Question for atheists who are related to those who have faith?

Question

Assuming you were raised and unsuccessfully indoctrinated into any given religion, how did your relatives respond to your atheism? Are they accepting or do they give you a hard time.

When I'm with family, I am forced to avoid the topic of religion, or the discussions get pretty hostile.

LMAO, Shawn B! Man, I would definitely dig a band with that name.

Your Spanky avatar rules. I'm a huge LIttle Rascals fan.

Semper fi, perhaps it's because we simply want to avoid the inevitable scolding and bitter exchanges that transpire when we evil nono-believers "come out". It's not worth it.

I'm pleasantly surprised with the volume of replies. Thanks to everyone!

Answer 1

I was successfully indoctrinated. But after seeking God for most of my 20s, and reading the bible pragmatically finally came to the conclusion that it was all just emotion belief, and not based on reality.

I am in the same boat as you with family. I choose not to bring it up because it leads to argument and irrational fighting. My brother in Law insists on bringing it up, like a weapon used to demean me to my parents, but I try not to take the bait because I know my belief worries my mother.

It is a shame that a religion that is meant to be based on love causes so much heartache amoungst families. Think about all of the people in the world who have lost family connections because they adjusted or lost their faith. Religion isn't really about love, it is clearly about control.

Answer 2

My Dad is a born again Christian after stopping a long affair he was having on the side. My grandma and Uncle and Aunts on my moms side are extremely religious Evangelists. In my family we all attended church regularly until I was about 10 years old which is around the time I started asking questions like,"How do we know god exists?" If god loves us all equally why is there violence in the world?" When bad things happen why does god let them happen?"
Then later on in life I started looking at religion as a whole. I realized it taught excellent moral values that are seen as the norm in this day and age but they are often skewed in light of what people want to USE the bible and it's teachings for. More often than not I see people skewing religion to fit their own personal beliefs. I am completely atheist and when we talk about religion in my family it usually ends in an awkward fashion of, me telling them to show me how they know the bible isn't just some book written 1000 years ago about a guy who was trying to preach kindness.

Answer 3

Respect and love are the base of all worthwhile long term relationships. People who love each but disagree about important matters are required to avoid the topic of disagreement whenever the purpose of getting together is something else.

If YOU are bringing up the topic, you are being disrespectful and you should stop it immediately.

On the other hand, if your Aunt Martha and older sister Susie are always huddled in the corner loudly discussing Jesus and the seven dwarfs, you are morally bound not to jump into the topic even if Aunt Martha and Susie try everything in their power to provoke you. You privately and respectfully explain to the host of the gathering (even if it is Aunt Martha) at a later date that such discussions make you "uncomfortable" and you will have to decline further invitations if they don't stop.

Answer 4

They were pretty cool about it. My parents are very open and accepting of others, and respectful of the beliefs of others. I think they were a little disappointed, but they weren't devastated. They are open to knowing what I do believe in, and why I am atheist, and they listen and are respectful of my answers. They understand that I am not someone who takes things lightly, and they know I put a lot of time and thought into studying the religious beliefs I was raised with, (as well as other belief systems) before coming to the determination that I didn't believe it. If they thought I took it lightly, they'd be less apt to respect it.

Answer 5

My father is dead, but wouldn't have cared. We would've been able to talk about it freely.

My mother isn't all that religious. She's a Christian I suppose, but then again, she might be more like a deist. I dunno. She'd be Ok with it probably, and would probably ask me lots of questions and try to understand.

My brothers... one of them is a devout Mormon, and he might have a huge issue with it. The other two might be a bit upset, but they wouldn't be too obnoxious about it.

The real issue with my brothers would be politics. They are ultra-conservative right wing types - no abortion, Fox News watchers, etc. - and though I am more Libertarian then liberal Democrat, we would definitely clash on main issues, and it's likely that it could cause a rift.

So, I haven't brought either religion or politics up with them yet. When the time is right, I will.

Answer 6

My parents are cool about it. My mother is not religious but my dad is a nut. He used to try to get me to believe but it didn't work. I was too smart for them, I kept questioning them and they didn't like it.
They got to my sister though and now she is always inviting me to go to christian camp. I just ignore it but it gets pretty bad sometimes.
It's so much a part of their exisistence and their religion that they think they must try to convert everybody. Gets old after a while, But sometimes reverse psychology works too, get them into a debate about it and when they cannot support their views then the debate is pretty much over. I actually like bringing people back to reality. It can be fun, That is why I rag on the christians so much. They have nothing.
Nice answer shirly.

Answer 7

I probable does no longer comprehend the mechanics of a television in the event that they have been informed to me, yet i be attentive to it works. I do comprehend faith and having faith interior the unseen. I also have a granddaughter it is 7 months old. I even have on no account seen her...yet she exist and that i like her. That toddler could be have a scientific clarification yet she is right here via the grace of God. no longer because of the fact of a few scientist ideals.

Answer 8

Those that are Christians are insane perverts with low IQ"s and they are weak and cowardly. They fear reality, life and death. They have the mentality of slaves and are in fact slaves that love to worship and bend knee to even fictional Jew spooks in the sky or the Jew on a stick. They are comforted by fairy tales. Sure the other religions are fairy tales as well and full of crap but Christ insanity is the most destructive religion. It is suicidal.

So I only socialize with worthy folks and that includes family. I stay away from extreme perverts that are insane - that means Christ insanity infected folks are off limits.


The 14 Words via
RAHOWA

"The White Man's Bible" By Ben Klassen
Based on nature, science, race, history and logic. No mumbo jumbo or pie in the sky or spooks in the sky.

http://www.overthrow.com/creator/wmb/wmb.asp

Answer 9

My family either doesn't realize or doesn't care, although i'd say they don't realize, but all the same they pretty much don't know because even as an atheist i go to church more than they do. I like to hear both sides of the story, just to make sure i'm right.

Answer 10

My immediate family isn't religious, but I think they are either apathetic atheists and/or just believe in a God in a non-canonical manner. Regardless, they don't go to church, and only my grandparents on my father's side were actually religious. I really bring up religion around any of them in a condemnatory manner because it is unnecessary and has too much of a potential to estrange.