Ok, so my parents know I don't believe in God. First, my mom

was bugging me a lot, but now we get along fine.


My mom still attends though, and takes my younger siblings

with her. I love them and feel like it is my responsibility to make

sure they aren't indoctrinated like I was. But how do I go about

discussing religion with them? Or should I wait until they are

older? I rather not do the latter.

Wait until they can comprehend the argument.

Telling them that atheism is the only way IS NO BETTER than telling them that God is the only way.

When they are around 15, just ask them questions, to make them think about their religion.

Ask them:
Does God exist?
How do you know?
What would the world be like if there was no religion?
Would you be the same religion if you were born in Iraq?

They must conclude for themselves whether or not they believe in God. You can not and should not force your belief system upon them. That would make you no better than any religion.

Wait until they can comprehend the argument.

Telling them that atheism is the only way IS NO BETTER than telling them that God is the only way.

When they are around 15, just ask them questions, to make them think about their religion.

Ask them:
Does God exist?
How do you know?
What would the world be like if there was no religion?
Would you be the same religion if you were born in Iraq?

They must conclude for themselves whether or not they believe in God. You can not and should not force your belief system upon them. That would make you no better than any religion.

Right on point. Hopefully they'll still listen to reason.

I agree, wait until they are as old as you are to start talking to them about religion. And even then, if they choose to be religious, don't be a dick about it.

we should all beat religous people whenever they mention religion, so that the whole world is atheist then when we find a christian we should torture/burn them... just so things are even...



j.k.

I agree with the people above but if they bring up religion to you asking why you don't believe in God etc. they're free game. Just don't be a dick and try to indoctrinate them if and when it comes up.

Its not your duty to intefer on this one. What you deem 'indoctrination' others see as a positive.

On a personal note ,I have had to battle my whole life with the Xtian indoctrination of my childhood even though I believe!

Dealing with the damage our parents do us is part of becoming an adult. That applies to athesist parents as much as any Xtian. There are no perfect human beings, therefore there are no perfect parents. All get it wrong somewhere along the lines and every child suffers damage from it. Be it a naggy guilty feeling from being raised in the faith or an ignorance of human spirituality having been raised by hardcore athesists.

Do what other above have suggested, keep your arse out of it until your siblings are of an age. Then DISCUSS.

I don't see a single reason why you shouldn't be able to tell others why you don't believe. You don't have to indoctrinate, you just tell them why you don't believe. I myself have taken a different road and basically tell christians that I don't know, and neither do they. I've quit trying to prove/disprove god, instead I focus on how church is in complete contradiction of the New Testament. I have no problems with a belief in God or Jesus, my gripe is with the misrepresenting religion that is based around them. I'd also rather talk about things that the church has done, like omitting the gospel of Jesus from the Bible. Apparently the Church didn't like Jesus' rant about how churches should be abolished and anyone who attends them are heathens not worthy of heaven. They tend to not discuss things that would dismantle the church. There was never meant to be a religion, and those hell bent on control and power created it.

I don't see a single reason why you shouldn't be able to tell others why you don't believe. You don't have to indoctrinate, you just tell them why you don't believe. I myself have taken a different road and basically tell christians that I don't know, and neither do they. I've quit trying to prove/disprove god, instead I focus on how church is in complete contradiction of the New Testament. I have no problems with a belief in God or Jesus, my gripe is with the misrepresenting religion that is based around them. I'd also rather talk about things that the church has done, like omitting the gospel of Jesus from the Bible. Apparently the Church didn't like Jesus' rant about how churches should be abolished and anyone who attends them are heathens not worthy of heaven. They tend to not discuss things that would dismantle the church. There was never meant to be a religion, and those hell bent on control and power created it.

Could you link me to something that discusses this?

Deoz, wait until they're at least 14. Ask them to read Genesis aloud with you, and encourage them to ask questions. You shouldn't be the one that says "this is why God doesn't exist", but rather, "why do you think God did that?"

It takes little more than them realizing that it's impossible to fit millions of species onto one boat or that snakes didn't talk 6,000 years ago, just like they don't talk now. It doesn't take much to realize what a concoction and synthesis of ancient mythologies the religion is. Just do what your parents would do, have them read the bible, it is the greatest evidence against the validity of Christianity ever produced.

Give them logic puzzles, teach them how to think rationally; religion doesn't have to come into it until they're older or they ask.

Thanks for the logic puzzle suggestion Surak.

On a different note:

My parents just told me to go to their church this coming 24th. I guess I will have to

go. It's giving me an icky feeling. I remember when I was a "devout" Christian I'd

cringe a little inside at the sight of people who'd only attend on holidays. The

tables have turned. :rolleyes:

Even if I could stretch my mind into believing that God existed, no way could I fathom an all-powerful God actually giving a shit if people attended public ceremonies or not.

I mean, really.

I feel somewhat the same.

I'm sure he/she/it would only want me to go genuinely.

I have the EXACT same problem (only there are more holidays in my brand of christianity :(). Just go so you can please them. 3 hours on christmas eve is a small price to pay for your parents' happiness.

3 hours on christmas eve is a small price to pay for your parents' happiness.

Right on to that.

I could think of worst fates to befall me on a holiday.

Right on to that.

I could think of worst fates to befall me on a holiday.

Like no presents!! :eek:

Like no presents!! :eek:

I was thinking more along the lines of: being separated from from family & friends, chronic illness or getting hit by a truck.

Ok, so my parents know I don't believe in God. First, my mom

was bugging me a lot, but now we get along fine.


My mom still attends though, and takes my younger siblings

with her. I love them and feel like it is my responsibility to make

sure they aren't indoctrinated like I was. But how do I go about

discussing religion with them? Or should I wait until they are

older? I rather not do the latter.

Show here this video http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=009_1198085630

I was thinking more along the lines of: being separated from from family & friends, chronic illness or getting hit by a truck.

Or going to jail for 15 years! (http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?t=2081348)

I am a Christian.

Thanks for the logic puzzle suggestion Surak.

On a different note:

My parents just told me to go to their church this coming 24th. I guess I will have to

go. It's giving me an icky feeling. I remember when I was a "devout" Christian I'd

cringe a little inside at the sight of people who'd only attend on holidays. The

tables have turned. :rolleyes:

why go if you dont believe in it?

why go if you dont believe in it?

Please his parents. They force him to go, it's not pleasant.

So I went. The people were very friendly.

But they tried to get me to return to the fold. It's a hispanic

church, so it was quite different to what I'm accustomed to.

I must say, I liked the music. Very appealing to the emotions

but energetic at the same time. They'd make good songs, in my

opinion, if the lyrics were changed though of course.


I feel bad. Those people really believe, I could feel it and I must

say again: they were very friendly. They're happy, joyful,

excited. I really wish Christianity was true, or at least some

parts of it.

I was told that I make my mom sad, she's told me herself

sometimes too. Sad because I don't believe in God, and have

left his "path". I don't want my mom to be sad, and I really

want to go just so she wont be. But I don't want to be

dishonest. If I ever, which I doubt I will. become a believer

again I want to be genuine. I don't know what to do.

I need to help make my siblings reasoning better as well.

If you went the only thing you'd be doing is appealing to her desire to see you in church which would ultimately fool her into thinking you're someone you aren't. I swear religious people are so damn depressing if you don't agree with them...

Removed Spam Link

...no way could I fathom an all-powerful God actually giving a shit if people attended public ceremonies or not.

I mean, really.

*thumbs up*

Sad because I don't believe in God, and have left his "path".

At some point, we choose whether we follow the Creator or the creation...we can go back to the Creator if we wish though. If bearing the weight of the world on your shoulders gets to be too much, just try to remember how light the burden used to be as a young child - 'tis the weight of the burden I carry today.