Did you tell your religious parents?

[ahplshutup]

Of all the divisions in our family, it was decided I would belong to the most religious one. My mother is a very "orthodox" christian & I probably will never tell her about my lack of belief in god. It was enough damage telling her about previous jewish conversion. I really don't think she'll be able to take this in. It will seem too insensitive, and so disrespectful considering we already don't get on very well.

[TomFoolery]

I didn't. Rather, it came out while talking to my sister and she put me on blast to my family. I understand not wanting to make waves. If I could rewind it, I certainly would.

[SGOS]

My parent's were dead when I finally figured out what I was.  Before then, they just labeled me as not very religious.  My sister who is a Catholic (converted from Lutheran) knows I'm an atheist, but she has always been proud of me, for reasons I don't really understand.

[Desdinova]

I told my Mom, but after she went apeshit about it I lied and told her I was just going through a phase.  She passed away in December having never brought up the issue again.  My father is extremely Baptist and I would never think of telling him.  Some things are better left alone.

[Atheon]

I had the good fortune of being brought up in a non-religious nuclear family.

[mez_]

I told my whole immediate family. I first started with my dad, he was the reason I really started doubting ( when I was young he was the smartest person I knew and when I had a question who'd always give a logical scientific answer). He was all right with it but I think he thinks it's just a phase.

Then I told my sister, she was very supportive and we actually grew closer because of it, even though she's the most religious in my family.

And lastly I told my mom. She was the easiest one to tell cause I had already told my father and sister. She was pretty disappointed but she eventually got over it.

It was hard to get off my chest but afterwards I was more confident in myself and I was more real with my family


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[Solitary]

My dad, and my other dad, that lived with us were both atheists, my older sister was an atheist, and my younger sister was an atheist but married a man who's church excepts atheists and were married in a Universalist church, my mother was a Southern Methodist and the subject was never brought up accept she thought I should go to church when I was around 10-12 because I was getting too wild, when the preacher slammed my head into my desk and left a large goose egg with him saying, "I TOLD YOU TO PRAY BOY!" It took everything my mother could to keep my dad from going there and killing him. It was never brought up again until I married A Catholic girl that is still my wife. Solitary

[ahplshutup]

"I TOLD YOU TO PRAY BOY!" It took everything my mother could to keep my dad from going there and killing him. It was never brought up again until I married A Catholic girl that is still my wife. Solitary

Terrible - Congratulations on the latter.

[ahplshutup]

Thanks everyone, your responses have certainly been of some help. x

[Mike Cl]

I told my whole immediate family. I first started with my dad, he was the reason I really started doubting ( when I was young he was the smartest person I knew and when I had a question who'd always give a logical scientific answer). He was all right with it but I think he thinks it's just a phase.

Then I told my sister, she was very supportive and we actually grew closer because of it, even though she's the most religious in my family.

And lastly I told my mom. She was the easiest one to tell cause I had already told my father and sister. She was pretty disappointed but she eventually got over it.

It was hard to get off my chest but afterwards I was more confident in myself and I was more real with my family


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Well, Mez, you had a good family.  And I am glad it worked out for you.  Being upfront is usually the best.  But not always.  Sometimes ignorance really is bliss. 

In my case my family just never talked about it.  Nobody was religious--we did not go to church.  When we were smaller my brothers and I went to church for a little, mainly out of curiosity, but that ended rather quickly. 

[mez_]

I know I was very fortunate. It's a lot harder for others, sadly


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[Givemeareason]

My dad, and my other dad, that lived with us were both atheists, my older sister was an atheist, and my younger sister was an atheist but married a man who's church excepts atheists and were married in a Universalist church, my mother was a Southern Methodist and the subject was never brought up accept she thought I should go to church when I was around 10-12 because I was getting too wild, when the preacher slammed my head into my desk and left a large goose egg with him saying, "I TOLD YOU TO PRAY BOY!" It took everything my mother could to keep my dad from going there and killing him. It was never brought up again until I married A Catholic girl that is still my wife. Solitary

Hey, my wife is a catholic girl too.  But other than having your head banged, I am trying to understand you.  So you must be fairly well educated?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Mom was minimally religious when I was at home. The y-donor, I don't know, we almost never spoke. I never mentioned a lack of faith to either of them. No point to it.

[trdsf]

Yup, about ten years ago or so.  I haven't spoken to my mom in five years; she had gotten to the point of ordering me to go to church with her when I visited and I told her absolutely not and she needed to stop asking and respect my right to make my own decisions about my life... so she started telling the rest of the family that I'm an alcoholic.

And you know, I have better things to do with my life and better people to do them with, than to put up with her bullshit.  I mean, I'm fifty years old.  I wouldn't let a stranger talk to me like that, I'm certainly not going to let her.

[Mike Cl]

Yup, about ten years ago or so.  I haven't spoken to my mom in five years; she had gotten to the point of ordering me to go to church with her when I visited and I told her absolutely not and she needed to stop asking and respect my right to make my own decisions about my life... so she started telling the rest of the family that I'm an alcoholic.

And you know, I have better things to do with my life and better people to do them with, than to put up with her bullshit.  I mean, I'm fifty years old.  I wouldn't let a stranger talk to me like that, I'm certainly not going to let her.

It is too bad that your mother is that way.  But I agree with your decision 100%  You should not have to put up with such unrealistic requests.  And the sad fact is--we can't chose our parents and family, but we can chose our friends.  And we can unchoose our family or any part of them.