Religon Help

[rwrocksme]

Here's a little about my family: My dad's family is very relidges. My aunt goes to church twice a week and talks about the goodness of Jesus at every opprotunity. Every year, on Christmas Eve, we read the Christmas story 3 times: one time for each child, including me. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but they are not tolerant of anyone else's ideas or beleifs if they contridict from their own.

Then, there are the strangers. I have a medical problem-which, in my personal opinion, is barely worth mentioning. I hate when people talk about it--it's like I'm a sideshow freak.

Here's the thing: my mother used to be on the radio where I live. To give you an idea, she was this town's Oprah. Every person in this town knew her name. And, since my mom is a very...vocal person, they also knew me--and my illness. And, even though my mom has been off-air for two years now, people still come up to us. I can barely go out in public without someone saying, "I'm praying for you" or "Jesus loves you." Worse, people will even pray onme in public--chanting and singing. "Be healed!" they say.

Well, guess what? I'm an ATHIEST. I don't beleive in God, and it took me three years to not be ashamed of myself. I have finally come out of the proverbial closet.

My father's family, however, is very unstable. My aunts went five years qithout speaking...they both hate my dad, one hates my mom, and now that I'm not the toddler they could mold to their own design anymore, they've all become uneasy around me. I love my family, but I can't stand it when people talk to me about God. I have to make excuses to stay away from my BFF's family (although my BFF is very supportive ). I can't go into a grocery store by my house because the owner keeps trying to "heal" me. The Christmas

 

[catycatcat4]

what denomination is your family?


(ttly OT but I SPELLED DENOMINATION RIGHT or my spell check is lying )

 

[BabyPiglet]

I know how you feel. My entire family are Russian Catholics. All very religious, except my parents, they go to church but they're not OVERLY religious. But I just don't believe.

They try to make me think that my only purpose in life is to worship God, and worship the religion.

 

[minnie_2006]

Well I may be a bit biased 'cause I'm a Christian but if you don't believe, then you just don't believe! And for me it would be like people from a different religion coming up to me and trying to convert me, I would hate it! Your family and friends should let you choose what you want to believe. But try and see it from their point of view, 'cause without sounding cheesy, having God in your life makes life so much easier - yeh you will still suffer but you will have someone to talk to (God) - and your family probably want you to share their happiness. But you should choose what you want to believe! Don't be pressurised into following a religion you just don't understand!

 

[perdidochas]

Here's a little about my family: My dad's family is very relidges. My aunt goes to church twice a week and talks about the goodness of Jesus at every opprotunity. Every year, on Christmas Eve, we read the Christmas story 3 times: one time for each child, including me. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but they are not tolerant of anyone else's ideas or beleifs if they contridict from their own.

Then, there are the strangers. I have a medical problem-which, in my personal opinion, is barely worth mentioning. I hate when people talk about it--it's like I'm a sideshow freak.

Here's the thing: my mother used to be on the radio where I live. To give you an idea, she was this town's Oprah. Every person in this town knew her name. And, since my mom is a very...vocal person, they also knew me--and my illness. And, even though my mom has been off-air for two years now, people still come up to us. I can barely go out in public without someone saying, "I'm praying for you" or "Jesus loves you." Worse, people will even pray onme in public--chanting and singing. "Be healed!" they say.

You're sounding very spoiled. Here we have a bunch of people wishing you well, hoping that whatever medical issue you have is resolved, and you don't like it? They are expressing love for you.

Well, guess what? I'm an ATHIEST. I don't beleive in God, and it took me three years to not be ashamed of myself. I have finally come out of the proverbial closet.

My father's family, however, is very unstable. My aunts went five years qithout speaking...they both hate my dad, one hates my mom, and now that I'm not the toddler they could mold to their own design anymore, they've all become uneasy around me. I love my family, but I can't stand it when people talk to me about God. I have to make excuses to stay away from my BFF's family (although my BFF is very supportive ). I can't go into a grocery store by my house because the owner keeps trying to "heal" me. The Christmas

You need to grow up some. If you truly don't believe in God, why would it bother you to talk about God? I don't believe in extraterrestrial aliens, and it doesn't bother me when people talk about them.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I've never believed in Jesus. When I was like three, I was always preached GOD GOD GOD. And then I'm like 'What the heck, they're telling me this guy is better than him? I don't like that.'
Then my parents stopped taking me to church (my father is an athiest).
For years I had tried to say I believed in God and all this.
One day I tried to explain on the DIS that I believed in God but not Jesus. But then I realized, I thought that the entire theory was stupid in it's entirety.

I watched a segment from the Hour last night, which was an interview with Richard Dawkins. He is probably one of the most famous athiests, and wrote the book The God Dilusion.
But he made interesting points.

Religion is purely belief. If any of it were true, it would be fact. If something is a fact, you don't need belief in it, and it is not a matter of faith. I do not need faith for a dog to have four legs, that is fact.

A lot of people are athiests, but because of world we grow up in, people think negatively upon it. Some people may even say that you're the 'spawn of the devil' because you don't believe in God.

 

[perdidochas]

One thing that I find is ridiculous is how some laws and rules are based on religion. If I don't follow that religion and don't believe in it, I don't want to have to live by it.

I guess it's time to legalize murder, theft and perjury......

 

[Babyjustrun]

I guess it's time to legalize murder, theft and perjury......

Forget it.

 

[pigletgirl]

It's truly heartbreaking for families who are deeply religious to have a member of their family to come out and say that they are athiest. Are you athiest because you don't believe in God, or is it because you don't want to follow the denomination?

I thought I was an athiest, when my family went to the Lutheran church. I didn't see any point in church, and therefore I questioned what I believed. Once we switched churches I decided that I did believe in Jesus.

So, just because you don't like what your family does for a religion, doesn't make you an athiest.

 

[perdidochas]

Forget it.

My point is that most "religious" laws (and I honestly can't remember any new "religious" laws) also can have a secular basis.

 

[TheBellhop]

I guess it's time to legalize murder, theft and perjury......

 

[luv2laugh]

I guess it's time to legalize murder, theft and perjury......

Oh yes! Because all those non-christians just love running around stealing and commiting murder.

 

[AngienLuLu]

Have you read the Left Behind: The Kids book series?

 

[EeyoreFan1]

I think that if you choose a religion, your family should support you. I also think if you don't choose a religion, they should support you just as well. I'm iffy on religion at the moment... I'm not athiast or anything, but I'm not religious anymore... I'm not sure what I believe anymore.

 

[luv2laugh]

I'm iffy on religion at the moment...

Me too. I'm a Christian and some parts of the religion I believe in but others... I just kind of doubt. And the doubts seem to be more and more outweighing the beliefs. I'm not athiest, but I think I need to find a better religion/or maybe just a good church setting where others believe the same stuff that I do. Did you follow?

I know that whatever I choose to follow/believe my parents will support me though & I think that's important.

No advice really...just hugs

 

[perdidochas]

Oh yes! Because all those non-christians just love running around stealing and commiting murder.

That's not my point. My point is that some laws can be both religious and secular. Stealing is against religious laws. However, most of us (regardless of religion or lack of) agree that stealing should be against the law. I can't think of any "religious" law in effect today in the U.S. that doesn't have a secular basis as well.

 

[rwrocksme]

You're sounding very spoiled. Here we have a bunch of people wishing you well, hoping that whatever medical issue you have is resolved, and you don't like it? They are expressing love for you.

These people don't even know me. If they did, they would know that A) my medical issuse will NEVER be solved, that I will never get "healed" and that B) I think that the worst part of my illness is people treating me differently because of it.

You need to grow up some. If you truly don't believe in God, why would it bother you to talk about God? I don't believe in extraterrestrial aliens, and it doesn't bother me when people talk about them.

That's very offensive to me. I don't mind when people talk about God. These people are attempting to convert me.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

If you're not happy with it, tell them.

Quick story time:

Last year in one of my classes there was a Jahovah's (sp?) Witness who invited a friend of mine and me to one of their meetings. My friend, not wanting to hurt her feelings, said that her grandmother was in town for Easter dinner and she couldn't miss it. I just flat out told her 'Maria (we'll call her), I am Catholic and I choose to be that way. You are a Jahovah's Witness and I'm fine with that but I am not changing religions so please don't try to convert me." I told my friend "hey listen, now that you made an excuse, she's going to keep inviting you. It will continue if you keep making excuses". And it has for her.

Lesson: always listen to me because I'm just always right . No, but seriously, tell them, don't just avoid/ignore because it won't do any good.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

That's not my point. My point is that some laws can be both religious and secular. Stealing is against religious laws. However, most of us (regardless of religion or lack of) agree that stealing should be against the law. I can't think of any "religious" law in effect today in the U.S. that doesn't have a secular basis as well.

But those are also moral laws, as a majority of laws are.

 

[perdidochas]

These people don't even know me. If they did, they would know that A) my medical issuse will NEVER be solved, that I will never get "healed" and that B) I think that the worst part of my illness is people treating me differently because of it.

Regardless, they are not doing this out of any kind of meanness. They are truly concerned.

That's very offensive to me. I don't mind when people talk about God. These people are attempting to convert me.

And that is their right.