Hate my Religion

[Southern_Cheer]

I hate being a Christian sometimes, I feel like my life is more stifled and burdened by being forced into a church I don't really believe in.
Does any one else face this problem?

[PlasmaHam]

No, but from your posts you seem to be in an abnormal church situation with quite questionable doctrine. If what you have all said is true, then if I was in your situation I would likely be of similar attitude regarding church.

[NeonBlueButterfly]

I'm forced into church attendance too. I've become quite good at pretending to go along with the crowd and all that. It's hard, I know, but remember that only you get to decide who you really are.

[NewLeafsFan]

I would try to distance myself from that church. It isn't because you don't believe in the church as much as it is that the church's teachings are toxic. Parents often push their kids away from stuff by forcing them to accept them and in the long run it just doesn't work.

[mattsmith48]

I hate being a Christian sometimes, I feel like my life is more stifled and burdened by being forced into a church I don't really believe in.
Does any one else face this problem?

I'm forced into church attendance too. I've become quite good at pretending to go along with the crowd and all that. It's hard, I know, but remember that only you get to decide who you really are.

Just leave the religion, you live in a country were religious freedom is a right and that includes the right to not believing in any religion or leaving your current religion.

[lliam]

Does any one else face this problem?


nope. my familiy never was into religious stuff, even we talked about spiritual things a lot.

But the good thing is, you simply can change your relationship in this case.

Or you can find a way to define it new. For you and others.

[JustMyHumbleOpinion]

If you don't believe in the religion, then don't practice it.
Nobody can force you to believe in something you think is a burden to yourself

[NewLeafsFan]

Just leave the religion, you live in a country were religious freedom is a right and that includes the right to not believing in any religion or leaving your current religion.

If you don't believe in the religion, then don't practice it.
Nobody can force you to believe in something you think is a burden to yourself

Clearly, as long as she is living with her parents she does not have religious freedom. What do u expect her to do? Call the police and say "my parents want me to go to church"?

[Fourth]

Are you in a different kind of Christianity? Where I live, the Roman Catholic Church is the most dominant, second is the Islam (If I remember correctly), then third is the variations of Christianity and others.

I was never forced, as far I can remember. There are times where I haven’t attended mass for like 3 weeks or more. Though a lot of religious activities happen during the whole year and I attend many of them. There was never a feeling of being forced for me, but I’ve heard situations like yours from other families that is very strict when it comes to religion. My Church does not force people, but they encourage us, that if we can go attend masses/activities, we atleast try. Religion SHOULD NOT hinder you from being happy.

[mattsmith48]

Clearly, as long as she is living with her parents she does not have religious freedom. What do u expect her to do? Call the police and say "my parents want me to go to church"?

Child services would be more appropriate

[Dalcourt]

I hate being a Christian sometimes, I feel like my life is more stifled and burdened by being forced into a church I don't really believe in.
Does any one else face this problem?

I personally don't face this problem. My family always let me have religious freedom. My Dad is Baptist while I am Catholic and it is all fine.

But I know that some of my friends have a similar problem than you have since their parents make then attend services and gatherings and Bible studies. They often kinda envy me but I figure there can't be done much about it as long as you are not an adult.

I understand how you might feel burdened but if you don't want to argue about it with your family you just have to put up with it.

[Southern_Cheer]

No, but from your posts you seem to be in an abnormal church situation with quite questionable doctrine. If what you have all said is true, then if I was in your situation I would likely be of similar attitude regarding church.

I have wondered if I am not in one of those weird cult things (my mom and dad swear we are not and most of the town goes to our church) but Im starting to wonder if it is different from other peoples churches, I've never been to any other church and I have only ever live in my one town and we never ever leave the South....like if a state wasn't in the Confederacy then my dad refuses to travel to it to visit.

I'm forced into church attendance too. I've become quite good at pretending to go along with the crowd and all that. It's hard, I know, but remember that only you get to decide who you really are.

I get that but I feel like eventually they are going to catch on to me not wanting to go and me being board and what happens then

Clearly, as long as she is living with her parents she does not have religious freedom. What do u expect her to do? Call the police and say "my parents want me to go to church"?

Lol you pretty much get it. Children do not have freedoms because children can not be trusted to make the right decisions. The freedoms we do have can be taken away very easily.

Child services would be more appropriate

What good would that do? Me calling child services because my parents make me go to church would actually do a lot more harm then good.

I live in a very small town in backwoods Ga. Going to church is the normal thing to do. Besides my parents are not bad people really. They don't beat me, they do not try and take me out of school or hinder my education (although they don't agree with it). They don't isolate me ( I mean they don't like me hanging out with certain people.) they let me go to the movies, and hang out with friends. So really the whole child services thing wouldn't do anything.

And besides the points you clearly have way to much trust in a system that is pretty much proving itself to be broken. You can't trust the government.

Are you in a different kind of Christianity? Where I live, the Roman Catholic Church is the most dominant, second is the Islam (If I remember correctly), then third is the variations of Christianity and others.

I was never forced, as far I can remember. There are times where I haven’t attended mass for like 3 weeks or more. Though a lot of religious activities happen during the whole year and I attend many of them. There was never a feeling of being forced for me, but I’ve heard situations like yours from other families that is very strict when it comes to religion. My Church does not force people, but they encourage us, that if we can go attend masses/activities, we atleast try. Religion SHOULD NOT hinder you from being happy.

I am raised in a Southern Baptist family. It is probly very different from Catholic

Posts merged. Use the multi quote button next time. ~Mars

[mattsmith48]

Lol you pretty much get it. Children do not have freedoms because children can not be trusted to make the right decisions. The freedoms we do have can be taken away very easily.

What good would that do? Me calling child services because my parents make me go to church would actually do a lot more harm then good.

I live in a very small town in backwoods Ga. Going to church is the normal thing to do. Besides my parents are not bad people really. They don't beat me, they do not try and take me out of school or hinder my education (although they don't agree with it). They don't isolate me ( I mean they don't like me hanging out with certain people.) they let me go to the movies, and hang out with friends. So really the whole child services thing wouldn't do anything.

And besides the points you clearly have way to much trust in a system that is pretty much proving itself to be broken. You can't trust the government.

Children have most of the same right as adults, the right to freedom of religion is one of those. I don't know what the child protection laws in this case are where you live, but one thing is certain, have the right to choose not to believe in the religion you were raised in, and you have the right to refuse to go to church if you don't want to and decide to quit the religion. You should carefully explain that to your parents, if the refuse to accept it and still force you to go to church then you can research what your legal options are.

I am raised in a Southern Baptist family. It is probly very different from Catholic

Pretty much the same thing, with some minor disagreement on minor subject.

[NewLeafsFan]

Child services would be more appropriate

While it would be more appropriate, and I wish it was that easy, it probably wouldn't do much good. If the parents believe that it is within their religious beliefs to bring their miner to church with them, child protective services would probably side with the parents.

[mattsmith48]

While it would be more appropriate, and I wish it was that easy, it probably wouldn't do much good. If the parents believe that it is within their religious beliefs to bring their miner to church with them, child protective services would probably side with the parents.

The religious beliefs of a person can't be used as an excuse to take rights from someone else even their child.

[NewLeafsFan]

The religious beliefs of a person can't be used as an excuse to take rights from someone else even their child.

You clearly don't get. Her parents would probably punish per or not let her live with them. So unless you are saying that she would be better off homeless or with a foster family...

[mattsmith48]

You clearly don't get. Her parents would probably punish per or not let her live with them. So unless you are saying that she would be better off homeless or with a foster family...

I am against people trying to take other people's rights from them. If she doesn't want to go to church its her right to make that choice and no one should stop her.

[NewLeafsFan]

I am against people trying to take other people's rights from them. If she doesn't want to go to church its her right to make that choice and no one should stop her.

No one is arguing against that. We don't live in a perfect world. If this girls parents want her to stand in the front yard and do the chicken dance she more than likely will. Take off your rose coloured glasses and be realistic.

[Southern_Cheer]

No one is arguing against that. We don't live in a perfect world. If this girls parents want her to stand in the front yard and do the chicken dance she more than likely will. Take off your rose coloured glasses and be realistic.

I don't know about the chicken dance, but yea I don't have a lot of options in the whole church thing. He doesn't really get it. Small town, everyone goes to church. The Law and CPS would side with my parents because they are not doing anything wrong. And no my parents would not kick me out but they would ground me forever or send me to a church sponsored youth camp and boarding school.

And I like my faith, I like having something to belive in, my ideas just dont mesh with that of my family. So its not even me not wanting to be religious its me not wanting to be in the church I am in. And I dont have any option to pick any other church.

[Dalcourt]

I don't know about the chicken dance, but yea I don't have a lot of options in the whole church thing. He doesn't really get it. Small town, everyone goes to church. The Law and CPS would side with my parents because they are not doing anything wrong. And no my parents would not kick me out but they would ground me forever or send me to a church sponsored youth camp and boarding school.

And I like my faith, I like having something to belive in, my ideas just dont mesh with that of my family. So its not even me not wanting to be religious its me not wanting to be in the church I am in. And I dont have any option to pick any other church.

You are right about not having many options, at least not till you are an adult.
So while this church might be annoying I guess you will have to put up with it for a lil longer. Since your parents having a sudden change of heart isn't realistic, either.

Just play along and pretend...that's at least what I do when I go to church with my friend and her family. :)

[Southern_Cheer]

You are right about not having many options, at least not till you are an adult.
So while this church might be annoying I guess you will have to put up with it for a lil longer. Since your parents having a sudden change of heart isn't realistic, either.

Just play along and pretend...that's at least what I do when I go to church with my friend and her family. :)

im just worried one day ill slip up and the hell that'll bring me (pun intended :lol:)

[Beach_Blonde]

you'll be ok you just gotta fake it till you make it, besides it may not be forever you never know

[Dalcourt]

im just worried one day ill slip up and the hell that'll bring me (pun intended :lol:)

Haha,yeah there's always that danger. What do you think will happen?

[mattsmith48]

im just worried one day ill slip up and the hell that'll bring me (pun intended :lol:)

That's why you are better to tell them intentionally

[Uniquemind]

I think for now just think about attending church as a socialization time with others who might be feeling the same way.


I strongly disagree with your pastor, and I consider myself Christian as well; albeit I do differ in that I believe in reincarnation, most interpretations of the faith do not accept that.


But do consider understanding the contrasting differences between what the actual bible says, versus how your pastor teaches it and look for inconsistencies it'll keep you sane.

Let me also add that you'll find there isn't a single line against female masturbation in the bible as sin. So if that aspect of the faith is causing you angst you can like relax and realize that guilt trip is made up.

Fornication and adultery is another story though, but sometimes the terms are used interchangeably....that's also incorrect.

[jhardy]

Pretty much the same thing, with some minor disagreement on minor subject.

Not even close. Southern Baptists belief and Church services are waaaaaaaay different than the Catholic Church. A couple cousins and their families are Southern Baptist. So we would go with them when we were visiting. And my parents would always find a Catholic Church to go to that evening. They're definitely not "pretty much the same thing."

[mattsmith48]

Not even close. Southern Baptists belief and Church services are waaaaaaaay different than the Catholic Church. A couple cousins and their families are Southern Baptist. So we would go with them when we were visiting. And my parents would always find a Catholic Church to go to that evening. They're definitely not "pretty much the same thing."

Tell me what is the difference?

[Uniquemind]

Tell me what is the difference?

Well for one, southern baptists really incorporate a lot of emphasis on earthly behavior and also use a lot of psychological shaming tactics in their versions of bible studies and sermons.

[liberal raj]

I hate being a Christian sometimes, I feel like my life is more stifled and burdened by being forced into a church I don't really believe in.
Does any one else face this problem?

i am a hindu officially.But as per my faith i don't belong to any religion,I am a non-believer,agnostic liberal rationalist and i try to see the world in a scientific attitude.28% of the worlds population has no religion.So don't feel weird ,it's okay to be one of us.

[Ilove318]

I’m also a Hindu, but not traditional. I believe that God exists, but sometimes I feel angry and challenge him/her. So most of the time I go with science as there is proof, but I guess everyone is different so people should respect you for who you are.