2007-09-13 18:37:22 · 25 answers · asked by Brendan G 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, my husband. He used to believe in God but never formal religion. Then he became an agnostic. Now he refers to himself as an athiest. I am very proud =)
2007-09-13 18:43:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No.. as much as I would like them to release themselves from the more judgmental and disrespectful beliefs they have towards others, it's not my place to try to change them. I really do both love and like my family, and given that I'm the only atheist (in secret, no less) among multiple generations of my family on both sides, it would be a losing battle even if I did somehow feel like trying to influence one of them.
I could settle just for hearing a few less judgmental statements about groups of people on account of their religion or sexual preference, though..
2007-09-14 01:44:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anthony 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I have never influenced anyone in my family to turn away from religion. It is not my intent to. I would rather they opened their eyes to the world rather than have them abandon all of their beliefs. Most of my family needs religion, they are not strong enough to survive without it.
2007-09-14 01:41:43 · answer #3 · answered by Green 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite the opposite. I have helped people strengthen their belief.
I am tolerant and though I don't believe, that doesn't mean I don't want others to practice the religion of their choice.
Atheism (or in my case agnosticism) is not a game where the belief with the most followers wins.
2007-09-14 01:48:31 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
speaking of influence. the catholic church takes it a step further.
it's been documented that children between 0-6 years of age, give or take a year or two, are very susceptible to be brainwashed. that's why the catholic church provide orphanage and recruit more to attend catholic preschools, saying let us take care of your kids, even if just for preschooling. because the catholic church knows that between that age range, their catholic foundations/teachings/ways of life and thinking would be solidified in these kids during that age range. after that, the catholic church wouldn't have to worry about preaching or evangelizing because the kids would already have deep-seeded catholic views in them that these kids would naturally/instinctively come back to the church, if they run away from the church when they're older.
same thing can be done other way around. give the kids 0-6 yrs old the proper way of critical thinking, and generation after generation, the non-thinkers would be weeded out naturally over time.
2007-09-14 02:22:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the contrary I encourage them to follow their religion or faith as best as they could.This is the only way to have a faith in which we can repose our inner faith.With passage of time they may revise their views but that shall be by their own volition than by an outer influence.This is the right way to grow in life.
2007-09-14 01:45:35 · answer #6 · answered by brkshandilya 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ya know, I'll be happy if some members of my family don't stop talking to me for a while when they find out I'm an atheist... not all of them know just yet.
When I get over that hurdle, I'll think about trying to change their minds. I don't see it working.
Short answer - no. :p
2007-09-14 01:41:21 · answer #7 · answered by Snark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. I will state my opinion but I will not tell someone that they have to believe something. The only way i would have influenced someone is if they listened to my point of view and agreed.
2007-09-14 01:43:14 · answer #8 · answered by Shit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly no... but I did get a glimpse once of a cousin of mine stating he was agnostic.
Agnostic theist or ag. atheist, I don't know. But I'm glad he doesn't identify as part of any religion.
2007-09-14 01:40:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't tried since I turned 18.
2007-09-14 01:42:34 · answer #10 · answered by Alan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋