my religion is causing problems with my family?

Question

i'm pagan/bubhist/some other random things. My family are christians, apart from my siblings, who are agnostics, some of my family are trying to talk me out of it, some are accepting it, and i have heard it mentioned that it should be "beaten out of me". what should i do? no religous lectures pleas!!

Jeancommunicates: your very intolerent, i am dyslexic and type fast, which is why i spelt Buddhist wrong. you are extremely judgemental, and you come across as a horrible person, you think i should have been spanked as a child. you have no idea about how much pain i have been through, and why i lost my faith,occult are dark arts, i do not believe in these.

Im not dependant on my parents, i live with my sister. my mother and father are the ones trying to change my mind.

Answer 1

Saying it through the web like this just isn't enough, but all I can say is to be strong. If they do confront you on it, especially if it is with violence, use their beliefs against them - ask them if Jesus would approve of that sort of behaviour. In the long term, the best advice I can give is to get to know the bible - well. Nothing takes the wind out of an intollerant Christian's sails as quickly as showing him or her how much he or she is actually acting against the spirit of what Jesus taught. Using contradictions and/or factual inaccuracies from the bible to justify your lack of belief is not a good approach though - it usually just gets them riled up.

Finally, if you need somebody to talk to, mail me - I have a bit of experience with this sort of intollerance, though thankfully not from my family (not immediate anyway), and while I probably don't have any answers, it sometimes just helps to talk about things. Good luck, and my thoughts are with ya!

Answer 2

Please don't take offense of this but, it sounds like your mom is going through a lot emotionally. She may also have other things she's thinking about and its all crashing down on her. She may like her home neat and clean. Some people are a perfectness and some people are germophebics. Whatever your mother is going through, know that she loves you. She may talk to you about the Bible because she wants you to know Bible truths and not false doctrines praying and hoping one day you would come to know Jehovah God. Jehovah Witnesses do not force anyone to become of this religion. Everyone has a choice in life. But know that our choices always come with consequences. If you do not want to become a Jehovah Witness it is a personal decision that only you must make. If you want, Jehovah Witnesses are always there when you need us. If you need to know the truth about something or want to come to know Jehovah God the Jehovah Witnesses are there ready to study with you about the Bible. Try looking at things from your mother view of point. Parents always have their reasons and as children sometimes were blinded by the things we want to do.

Answer 3

How old are you? If you're still dependent upon your parents, then I'd keep MUM about your beliefs!!!! Keep your own Belief System!! That is YOU! It may change as you mature, or it may remain the same. But EACH PERSON HAS H/HER OWN RIGHT to maintain their own Beliefs!!! The only thing we HAVE to answer to are legal requirements! BELIEF IS A PERSONAL THING!! NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONDEMN ANOTHER FOR THEIR BELIEFS!! If you live in China, there are consequences. But if you live in America, you HAVE THAT RIGHT!! If it comes down to an intolerable situation and you're underage, keep mum if there is a threat to you! Prepare educationaly and vocationaly as much as you can to the point that you can LEAVE that family and go your own way! There may be a point of reconciliation later, but DON'T SELL YOURSELF OUT!!!

Answer 4

My entire family is Christian, except for me, and it's a real nuisance. I've pretty much quit interacting with all of them, and they've cut me out of several inheritances so far. Funny about Christians and money! But as least I don't have to listen to anything I don't want to, or pretend to be something I'm not. I sincerely hope you have a better relationship with your family than I do with mine. If not, find some kindred spirits and treat them the way you would like to be treated - that's what I did.

Answer 5

I don't know you're age, but you're not really grown up until you decide what you believe and not worry what others, even your family, thinks about it. If they are 'persecuting' you or 'leaving you out' of family events, that's hard. You have to decide which is most important to you---your ability to make your own life choices or giving in to please those around you. That's hard too.
Beaten out of you? Do you know that threats can be considered as assaults and can be prosecuted? Just the threat of prosecution may stop that nonsense.


Sending you a smile to help pick up your day.

Answer 6

It should be. They are concerned about you and they do not want you in hell. You can't even spell Buddhist and what are those other random things? You need more than lectures. Your family raised a rebellious child and it is just possible that they have lost you to the devil. I think you are too old for a spanking but that should have happened a long time ago.

Repent of your sins with occult practices and listen to your Christian family members. Honor your father and your mother so your days will be long on this earth.

Answer 7

Get used to it. As an ex-Baptist turned atheist, it's been 40 years and my family still accepts it only grudgingly. Religion has a long history of forcing faith on other believers and skeptics. Wish I had better news for you, and maybe your family will be the exception, but I know dozens of atheists who have been shunned, excommunicated, and otherwise ostracized by their own families over religion.

Answer 8

Your mother accepts you?
Your father accepts you?
Both know details of you?
You've explained your path choice, correct?
Your brothers/sisters accept you, as you stated.
So there is no problem.
Aunts/Uncles (extended family) are not in your religious life, nor are grandparents.
Dress as the family occasion dictates, don't throw your faith in their faces, and your path should not be a family concern, as your path has similar morals as their does - right? I mean you don't spit at the dinner table, throw feces, drugs, make minors drink, etc - who's going to see by your outside, by clothing, what path you are on?
Be at peace.

Answer 9

Even though I am a Christian I would never stand in the way of someone's choice. You have to decide for yourself what you want. You cannot become a Christian because someone wants you to, it comes from the heart of knowing who Jesus is. You can pray, even though you may not believe in it. It may surprise you that you get an answer.

Answer 10

As a rule I would simply get along with those who choose to get along with me,and for those that want to make it a huge issue I would just let them know that it is their problem,not mine,and ignore them . If anyone threatened violence over the issue,such as "beating it out of me" I would simply call the cops,and let them know that if they come at me violently I was going to jack them up,I suggest a good Lousville Slugger.

AD