Conformation?

[CedarTeeth135]

I have a problem. My mom really wants me to be confirmed, as she is really into the whole "Christianity" thing, but I have never really believed in God or Jesus. I have really been thinking about it, my youth teacher has been wanting to talk to me, as I mentioned it to him, but I'm really confused on what I should do right now. I don't want to end up not getting confirmed, being rejected as a family member and force myself to get confirmed, so I could be accepted. I also don't want to lie in front of my whole family, grandparents, and my whole congregation, as I state that I am a true believer in God. It just doesn't seem right. I just wanted to know what religious views people have or, unreligious views some people have. I think this will be kept away from my parents until I have discussed it with my youth director, and possibly my pastor.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[VTHodge]

I would tell everyone that you want to hold off on the conformation until you have had some more time for "self-exploration". You should be able to have a conversation about exactly what you said with the Youth Minister. He will probably tell you that you should not do anything you aren't sure about. I wouldn't think that your family would cast you out, but think about discussing this fear with them.

 

[JimmyEatWorld]

You can be spiritual without being religious....thats how I like to look at it. I've never been to church except when I was in a choir, or with my girlfriends family. I was never baptized, and certainly not confirmed. In fact, I didn't even know Exactly who Jesus Chirst was until earlier this year (stay your weapons, vehement Christians). I think I'm a better person for this. I'm good natured, nice, and helpful. That is not to say that organized religion is bad, because I feel it is quite the opposite to the appropriate person. To some people if provides them focus, energy, motivation, and comfort. Therfore it all depends on what sort of person you are. I don't need someone to tell me to do right, or a reason to do right, because I tend to do that on my own. Religion was invented as a way to calm and motivate the masses in a time where there was no law to prevent murder, theft, and anarchy. It was created when there was no set economic system to promote motivation in labor, especially in a labor system where the common man was exploited. So although I don't believe in the past churches of the world, or the stories they sometimes teach. I'm truly grateful that they exist today to help those who need it. However, I also believe that for some, church is not the answer, and you sound like one of them. If your parents are truly chistian, they'll see that you're a good and honest person (I hope you are), and accept you for who you are and what you believe. You and your family and easily coalese, so there is no reason for you to go through with something you don't believe in.

 

[Platypus]

Run.

 

[CedarTeeth135]

JimmyEatWorld, that was very helpful advice. I know excatly what you mean. I think I am much nicer and a better person than most of the people in my conformation class. I think what you said about religion helping a person become a better person was very true. While I'm not perfectly behaved all the time, I think my maturity level for an eight grader is much higher than most people my age, and therefore I shouldn't need any more spiritual help. I think I will just be the best person I can be without commiting to a religion.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Well first... NART.. but.. this is a bit different from regular flame bait.

I would tell everyone that you aren't a liar and thus you are not going to be confirmed. If they don't like it, then they are no better than Hitler himself-- or they are just so incredibly simple-minded or stupid that I would be ashamed to have them as family members.