how does your family's religion affect your views?

Question

For me, my religious views are completely unrelated to my upbringing; I have told my parents that I'm an atheist, but my family is Hindu, and I go to the temple once every couple of months with them just to keep them happy. I also rationally discuss religion frequently with my dad. For everyone else, how much does your parent's religious views influence yours, if you have chosen a different religion, are they fine with this choice you've made?

warrior p, what would you like to know?

Answer 1

I was raised in a Catholic family, but was never made to go to church or anything - never had confirmation, communion or any of that. My dad was a Catholic, I don't know if I'd necessarily call him "devout." He never preached, didn't openly pray, etc.

I called myself an agnostic for about as long as I knew what that term meant. After my dad died in 1992, I decided to re-read the Bible, see if I was missing something in what he believed. Reading it again, especially that time (I've read it several times, various versions, beginning to end), only served to reinforce my non-belief.

For several years, I called myself an agnostic with atheistic tendencies, but I now know that I'm an atheist. The older I get (I'm 40), the easier it is to accept what I think has always been there.

My father taught me to think, to reason, to be an individual. I'm grateful that neither he nor my mother forced religion on me or told me what to believe, but taught me to find my own way.

My dad was the smartest person I knew. He was the only person who could give me a run for my money at Trivial Pursuit and I have yet to find a more worthy opponent. I think he and I would have had some really good debates on a lot of subjects had he lived longer:(

Answer 2

I'm a totally different religion than any of my family. They think I'm nuts! We don't discuss religion, if @ all possible. We just get angry. I made my choice yrs ago. I'm in my 30's. My family's views has made me stronger in my beliefs. Because I have to know backwards/forwards the ins/outs of it. They try every which way to trip me up. They are not fine w/ my choice @ all. They never miss an opportunity to let me know it either.

Answer 3

i come from an old school catholic family. i went to catholic school up until high school, made my communion and confirmation, and the whole 9 yards.

i gave up on church when i was about 16. it's not interesting or enlightening to me at all. my views differ from the catholic church's so much, i think it's disrespectful for me to go. my mom respects my decision and doesn't tell me i'm going to hell.

i do however, like the basics of christianity, and how i was taught to "do unto others..." as a child. i've studied many religions, and i believe in god. as an adult, i just find that i don't believe in organized religion. i do my best to be a good person. i think that if i keep it up, i'll be okay after i'm dead.

Answer 4

I think the fact that my family is sane and Christian has helped me keep a moderate view of Christians. I use them as examples of good Christians all the time.

My parents are not thrilled I'm Wiccan, but they accept it. My dad recently got a lecture from an acquaintance on how he could let me leave Christianity. Dad's response was "Let? She's 30 years old. She makes her own decisions. Even if I tried telling her what to believe, she'd just look at me funny."

Answer 5

Growing up around grandparents that were very roman catholic, I saw alot of guilt and reticule put on my mother, simply because she was divorced. I saw people in my family pick and choose which parts of Catholicism they them selves wanted participate in and other parts they ignored, but they always seemed to be able to pass judgment on all others. I saw a member of our family be abusive and hatefull to others and then get all his sins forgiven every Sunday for going to church to nap in the back row.
So I would say that yes it formed my opinion. I am christian, and believe in god, but I do not believe in following a man made religion of rules. My family has to accept my beliefs, there is no other option. They know this.

Answer 6

faith has finished no longer some thing for my relations existence. Loving and serving my Father in Heaven has enriched my existence and promises me better love and appreciation for my relations. now, my siblings, throughout 35 y/o imagine that because i do no longer stick with the relations way that i'm unusual. this is okay. even as they invite me to their non secular ceremonies i attend, they are my relations. after I note passover and ask them to attend, the come to my domicile and characteristic passover with me, they love me. because i do no longer help prepared faith, they have a difficulty with that, yet we've come to comply with disagree. My spouse, toddlers and grandkids, are in basic terms a blessing in my existence, i appreciate them fiercly and may want to do some thing for them, no sacrifice might want to be too large or small. because I serve a loving and residing God, my existence is about my relations, God is amazingly enormous on relations. because He lives, there is not any longer some thing we gained't get by ability of as a relations.

Answer 7

Every single member of my immediate and secondary (people who became family by marriage) family are different variations and levels of Christians, except me. I'm a proud atheist! Many of them would sh*t nickels if they knew. Of course, they are also the folks I rarely keep in contact with (I know crazy when I see it). I don't think I've actually spoke the very words "I am an atheist" to one of them, but they know my mind. I'm not afraid to speak it. I just don't label myself anywhere but here, really.

Answer 8

I have no family except an adult daughter.

I'd also like to talk to you about your family's religion and dynamics. I've learned that Hinduism is the most tolerant religion and accepts all points of view. Once in class I jokingly referred to them as "good Borg" from Star Trek. You can email me if you like.

Answer 9

I'm Hindu.

My parents are Hindu.

But really, I have no idea what I am; I go to the temple with them to keep them happy, but truely I feel I'm more Agnostic than anything else.

Answer 10

I was free to belong to any religion I wanted. I've been a Baptist, a Congregationalist, a Mormon and I've studied the Bible for five years with Jehovah's Witnesses. Now I am an atheist. It was never a family issue.

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