this may not be very philosophical, but i dont want nonsense, biased answers from religion and spirituality. (no offense to anyone who is religious) also, the people in this category give good answers. ill try to make this as short as possible.
i know longer believe in the catholic or christian religion anymore and my mom is upset about it. im 18 by the way. she wabnts me to at least go to christmas mass. now, my problem is this: its not that i can take or leave religion, otherwise i would not be in a difficult place right now, but i do not like religion and what it does to people. she is emotionally a wreck and i feel bad. i fifure its not as though i am convincing others to believe in religion, im forcing only myself to go and i know that i will never go back to religion. but, should i not associate myself with the something i truly dislike, or should i put my pride aside for one day and go for my mom? another thing that pisses me off though is that i am 18...
2007-12-09 11:24:15 · 53 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
and i do not want my mom bossing me around anymore. i feel like i shouldnt have to suffer a boring mass and give up part of my day off work and school because my mom is too sensitive and believes in fairytales. (you can see my frustration. lol) thanks in advance.
2007-12-09 11:25:24 · update #1
i dont need any rude answers. its not just as simple as "oh just make your mom happy. what is wrong with you?" it is about principle.
2007-12-09 11:36:28 · update #2
Yes, you should put your pride aside for one day.
I know you do not like your mom bossing you around, but she probably feels that if you go, then you will give religion a chance, and obviously, that is what she wants. Even though I know that you probably won't.
There is a bad side to going with your mom, though. When she knows that she convinced you of going once, she will try to make you go again, and even though that is what I hope will happen, (I am Christian) that is not what YOU want.
You know how you said that your mom is emotionally a wreck? well, that could be your fault. My aunt's son was a strong Christian, but all of a sudden, he left religion and refuses to come back, and my aunt is practically depressed because of that.
Oh, well.......good luck with your decision! : )
2007-12-09 11:34:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well first off i'm sure your mom has done many things for yuo in the pass that she might not excatly felt like doing so this one little thing won't hurt you to do for her. I'm only 20, and I felt the same way you did at 18, especially comming from an over protected mother, sometimes I still feel this was, but if there is one thing I have learned in the pass few years is I don't know everything and even though I don't always listen i have relized my mom has a whole lot mor life experience than I do and even though I am legeally grown there are still many things I can learn from her. You mother gave birth to you honey and would never want anything to happen to you so she would never pourposlly stear you in the wrong direction even if it id on another topic aside from going to church.
2007-12-09 11:35:01 · answer #2 · answered by Maxilary 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. We all have will. At 18 years of age, we Know based on the 18 years of life. You seem to feel betrayed. Ouch! Religion is a political structure, BUT think about what religion is without the political structure.
Think outside of the box, don't let the human political structure think for you. Have faith in yourself that you will find the Truth. You probably have found It, but your seem to be forced to believe by a religion you reject, not cool, you have been conned and cohersed, not by your mom by the system. Leave your mom out of your faith and don't feel bad (guilty). But do respect her, in any way you can because you do Love her, and as human being she deserves respect and dignity, just as you too deserve dignity and respect. If you go to mass, go with the intent to see what is really there, not the structure, the religion, but what it holds dear for you. As you sit there, reflect on how you are seeing what is going on during the mass, again, not the service, but that which is invisible to your senses. Most of all, your mom will die, and then what can you say or do? Love her while you can, time fleets by quickly. But most of all respect yourself, and know that you are a unique creation, no matter what you do, this will not change who you are! Go for Good!
2007-12-09 14:43:11 · answer #3 · answered by hmmmm 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
:(
That makes me really sad. Your mom just cares a lot about you. I know you didn't want any "religious" answers, but I'm just gonna say that maybe you should approach religion with a different perspective. The most hopeful and optimistic people these days are ones who believe in God...i know that without Him i'd be a lost soul.
If you're not going for the right reasons, don't go to church, because thats even worse than not going at all.
I'm 16 years old, so we're pretty close in age. between two teenagers (ok fine, you're an "adult" now, lol), just believe me when i say that God can do wonders in your life. it's not all church and tradition and genuflecting in front of ugly statues.
i hope one day you see the truth about religion. feel free to contact me if you want. God bless and good luck with your mom!
2007-12-09 11:31:43 · answer #4 · answered by Kiwi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go. Who cares what you believe. Religions a sack of balls anyway. Make your mother happy on christmas. Eat the bread, take an extra sip of wine and calm down. Your mother spent alot of money raising you. Make her christmas and sit an an extremely uncomfortable row for an hour and listen to some white guy babble about how some other white guys did this that and the other thing. But make sure your smiling. Then take her to breakfast. Dennys is always open :)....Make her day, she made your life. Good luck :)
2007-12-09 11:39:45 · answer #5 · answered by Stinknugget 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Would it keep peace in the house if you went? Perhaps she wants to bond with you at church and somehow become closer. Maybe this is how she does it. You can do what you want the rest of the year but if it makes someone happy on Christmas can't you sacrifice an hour or so to go to church with her? You don't have to even like it. If you want to make a woman happy and god forbid if something should happen to her wouldn't you feel horrible that you couldn't do one thing that she asked you to? Think about it. You don't have to believe in the stuff just go for her sake to make her happy.
2007-12-09 11:29:39 · answer #6 · answered by queenmaeve172000 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I understand your situation. I was raised strictly Catholic, but then when I turned 14 and started to develop my adult mind, I realized that religion is the ultimate fantasy. There's no real difference between believing in Jesus and believing in Santa Claus. Besides, it's all too ridiculous for me to take seriously. Organized religion is evil. There's nothing wrong with being Spiritual and keeping a PERSONAL connection with "God".. but it should be kept that.. personal.
I would say don't go because you have to defend your own beliefs. It won't kill your mom to go to mass by herself, if she really wants to go. But you should definitely not subject yourself to that nutty hoo-hawery.
2007-12-13 03:12:25 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You only get one mother per life time and you only get one life. One mother one life. So spend just that one with her in mass if it makes her happy. Plus it is only one day out of the year. it'll mean something real nice to her. Since you are 18 eventually you will return to the church maybe not the catholic church or the Christian church but you will return to church someday. What i am thinking, which doesn't necessarily mean I am correct, is that God is trying to call you back to his sanctuary. Maybe it is religion you do not believe in and not God. Give it a second try =] With all sincereity I hope you resolve your problem.
2007-12-09 11:34:15 · answer #8 · answered by Diana 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I cannot see your frustrations. Who put you on a pedestal to make decisions for everyone around you. Who made you the one to determine your own mothers destiny by denying her the one thing she ask you to do during a very special time of the year. She is your mother. She deserves your full attention, your show of appreciation for bringing you into this cruel world--as you perceive it--and how you choose to live it. Give her the dignity and respect and grant your mother her wishes, unselfishly with a smile and a "Thank you mom for the opportunity to make you comfortable during these trying days for you". You might even learn something. Oh by the way mom, I'm so glad you let me join you for Christmas. Just remember you are all your mom has right now. I don't even know your mom--and I know she is very special and struggled for eighteen years for you. tell her I said to have a very Merry Christmas.---Do the right thing--you will never regret it.--Do the wrong selfish thing and when she is gone from this cruel world--you will regret it and it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
2007-12-09 11:40:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
When I was about the same age I went through the same experience. I had stopped believing in christianity (or the supernatural in general) a couple of years earlier---which my parents were already aware of.
Finally, I felt it was time I stop attending church with them. My parents were upset but you can't go through the motions allowing everyone around you pretend you still believe the same things they do and are only going through some sort of phase.
That was 18 years ago and I've never regretted it.
2007-12-09 11:41:26 · answer #10 · answered by david e 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋