My dad is catholic and tonight we were talking about church and how he wanted to go more often i said i didnt want to because i dont believe in god i am an atheist. and when i said that he start to yell at me and is making me go to church i am 16 so what should i say to him?
2007-08-01 15:41:40 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Ask him if he could stop pushing you AWAY from God with his insistance. You can't force anyone to believe in anything, and insisting only insures their hatred of it. Instead, how about you agree with your Dad to go to church, and ask the priest all the questions and tell him about all your doubts, a good priest will help you understand in the very logic of the Holy Bible...and maybe make your Dad more accountable for his own duty to the church!
If you can't find the answers in Catholocism, may I also suggest a non-denominational Christian church? This type doesn't load you down with man made dogma. Perhaps you just have questions that the Catholic church can't/won't explain because honestly, none of their dogma is bible based.
2007-08-01 15:51:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should go, but reserve your own opinion. My parents were Jehova Witnesses for Gods sake. What a fun time that was. Then I moved out. Never went back to church ever again. I do believe in god, but dont take the bible literally. Seen too many twists on the semantics to blindly put faith.
Basically, do what you need to get by, untill you can be your own person. Meaning self supporting.
2007-08-01 15:49:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 16, you are definitely old enough to understand your feelings about spirituality and religion. Tell him that his attitude is exactly what the early Catholics did during the Spanish Inquisition, where Catholic Church knights and priests were given orders to torture and kill anyone who disagreed with Catholicism.
In short, daughter or no, he has NO RIGHT to try to intimidate you, or especially to abuse you, just because you consider yourself an atheist.
He must be very insecure in his religious beliefs if he has to resort to abusive tactics in order to make you see religion his way.
If you really want to make him see the error of his ways, find a Catholic priest who is progressive enough to allow you your viewpoint, and get him or her to have a very stern talk with your father. Because, whether he likes it or not, you father is committing a very harsh sin by trying to force his religious beliefs onto you.
2007-08-01 15:53:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are 16 and going through a phase where you don't know what to believe in. Many teens go through that. Tell your dad if he stops yelling, you will go to church. He can also force you since you are under 18.
2007-08-01 15:46:07 · answer #4 · answered by RedRabbit 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately there is nothing you really can do, barring running away from home. Your dad believes in God, which means he believes in eternal salvation. Look at it from this perspective: Because he believes this, and because he believes that if you don't believe in God you will go to hell and burn for eternity, he only wants for you to be in heaven with him. I realize that you don't believe this because you don't believe in God, but your dad really is only looking out for you based on what HIS beliefs are.
At the very least, because you are 16 and still living with him, out of respect for your dad you should at least go to church with him, unless the two of you can come to another agreement (which is highly unlikely). When you are 18 and/or move out, THEN you can decide not to go to church and actually NOT GO.
2007-08-01 15:46:28 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Raven 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are just 16. He is not asking you to go to a horrible place. I think it sad you do not believe in a higher power. But you think differently right now. Keep your mouth shut. Go to mass it is just a hour once a week. Do this for 2 years. When you are 18 and financially fiscal move out and do your think. There is no point in arguing with him about this.
2007-08-01 15:57:12 · answer #6 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
growing up in a Catholic household how did you become an atheist? Is it the catholic faith you are not happy with and maybe you should explore a different religion. I believe you should go to church. God does exist.
2007-08-01 15:47:00 · answer #7 · answered by chocl8cherri 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He's your parent, respect him. Going to church won't change your view so think of it as a history lesson...many people do believe that mythology and it all is a part of human history.
Make it a learning experience instead of a dogmatic or spiritual one.
2007-08-01 15:45:35 · answer #8 · answered by . 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think the mistake that your dad is making is trying to force it on you. In reality, there is a God, and he/she wants you to love him / her by your own choice. God does not want blind allegience, but love from the heart.
2007-08-01 15:47:54 · answer #9 · answered by Dude 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some parents have a hard time when one of the children no longer believes what they've been taught their whole lives.
You can be the grown-up and not rub his face in it.....he'll eventually get over it.
2007-08-01 15:45:04 · answer #10 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋