Should I Tell My Parents I'm Not A Christian?

Question

I am 20 years old, and I live with my parents. I have been an Atheist since I was about 10 years old. I have an A-level in Philosophy and my reasoning is just about as informed as it gets. There is absolutely nothing that would ever make me believe in God.

My dad is the leader of a "Christian Rock" group, and my mum helps him everything to do with the church. I fear that I will be kicked out of the house if I tell my parents the truth. However, I have a place to go if I am.

For the last 10 years I have gone to church, listening to the bull**** that they talk there, pretending I am a Christian to make my parents happy. My parents want me to help them out with a PowerPoint presentation at a concert they are holding this Sunday. I have to either carry on pretending and waste more of my time (which really sickens me, to be perfectly honest) or tell them the truth.

Should I Tell My Parents I'm Not A Christian?

Thanks for all your comments. Some of you seem to have gotten the wrong idea. I used strong language in my post because that's how I feel, but I would never use that strong language towards my parents as I love them and don't want to offend them.

Answer 1

Why?

Catholocism is not BS, and I can prove it. send me an e-mail and I will remove the veil of fantasies that you believe and show the TRUTH.

God wants you to be with him. Don't reject him.

Answer 2

i am wiccan. I've never told my parents but i still help with church if i am needed. Its just a nice thing to do. I am a wise man in this years Nativity scene. Why? out of respect for what my parents belief. I am 22 and you are 20 its time to make your own choices about attending church. I"m sure you can find many reasons not to attend that wouldn't offend your parents. telling your parents may only bring fear into there life which would make them work even harder to convince you that your wrong. If you believe strongly enough in your faith let nothing bring you down and fear not the consequences of your actions.

Answer 3

Are you really not a Christian? Or one that hates getting up early six days a week, instead of five; so you talked yourself out of it. That is very common.
I have a mother that dose not think church is important. But since I have experienced life saving miracles that science could never explain, I know God is real. I even died once and my sole floated out of my body as I watched myself being rescued.
If God is not real where did the first atom come from that split into two that split into four, then eight, .... into all there is around us today, near and far, tiny and large? Where do soles come from, are they even made of atoms?
As to your parents this has been planned for some time, I doubt they have a ready replacement for you. So it would be best to not be cruel and selfish, thinking only of yourself, and help them with the up coming event. Then if you really want to stay so selfish tell them after wards. Be gentle and let them down easy. There are only two possibilities for you to end up in the end : heaven or hell. And you will be telling them you want to go to hell when the time comes.
I hope they have other children.

Answer 4

you should tell them but do not call their beliefs bull**** as you would not want them to insult your reasoning. You must tell them you can agree to disagree. You must have respect for them even if you don't follow their beliefs and they must respect you. Do not let this cause a war between you and your parents. After all, people of different faiths marry and live in the same home, even raise kids together. People can get along peacefully this way and an atheist, although not a religion, to a Christian, you might as well just be of another religion because you do not share the same beliefs as your parents. By all means do not insult your parents religion and you will find a way to get along.

Answer 5

I think your parents will surprise you. Especially if you tell them compassionately - you didn't want to disappoint them or hurt the relationship, and you hope if they believe you are making a mistake they will continue to demonstrate their beliefs through love, support, and praying for you to make the right decisions. Also, you want to be honest and open and do not want to pretend to keep them happy in ignorance of your actual thoughts and beliefs.

That said, I was in this situation once and back then I said there was nothing that would ever make me believe. And I do not believe in the version of God or belief about the Bible that I once rejected. But I have come to faith again through a long process. So, I hope that you continue to support and help others and value the relationships in your life and see where that leads you - and them.

Answer 6

I don't know y so many people be atheits & then they are as aproud of that ...... & atheism is not the right way & i'm sure that most atheists are suspesious about it or confused coz there is many religion & they don't know what is the right 1,
if u plz hear from me .... Allah didn't creat u & provides u with reason of life & make ur life limited 4 nothing..... Allah said in quran "I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me" all the prophets came with the same message is to worship allah alone & that's cos people were worshipping gods with him & says that allah has sons & Allah said in quran "Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him. "this is the straight way plz plz check ur self ..life is shourt & u don't know what will happened to u after death if u died nonbeliever allah says "Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin. "

Answer 7

Yes you should tell them, put yourself in your parent's place; if you had a child would you want them to lie to you or love you enough to be honest with you. The longer you deceive your parents, the more it will hurt them when they find out the truth. I am sure you have other relationships with other people. How would you feel if you found out someone you love had been lying to you for years instead of being honest with you? Stop disrespecting your parents!

Answer 8

well you are admitting after so much time how deeply dishonest you are.. and use foul language to describe something which is very precious to your parents..

Why not just say on Sunday or saturday..whichever your family uses for traditional worship.. announce that you have a few errands that have to be done. There is no need for you to be rude to them, you know.

Seems to me it is more a problem of your age and integrity than anything else.

Answer 9

Do what u gotta do,but to not believe in our creator just because of a messed up religion is not the way to go..I used to be Christian,but i realized some things and now im not..but i do believe in our creator,the God of Israel,i dont deal with the NT,I deal with the original Hebrew script from my ancestors,the OT.But u should discuss it or try at least and its not gonna be easy not at all.To hear their child is denying their god is gonna be horrible to them,but guess what,they will get over it..Try and study a little more before u throw all belief in our creator away,couldnt hurt,right?..Shalom,Hebrew Israelite

Answer 10

Wow- I know what I would do- I would tell them. But If their the type of people who would freak out and send you away then I would go on pretending because It sounds to me like right now you need them. No nevermind- If it bothers you to act a certain way- especially acting Christian- then let them know you think their wrong. Hopefully it goes over well for you because my Mom never pushed any of her beliefs on me and if she did I know I would totally hate it.

Answer 11

If I was you I would start telling them what you believe rather than what you dislike.

Give them the positive side of what you believe and say that you want to use your time on... Education or however you want to put it.

You sound as though you still respect your parents, so give them that respect and just let it go at that.

To say that you hate what they believe is disrespectful of what they like... I would avoid that kind of confrontation.