My dad found out I'm agnostic

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
I'm not going to read through the 7 pages of this, so I'll just tell you what I would do.

I'm in the same boat - raised Catholic, now a Recovering Catholic - but I haven't told my parents a thing. If they ever ask, this is what I planned to tell them:

I simply can't MAKE myself believe in God. I also didn't MAKE myself NOT believe. I'm not completely discounting the possibility that there might be a God, but in my life, the only reason I have to believe in God is a book that was written thousands of years before I was born. If there is a God, then he/she made me, and therefore he or she understands fully that I'm the type of person that needs to see and feel something before I believe in it.

You should at least read the original post date. It's over a year old.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

satan and hell do not exist, even in Christianity.

Just curious what your basis is for this statement?

The basis is that the Bible is pretty vague on "hell" Obviously, you can take the meaning of eternal damnation and suffering, but in other meanings, it can just mean that something bad happens to your soul.

http://www.religionfacts.com/c...anity/beliefs/hell.htm

The idea of hell (as understood in Christianity) is virtually absent from the Old Testament, which has very little to say about the afterlife at all. A possible mention hell in the Old Testament is this prophecy about the end times:
"Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2, NIV)

Another notable passage that likely contributes to Christian imagery of hell is Isaiah 66:24, which also refers to the end times: "And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind. Other passages that speak of the afterlife seem to indicate extinction of the soul after death (see, e.g., Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Rabbis have generally the taught the existence of a hell-like place for the unrighteous, but many Jews, both historical and modern, do not believe in hell or an afterlife. (See Jewish Beliefs: Afterlife.)

In the New Testament, the notion of hell is more clearly expressed, but still not in a systematic way. In many cases, "death" and "destruction" are the only mentioned penalties for rejecting God (e.g., Matthew 7:13, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, James 1:15). Also, as noted in the section above, the same terminology is often used in the New Testament that in the Jewish context may have suggested nothing more than physical death and destruction of the soul.

Arguments For An Eternal Hell

Among the common arguments advanced for the existence of an eternal hell are these:

1. Words and pictures in the New Testament imply finality.
2. The doctrine of hell has been believed for a long time by eminent theologians.
3. Offers of pardon are restricted to the present world.
4. The judgment occurs at the close of the redemptive era, and hence is final.
5. Character tends to final permanance.
6. The conscience expects and demands retribution in another life. {7}

Arguments Against An Eternal Hell

Commonly presented arguments against the existence of an eternal hell include:

1. Words and pictures in the New Testament imply death and destruction (i.e., annihilation).
2. "Eternal punishment" can refer to results that are eternal, not an eternal process.
3. Vindictive justice is not compatible with the God of love and compassion revealed in the New Testament.
4. The punishment does not fit the crime (i.e. non-eternal sin and disbelief). {8}
5. Hell contradicts the Christian assertion of the final victory of God over evil. {9}

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: Srfrbum
lol.

You're the tool that brought this back up after a year? Just to say "lol"? Just stop posting.

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I sympathize with the OP. My parents didn't take it very well that I'm no longer Christian. I'm not anything, really.

However, they simply try to sneak Christianity onto my kids. Once a year my wife and I take a week off from work and the kids spend that time at my parents' house. They use that time to convert my 4 and 5 year old. :|

> 1 year post dude

Really? I totally failed to read all these posts from guys going ape shit because a topic started over a year ago was bumped.

OMFG THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!!!!

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I sympathize with the OP. My parents didn't take it very well that I'm no longer Christian. I'm not anything, really.

However, they simply try to sneak Christianity onto my kids. Once a year my wife and I take a week off from work and the kids spend that time at my parents' house. They use that time to convert my 4 and 5 year old. :|

> 1 year post dude

Really? I totally failed to read all these posts from guys going ape shit because a topic started over a year ago was bumped.

OMFG THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!!!!

I thought you didn't have a god?

 

[HardcoreRobot]

honestly, this is probably something you will never be able to see eye to eye on. my advice? play by the house rules until its college time, then move out and don't look back. respect your father for what he has done for you, and offer your love and friendship as a son, but be strong in your own beliefs whether he accepts them or not.

part of growing up is recognizing the shortcomings of your parents

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I sympathize with the OP. My parents didn't take it very well that I'm no longer Christian. I'm not anything, really.

However, they simply try to sneak Christianity onto my kids. Once a year my wife and I take a week off from work and the kids spend that time at my parents' house. They use that time to convert my 4 and 5 year old. :|

> 1 year post dude

Really? I totally failed to read all these posts from guys going ape shit because a topic started over a year ago was bumped.

OMFFSM THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!!!!

I thought you didn't have a god?

there you go

 

[dbk]

Ok so where's the update?

 

[Regs]

Well at least you're still a virgin.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Zstream
Ok, first off that is not true. St. Paul killed many christians and is one of the greatest saints ever to live. If you post on this forum you should be able to do research. Only a few things that you believe in make you never able to come back to the Church.

Apostasy (canon 1364),
Heresy (canon 1364),
Schism (canon 1364),
Desecration of the Eucharist (canon 1367),
Physical violence against the Pope (canon 1370),
Attempted sacramental absolution of a partner in a sin against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue (canon 1378),
Ordination of a bishop without papal mandate (canon 1382),
Direct violation of the sacramental seal of confession by a confessor (canon 1388),
Procurement of a completed abortion (canon 1398), or
Being a conspiring or necessary accomplice in any of the above (canon 1329).

That being said, just about anyone that has received a vaccination in their lifetime needs to be excommunicated. :shocked:

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Srfrbum
lol.

I sense teh stoopid is strong in you.

 

[Saga]

It's easier to be a "happier" person if you're too stupid to question your surroundings and blindly follow a faith you believe has all the answers.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot


satan and hell do not exist, even in Christianity.

You're wrong about Satan but right about hell

 

[soulcougher73]

Yeah ive always loved this bit. I give you free will...but...dont do these things...because they are sins. Its liek free will with consequences. WTF. No thanks.

 

[Baked]

No update from OP means he got burned at the stake by his parents. Poor soulless bastard.

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot

Originally posted by: biggestmuff

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I sympathize with the OP. My parents didn't take it very well that I'm no longer Christian. I'm not anything, really.

However, they simply try to sneak Christianity onto my kids. Once a year my wife and I take a week off from work and the kids spend that time at my parents' house. They use that time to convert my 4 and 5 year old. :|

> 1 year post dude

Really? I totally failed to read all these posts from guys going ape shit because a topic started over a year ago was bumped.

OMFFSM THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!!!!

I thought you didn't have a god?

there you go

Thank you. :beer:

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Originally posted by: Srfrbum
lol.

It took you 16 months to get the joke. I bet you're a real hit at parties.

 

[jonks]

I don't know how anyone reconciles the existence of a beneficient, loving, all powerful, all knowing, involved, merciful lord god with the evils that occur on an hourly basis here on earth. A few examples.

Right now:
- a son is being forced at gunpoint to rape his mother and a father is being forced to rape his daughter. When they finish the men will probably be executed and then dismembered and force fed to other members of the village. The women will then become sex slaves and will be raped every day until they are most likely murdered or used up
- a kidnapped child is being tortured by his captor. The psycho will feel no remorse as he uses a knife on the child, cutting him/her into pieces while they are alive. They will use them and abuse them for as long as they desire, then kill the child and dump the body in a field or ditch somewhere
- young girls and women are being abducted around the world and sold into slavery in the middle east or asia. They will be made into sex slaves, if they are disobedient they will be tortured and killed. But the people in this business don't like to waste a good slave, so they have become masters of their craft, and use drugs and psychology to induce compliance in their subjects. The slaves will be used as long as they are attractive and young, and when they become used up they will be disposed of. A lifetime of being subjected to rape and captivity will be snuffed out somewhere and no one will know or care.

And these are not even the worst things that go on. Every day. Every hour. You think those poor people don't pray for help? It doesn't come.

There is no god.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Your confusion with the word "lie" happens after the word is translated from Latin. Prior to translation, there's no question about what's meant.

And after the Latin was translated from the Greek, after the Greek was translated from the Aramaic.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: atybimf
Here's a little background. I'm currently 15 and I grew up Catholic. I faithfully attended mass every Sunday (and sometimes Saturday) since I was young. Around the age of 13 is when I started actually thinking about my faith. I reasoned that there is no way of knowing whether there is a God or not. I became agnostic, however I didn't tell my dad and I continued to participate in mass.

So anyway, a while back I had bookmarked this site. Then this afternoon my dad, unbeknown to me, got on my computer to use the internet and "stumbled" (snooped) upon the bookmark. He confronted me about it and said that he does not want websites like this to corrupt me. I told him that the website had nothing to do with it, that I had decided on my own that I was agnostic quite a while ago. I told him I had avoided telling him in fear of his reaction, but he wouldn't have any of it.

Now I don't know how I can mend my relationship with my dad.

YOur dad is an idiot. God, most parents worry about gay porn.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: soulcougher73
Yeah ive always loved this bit. I give you free will...but...dont do these things...because they are sins. Its liek free will with consequences. WTF. No thanks.

Every action we take or don't take in life has consequences. Why should free will be any different?

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: soulcougher73
Yeah ive always loved this bit. I give you free will...but...dont do these things...because they are sins. Its liek free will with consequences. WTF. No thanks.

Every action we take or don't take in life has consequences. Why should free will be any different?

This is honestly only true if you aren't rich and/or famous. Your statement is misleading.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: her209
Tell your dad to "grow up".

I agree, 100%.

Daddy needs to grow the F up.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Izusaga

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: soulcougher73
Yeah ive always loved this bit. I give you free will...but...dont do these things...because they are sins. Its liek free will with consequences. WTF. No thanks.

Every action we take or don't take in life has consequences. Why should free will be any different?

This is honestly only true if you aren't rich and/or famous. Your statement is misleading.

how so?

Everything we do in life has a consequence attached to it. It does'nt have to be a negative consequence, but there are ramifications for everything we choose or don't choose to do.

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: Regs
Well at least you're still a virgin.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Are you referring to this thread? Sorry, I never bothered to update that one



And yes, I am alive. And I am an atheist (whoever said agnosticism is just a stop on the path to atheism was right). I go to church every week because "its my house my rules" but other than that I just don't really talk about religion with my dad anymore. He is too far gone to waste my time with. I'm just going to use this experience to better myself when I'm a father.

BTW, this thread is fucking old.