So...

[nachtspiegel]

I just told my mother that while I am agnostic, I am leaning on the border of atheism. I don't know if I could ever be a true, full-fledged atheist; I do believe in the supernatural, to a certain extent, and I am spiritual, to a certain extent. I was at one point a Christian. Secular humanism seems to be a fit, for the most part. I'm not sure what I believe in now. This has been on my mind for many months, so I decided to share it with her. She isn't happy about it at all. She was very taken back and she really couldn't think of what to say, so I asked her what she thought and she said "I don't like it at all" in a very angry tone and stared off into space.

I'm not sure how the rest of my family will take it when, and if, I choose to tell them. My sisters believe in God and are religious, but more spiritual. I don't know if my brother believes in anything. My dad was raised a Baptist. So, my family is primarily religious. I am the first agnostic family member that I know of.

I didn't make this thread to rant, but I'm curious to know: if your family is religious and you aren't, how did they take it when you told them? If they didn't take it well, how do you deal with that? How do they deal with it?

[byee]

Different families have different levels of tolerance for differences btw'n family members. Depending on how significant the issue is for them, they can be accepting of it or not so accepting. Also, generally speaking, some families tend to be more tolerant of their kids thinking or feeling or having values differing from theirs.

In your case, David, with all the other stuff going on with you, I'd think that although it's OK to question things, it's probably not the best thing to share those values which you've determined to be at odds with theirs. You need all the supoort you can get, and sharing a fairly radical (for them) value is just going to put more distance btw'n you.

[nachtspiegel]

You've got a good point there. To keep the hostility to a minimum, there are a few things that I plan to keep to myself at this point. I'm not really sure what compelled me to tell her, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the moment. It doesn't surprise me that she's not too fond of it, but I am a little surprised that it made her angry. Now, she's avoiding me. If I say something to her, she doesn't say anything back, and she's looking in the other direction to avoid looking at me.

I'm not that bothered by it, though, to be completely honest.

[Halibut]

well i think your family needs to learn to deal with it. i was in the same situation. i would talk to her abotu it mroe andn tell her hwo you feel

[Atonement]

Some families, if they don't want to push you away, will accept it, and not try to force religion onto you. In your case, I suggest, if you want to keep all peace, just keep your outspeaking to a minimum, just to keep the all quiet. And if they want to go to church or something on Easter, just go along to please them and avoid conflict. Doesn't mean you have to believe.

[Hyper]

Well.. My family doesn't really stick their nose in eachother religion.

And those of us who are religious are quite non-conventional. I do not know anyone from close family who goes actively to church.

Of course some that are atheistic know that someone is religious or believese in this or that, but it really hasn't affected the relationships in the family..