My girlfriend revealed to my grandpa that I'm an atheist. I guess they were on a religious subject and she thought he already knew. I used to be very religious so I'm sure he was shocked by the news. I look up to him, but I knew he would never understand. Can't teach an old dog new tricks as they say. He's getting old and his health isn't so great, I was content to let him think I was still a Christian. It's not like we ever do anything religious, and I didn't want him to worry about my me. She said he was disappointed. My interactions with him after that seemed to be full of awkward silences. Since the cat was already out of the bag I wrote him a note to elaborate and explain why I became an atheist. After the explanation he just shook his head and left the table. A few weeks earlier my sister outed me to my mom. My sister is still undecided, but has similar issues with Christianity as I did while growing up in that home. She invoked my lack of belief to defend herself from our mother lol. That actually turned out pretty well. My mom couldn't believe it, but I sat her down and told her all about my journey away from faith. We agreed to disagree, and I convinced her to lighten up on my sister so she could find her own path. Now that they know I've decided to come out to the rest of my family. I'm not sure when but I've decided not to hide anymore. Have any of you been outed to family members? How did it turn out?
I haven't. But, honestly, it's not an idea I'm too comfortable with. Aside from my parents, I don't have the pleasure of seeing any of my family on a regular basis anymore. It'd be a shame to know that if they found out I wasn't a Christian or theist (they're all Christians) that my religious views give 'em more of a reason not to want anything to do with me.
Confirmed free thinker at 18th birthday, left church and fundamentalist rearing I was given and have never felt better, many years later. The mind program that is all churches of all faiths, is very old and powerful. You will see that after time, your family will come to accept your beliefs, but will never stop trying to save your soul. After awhile, it gets comedic. Enjoy your mental emancipation from the ball and chain of blind faith. All of Earth's religions are founded on one misguided principle called probabilism. To seek the truth, one must never become a probabilist. Probability is only a guide to a belief in things you can't explain for real. To find the light under the bushel, always seek the improbable path, the beaten path only gets us beaten again. Free range thinking rules!
If your family were strong in the faith, they wouldn't 'out' you. They should be concerned about you, upset about your decision, but not to the point of disowning you, turning their back on you, etc. One of my childhood friends who grew up in the same church as me is now a vocal atheist, and it hasn't changed his relationship with his parents. They still love him the same.
I used 'outed' as in "coming out of the closet." My GF wasn't aware my atheism was a secret when she brought it up. Nobody has disowned me or turned their back on me.
Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT) No, they wouldn't be outed, but killed.
That was old testament law about the nation of Israel. Way out of context. We live in the church age now. Things are different since the crucifixion and resurrection, which the apostle Paul goes to great lengths explaining in his letters to the churches and in Romans.
(Verse 17) 'Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. (Verse 18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (Verse 19) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Yep still relevant.
While I'm not an atheist, when I told my family about my decision to leave our centuries-old religious tradition of Hasidic Judaism they really didn't take it well. Over the years they have sorta softened their stance toward me, but they still feel as if I'm not living my life as God would intend for me to live it. What can you do though? You've gotta live your own life and not worry about upsetting your family all the time. They'll come around or they won't.
Nobody in my family knows that I am not christian. Actually the only person who knows is my cousin (who is also not christian but we both hold spiritual beliefs.) I'm never going to tell my mom unless it actually has to come up. She is a bible thumper and I can't imagine what type of shit she would throw at me if I told her. We have a great relationship, and I actually admire my mom's faith because regardless of whether or not I think her god is real, it has helped her find peace in her life. And who am I to say this Jesus fellow isn't some magic man behind the curtain? I respect her beliefs even if she probs wouldn't respect mine.
im sure my dad knows im an atheist, but my mom is rather naive, so i don't think she knows. my sister does but she's now an atheist too. i haven't explicitly stated that im an atheist though and never will.
[quote name='"nick32"']The religion section always makes me laugh. Its literally like everyone here is 11 years old.[/quote] Calling people's age into question? Yep, pretty childish. Me too
Ha... when they found out I wasn't religious is when I was about 13, hanging inverted crosses in my room and using the image of Satan as a form of mockery and in turn entertainment. Grandma didn't take that very well, didn't want me in her house for a few days... hahahahaha
They'll get over it. Gotta live your own life. But be sure to show respect to their Christian practices if they have any. I know what it's like to be a non-Christian in a Christian household and it sucks.
