Anyone else now agnostic/atheist from a religious family?

[LittleNemoNES]

My family is very religious and I have come to my own conclusion regarding religion.
It is kind of sad in a way to know they are probably worried about me and probably pray daily but I can't participate in something I believe to be false.
Anyone else?

 

[ViviTheMage]

We never went to church, never talked about religion, except my dad was Lutheran or something...we had other stuff to do.

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: gersson
My family is very religious and I have come to my own conclusion regarding religion.
It is kind of sad in a way to know they are probably worried about me and probably pray daily but I can't participate in something I believe to be false.
Anyone else?

*raises hand*

 

[AnnonUSA]

Most reasonably intelligent people come to similar conclusions.

While I wouldn't call my "family" devout Christians, I am amused how my mom still believes selective parts of the "religious" farce.

 

[Vehemence]

Religious parents, agnostic myself. They sort of let me choose my own way while nudging me towards Christianity as a kid, instead of forcing it. While they'd rather me be Christian, they're fine with me being agnostic.

Not only that, but they're Republican and I'm a Libertarian. Poor parents!

 

[Jugernot]

My family wasn't really religous growing up, but started going to church when I was old enough to make up my own mind. I don't think I will go as far as to say there is no god because we exist and something had to make us, but I think religions are based on man's view of what god is... not reality.

So no, I don't believe in god, but I'd say there is something out there bigger/better than all of us.

 

[LemonHead]

< gets lawnchair and beer >

 

[PepePeru]

i was forced into attending church until I was 16, when my parents gave up of dealing w/ the hassle and weekly struggle of dragging me to church.

basically the final straw was the preacher preaching for about 6 wks straight on giving money to the church. I wouldn't have minded so much if the $ was for altruistic puropses, but instead they wanted to build a gym for the members to use.

the only times i darken a church door is when i vote.

 

[Anubis]

My mom is catholic and my dad is protestant

The last time I went to church for anything other then a wedding/funeral was over 20 years ago (im 27). Way back when we were given the option of going to church or going skiing on the weekends.

We went skiing

In the summer we played soccer

I?m pretty sure my dad doesn?t believe anymore, my mom may still believe in god but the church disgusts her



im a big atheist, i always have been, i dont recall a time in my life where i ever thought that the idea of there being a "God" was not total bullshit

 

[AstroManLuca]

Neither of my parents are religious, and neither am I, but my mom came from a family where her mother was Presbyterian and her father was Jewish. Her sister ended up becoming Jewish, while she and her brother are non-religious.

I have only been to a Sunday church service once in my whole life, and it was when I had stayed overnight at a friend's place on a Saturday night. I hated it.

 

[Nik]

Yeah, me. My mother still tries cramming that garbage down my throat every chance she gets.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

Originally posted by: G Wizard
i was forced into attending church until I was 16, when my parents gave up of dealing w/ the hassle and weekly struggle of dragging me to church.

basically the final straw was the preacher preaching for about 6 wks straight on giving money to the church. I wouldn't have minded so much if the $ was for altruistic puropses, but instead they wanted to build a gym for the members to use.

the only times i darken a church door is when i vote.

the fact that they tithe drives me CRAZY. They are lower middle class and can barely afford things as it is. The money usually goes to big social events that nets them 2-3 converts at the most. I would prefer they use the money to get themselves something nice for a change. My father has used the same shoes for some 5 yrs now...

 

[MBrown]

No.

 

[child of wonder]

My parents are pretty devout Christians and so was I until age 19. In fact, I ran the church sound system up until that time.

Now I'm an agnostic Deist. I'm pretty sure there's "something" there beyond this reality but I'm sure whatever it is couldn't care less whether I believe it's there or not. Coming out of this life leaving things better than when I found it and emerging with a better understanding and good heart is more important.

My parents gave up on me a long time ago and now try to indoctrinate my kids. It really pisses me off but I do my best to tell me kids (6 and 4) that grandpa and grandma believe one thing but many other people believe different things so it's important to figure things out for yourself.

 

[slsmnaz]

mine are but it doesn't bother me as much as it obviously bothers some on here. When I visit I go to church with them because it makes mom happy (and she's had a rough last few years). I don't have to try and convert them to my way of thinking and it's really easier this way.

 

[destrekor]

My family all believes in God, but we never went to church or really even discussed God.
My mom's sister is quite Catholic, and while I don't know if they still attend church, they used to quite often when I was younger, and her kids all went to a catholic elementary school, and are now in a catholic highschool.

I think I may be the only atheist in the family... for awhile me and my parents had quite deep discussions of my beliefs, and now it's just become accept. As I grew up, I questioned religion and god more and more, and now I'm a firm atheist... although sometimes I think my personal beliefs (beyond that of just not believing in god, but also my beliefs about humanity and whatnot...) get in the way of truly taking life seriously, and may already have had repercussions on school performance and shit. Kind of sucks, but being nearly 21, I guess its a good time to get these things ironed out so I can excel later in life. Just some tough kinks that need to be taken care of...

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: destrekor
My family all believes in God, but we never went to church or really even discussed God.
My mom's sister is quite Catholic, and while I don't know if they still attend church, they used to quite often when I was younger, and her kids all went to a catholic elementary school, and are now in a catholic highschool.

I think I may be the only atheist in the family... for awhile me and my parents had quite deep discussions of my beliefs, and now it's just become accept. As I grew up, I questioned religion and god more and more, and now I'm a firm atheist... although sometimes I think my personal beliefs (beyond that of just not believing in god, but also my beliefs about humanity and whatnot...) get in the way of truly taking life seriously, and may already have had repercussions on school performance and shit. Kind of sucks, but being nearly 21, I guess its a good time to get these things ironed out so I can excel later in life. Just some tough kinks that need to be taken care of...

One of the greatest moments in your life is when you find your own purpose in life instead of relying on the Bible or some made up "God" to provide one for you.

 

[bvalpati]

Grew up in a non-religious household but was forced to go through Lutheran confirmation and attend church on Sundays until 8th grade. My parents did this not because they themselves are religious but rather because they felt the moral teaching was important for my sister and I.

I am now an agnostic because I have no evidence to support either the existence of God or the non-existence of God, it's not even a choice really, everyone is agnostic whether they understand it or not.

 

[effowe]

I was raised from preschool age through 8th grade in the church. I went to a Christian school, church every Sunday, and usually youth group / other church activities through the week. My parents weren't religious (they were raised as such, but never went to church.) It was my grandparents that took me every week and pushed my parents into sending me to those schools. Once I hit high school I went to a small diverse private school with people of all religions. Needless to say, I'm an atheist now.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I look at it this way: Who gives a fuck? If someone wants to waste their time praying for my soul then let them. Just don't come knocking on my door trying to get me to join your fantasy mkay?

 

[LittleNemoNES]

Originally posted by: effowe
I was raised from preschool age through 8th grade in the church. I went to a Christian school, church every Sunday, and usually youth group / other church activities through the week. My parents weren't religious (they were raised as such, but never went to church.) It was my grandparents that took me every week and pushed my parents into sending me to those schools. Once I hit high school I went to a small diverse private school with people of all religions. Needless to say, I'm an atheist now.

wait -- because of your classmates you are an atheist?
I'm not sure I got the message

 

[Excelsior]

Yes. We grew up in a southern baptist household. Always went to church. I did handbells, choir, Sunday school, even VBS a few summers. But I slowly grew tired of going to church and as soon as I was old enough to refuse to go, I stopped going. I didn't care. I am pretty much agnostic/atheist now, or simply non-religious/apathetic.

 

[ggnl]

My father has become extremely religious in the past 5 years. I'm a devout atheist. It's pretty much destroyed our relationship. We were pretty close before; he raised me by himself after my mother took my sister and left. We hardly even talk to each other any more.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: Jugernot
My family wasn't really religous growing up, but started going to church when I was old enough to make up my own mind. I don't think I will go as far as to say there is no god because we exist and something had to make us, but I think religions are based on man's view of what god is... not reality.

So no, I don't believe in god, but I'd say there is something out there bigger/better than all of us.

I don't want to flame, or criticize your beliefs here but if you believe that then I have to ask where did God come from and/or who created God? I am just curious how you answer that question.

Originally posted by: G Wizard
i was forced into attending church until I was 16, when my parents gave up of dealing w/ the hassle and weekly struggle of dragging me to church.

basically the final straw was the preacher preaching for about 6 wks straight on giving money to the church. I wouldn't have minded so much if the $ was for altruistic puropses, but instead they wanted to build a gym for the members to use.

the only times i darken a church door is when i vote.

Gotta love seperation of church and state....

OP my parents were divorced when I was young. So living with my mother and stepdad we were not ever very religious and other then weddings/funerals I was never in a church (even voting was at the school). They believed in a "higher power" but no real "religion". My dads side are all Catholic (except for an uncle that married into the family who is Jewish), and while God and religion was a big part of that side it was never forced upon me.

In recent years I have tried to figure out where I stand on such topics, and have come to the conclusion that currently I am closest to the Agnostic belief system. I also do not fully subscribe to that system, and will most likely never be satisfied with the "religious classifications" (Catholic, Jewish, Agnostic, etc) so will always be searching for what fits me.

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: gersson
wait -- because of your classmates you are an atheist?
I'm not sure I got the message

No, it was the hypocrisy and contradictions of the church that turned me off to it. Being around a diverse group of people with much different beliefs than I helped push me over the edge. I don't believe in anyone's religion, but I respect their beliefs and expect them to respect mine (that's usually not the case.)