I took the advice of some of the people here on Y! Answers...It didnt go over so well. Mom was sort of tweeked when her sixteen year old son mentioned Atheism and now if I try to talk to her she tries to coax God into it somehow. It seems like all I do is argue with my mother about religion now and I don't want to argue! She can be Christian that's fine with me, but I do not want to be, that's that. Why does she resent me now? Did I make a bad choice and should I stop looking at things so rationally and go back to church and keep my mouth shut?
2007-09-26 13:30:22 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sure .. it takes a big person to offend someone u know will be offended ... way to go ..
2007-09-26 13:33:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 17⤋
Your beliefs are YOUR beliefs.....it is unfortunately human nature to dislike what we do not understand. Your mother has a deep seated belief in God and you do not. To her, because of the principles of Christianity, being an atheist is wrong. To you, it feels right. You are at an impass. There is no point in arguing, because you will not accept her beliefs and she will not accept yours. I am not saying that this is bad. I am simply saying that is how it is.
People are persecuted for their beliefs everyday. It is a sad reality of our times. It is something you are simply going to have to live with. Perhaps that is a defeatist attitude, but look at history, eh?
I doubt your mother resents you. She simply does not understand you. She also wants the best for you and from her point of view, you going to church is the best thing for you.
Perhaps if you simply told her that, while you respect her beliefs, you simply don't share them. Its not a judgment on her. It is simply how you feel. Tell her that it hurts your feelings when she argues and you do not want argue with her anymore. Be mature and serious. Do not lose control of your emotions. Do not yell or scream or argue. She will either accept this eventually or not.
I know this is a terrible saying,but pretend you're a duck and she is the water droplets falling from the sky - let her comments roll off of you un-noticed....eventually, the rain stops, right?
2007-09-26 13:44:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ask her if she'd rather you lied and just followed along, or if it would be better for you to be honest and true and able to be open with her about it.
Many believers are raised that being an atheist is a subhuman thing... she may well look down it like a lot of them do and can't take the thought that her son is one of them.
You may well just have to humor her for now... attend church with her, let her have the hope that you will return to it... won't last forever, eventually you'll be grown and on your own and won't have to listen to it 24/7.
And do us all a favor and (with your actions) show her what a good person a non believer can be.
2007-09-26 13:49:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just have to be yourself. Your mom should love you and respect you as a person. Your mother is the one that needs to do some growing and show some maturity.
And frankly, I would tell her so. My mother and I locked horns for a lot of reasons when I was a teen. Now we get along fine and she has actually adopted many of my points of view after taking time to think things out.
You need to show maturity and patience. Caving in on your beliefs and values would be wrong.
You should question your mother on whether or not that is the example she wants to setting for you. Especially if you are asking strangers this question.
2007-09-26 17:47:52 · answer #4 · answered by Atrum Animus AM 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So you break your mothers heart and now you want a bunch of faceless strangers to tell you it's O.K. Well I'm sure most will tell you about being your own man and ... The way it really is, is this, you know that feeling that you have deep inside you that you did wrong, that's the Holy Spirit trying to tell you, you did something wrong. Generally, when people make a change from something that they don't like they feel liberated not guilty.
Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(For Mom)Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 1:5 - A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
The only way to really be a christian is to believe through faith.
Read your Bible pray for understanding and seek after wisdom.
2007-09-26 14:36:52 · answer #5 · answered by just a man 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Listen to some of these answers respect, cut her out of your life, come on. She is only concerned for your well being same as if you were involved in an accident - she worries about what your eternal spirit " that she believes would burn" parents are that way. If you are serious about your new found way of life try to encourage her to do what she wants and if she wants to pray for you but ask for a little space to try something that you are interested in and let her know that perhaps with her praying and your trying these things there is always the possibility you could one day decide to return?
2007-09-26 13:45:07 · answer #6 · answered by S.O.S. 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Personally, telling some of my religious friends that I'm atheist wasn't a great idea. I didn't lose any friends over it or anything, but it's still not the same for my really religious friends. My mom doesn't care as much though. I think your mom would've found out sooner or later anyways, and she'll get over it, so it's not a big deal.
2007-09-26 13:35:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
look, i bet she is just concerned for you. as long as you were a christian, she knew you would have to follow such rules as no sex before marriage, no drinking or smoking, and obeying your parents, and such.. and now that you took urself from under those laws, i think it freaked her out... how can she deal with a teenage son if he will start resenting her authority?.. listen, even though i dont approve ur desicion to become an atheist, i can give u a useful advice: show to her that you still love her, respect her, and will obey her as a parent. Maybe it wont make her feel as secure about your life, but it sure will calm her down after a while.
2007-09-26 13:48:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Little fluffball of doom, she loves you alot. Just give her some time. Tell her that you respect that she believes in God, but that you don't like to argue with her. Just love her for being such a good mother.
2007-09-26 14:09:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you can't make yourself believe if that's what you are thinking. I tried because I didn't want it to be true.
Now rather it is easier to lie and keep the peace is another issue. I would have told you to tell her only if you thought that she wouldn't react this way. But now it moves into an outright lie to take it back, and she is unlikely to believe it anyhow. Tough one kid. Wish I knew what to tell you.
2007-09-26 13:37:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid that only you can really answer this question. My advice is to follow what you truly believe. Don't follow a religion just because your mother wants you to and don't rebel against it just because you want to rebel against your mother. Do a thorough self-searching and educate yourself on the pros and cons of other religions as well. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
2007-09-26 13:34:46 · answer #11 · answered by square 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋