments like, "Heaven must be a really nice place, for those of us who will be going, anyway."

His dad gets it too (weird), and only really goes to Church himself because it's tradition. But his mother has been setting up appointments with the priest behind his back, and making threats, and he's in therapy now because he's not a believer.

All the same, for all of that, I would just stick to what you believe. It's wrong and unfair to live a lie. If they harass you, just tell them you thought that as a family you could do anything together and you guess you were wrong.

If it gets -really- bad, tell them it says in the Good Book that no one but GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF has the right to judge anyone on earth.

Either way, best of luck to you friend. Keep your values, they are what make you unique. It may be irritating at first, but the more firmly you assert your belief, in the end they'll probably respect you more than ever.

And repeat, repeat, REPEAT that it is "PERSONAL BELIEF" and until they become YOU, they cannot make the decision about what you believe in -your- heart.

Answer 4

Depends on how accepting they are. My grandmother in law is VERY Christian and when she found out her daughter married an atheist she was very unhappy. Her grandaughter is also an atheist. She started out making very subtle snide comments about me and most of the family gave me apologetic remarks when she did, even her husband. This kept occuring until I Thanksgiving this past year when I kicked her out of her kitchen and cleaned the entire thing by myself. She started liking me after that but the fact I visited her in the hospital when she just had surgery I am fairly certain has cemented me on her good list.

Your grandparents probably adore you and probably would accept you no matter what but really if they don't then they are not good people. Finding out your grandparents aren't good people can be devastating.

Answer 5

Who gives a crap what they think. They are the ones that should die if they believe there is a magical man in the sky. You have to feel sorry for them all being brain washed at such a young age. Christines say that us atheists are ignorant but it just proves that they are, considering your mom & grandparents & church just shut the fact out there can't possibly be anything else then god. Geez, religious people that are like this really hit a ******* nerve. Good for you for escaping that bubble that 80% of this world lives in.

Answer 6

There are good reasons both for keeping quiet and for speaking up, you have to exercise careful judgment before telling people. Remember that your atheism doesn't just affect you — by telling others, you are fundamentally altering your relationship with your religious family members.

People shouldn't take it personally of course that you are trying to find your own path, but the fact of the matter is they probably will, and I would think you should take their feelings into consideration. By that I don't mean that you should stop being an atheist or necessarily continue to pretend being something you are not, but you should take others' feelings into account in the way you phrase things and how much you tell them.

Answer 7

Your too young to know the difference.But if your Grandparents are that fanatical about their brand of religion,then your better not to say anything. Sadly Jesus Christ wanted Christians to be loving,understanding,and supportive of each other. Regretfully some adults think they have sole right to worship in their muddled way. God and Jesus never wanted that. At some stage in your adult life you can choose. Until then keep cool. By the way Atheism is a belief. So you can tell them your a believer,and you won't be lying. God Bless.

Answer 8

you're only 14, and i know you feel like an adult, but you lack the experiences that only come with age. You don't believe in God only because you haven't experienced anything yet. What does it mean your car flips 3 times and is completely totaled, but you walk out without a scratch. What does it mean, when the doctor says you'll be dead in a week, but you live 40 more years. What does it mean your house burns to the ground and the only thing that survives the fire is your bible(true story). I understand if you don't like churches and preachers. you have to understand the difference between religion, faith and dogma. look those words up. find out what they mean. look at the world you live in. if you believen in evil, you have to believe in God. They're part of the same story. And i know you can't deny the evil you see in the world even if you choose to ignore the good.

Answer 9

i could disagree on some minor factors.... Proseltyzing. needless to say any assertion that starts with "all..." would be untrue. i could say the factor of maximum battles is to win over the different factor. no longer continuously, yet i think of this is secure to assert conversion is a purpose (on the two sides). Morality. I frequently see the "undesirable Christian" argument introduced out as an instantaneous refutation of a narrow factor, no longer as evidence that God would not exist. Burden of evidence. i could say that the basis of arguing God's life does require some burden on the single making the declare. maximum who have self assurance in God accomplish that via claiming better than mere faith. then returned, that's in basic terms my experience!

Answer 10

Well, why? It would depend on your motivation. Look inside and really think about it. If it's for a good reason, then be true to yourself and be honest about who you are. You can be kind about it and remind them that you love them. They're old and you won't regret being kind.

I would advise against bringing it up. What would be the point? But if they challenge you, you can respectfully tell them what you believe. IF they start to get emotional or loud, tell them that you need to have the conversation another time, but aren't going to participate if things get out of hand.