Whelp I may not have family anymore if I leave the LC.......

[theLCfurry]

Hey guys,

I had an argument with my parents about my beliefs in atheism... let me say that it wasn't pretty

In the end I remember that my mom would pretty much abandon me if I left the LC after I go to college. I asked her if she would do this and she pretty much acted that I had to be one with the family, somewhere along those lines. I interpreted that they would indeed abandon their atheist kid, which is me.

I want to ask for help, but I'm not sure how to in this forum and what kind of help I need. Any attempts to help would be appreciated...

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by theLCfurry

Hey guys,

I had an argument with my parents about my beliefs in atheism... let me say that it wasn't pretty

In the end I remember that my mom would pretty much abandon me if I left the LC after I go to college. I asked her if she would do this and she pretty much acted that I had to be one with the family, somewhere along those lines. I interpreted that they would indeed abandon their atheist kid, which is me.

I want to ask for help, but I'm not sure how to in this forum and what kind of help I need. Any attempts to help would be appreciated...

Perhaps you might want to reconsider.

I understand that young people like yourself like to think they are invincible, indestructible, all-knowing, and in need of nothing, but I rarely meet a person who has never needed God. Nor a family for that matter.

[OBW]

I don't know how to answer concerning your mother. How she responds is "on her" as they say.

But as to your thoughts on God in general, let me suggest an alternative to simply chucking it all. Since the Christianity and belief in God you have learned so far is likely only from the fruit of the poisoned LC tree, maybe take some time to consider it all from a different perspective. I wouldn't try to suggest what kind. I consider a lot of different groups worthy for consideration. The problem is that any particular assembly in any broader group may be better or worse for many reasons. I would generally avoid megachurches as they are too easy to just become a statistic. Definitely avoid the healthy, wealthy, and wise gospel places.

Most of us who grew up in church of any kind eventually have to make what they grew up with their own unless we just want to rock along and not make waves. And too many take that route. Some call it "deconstructing." Others say this is a dangerous thing. But if you can't question it all and then find out what is real (and a lot of what you learned in the LC is not real), then you will either just become a seat warmer, or you will just reject it all.

As for your family, the key is that no matter what they say (or even just your mother), few really intend to just cut you off. But they may think they intend that at the first. Accept that the transition — whether to a different kind of Christian faith or to no faith — will start off raw. But don't just disappear. Give them the opportunity to soften their stance. To come to the realization that family is not severed over the LC. There may always be an elephant in the room. But if they are still human, their love will overcome it enough to bring the family back together — at least at some level.

Now I can't declare that it is guaranteed to work. And I (and a lot of others) would like to help you rethink your faith without being compelled to just dump it and move on. But whatever you do with respect to your family, do not presume that it is simply "in the LC or disowned and never to darken the doors again." I suspect that it may seem that way at first, but it should not remain in that way.

[awareness]

Originally Posted by Ohio

but I rarely meet a person who has never needed God. Nor a family for that matter.

Nor prehistory tribes. They had gods too. And btw, the early Christians, not the Jewish Christians that were the earliest, but the pagan Christians Paul brought in, were called atheists, because they didn't believe in the gods, like required by the ruling Romans (those Christians were blamed for crop failures, cuz they were dishonoring the gods, so they were to blamed for the gods punishing the pagan community).

Look theLCfurry, my point is that, even your parents are atheists. They don't believe in thousands of gods. They are atheists of them all. No big deal. I'm an atheist too, like you -- except I'm fond of Yahweh. For example, I'm an atheist of Zeus.

You're young theLCfurry, and have lots to learn. First of all, true real atheists -- not like Richard Dawkins and the lot -- don't even know they are atheists ; they know nothing of religion, even atheism.

Those here in America, that call themselves atheists, are just atheist in name only. Eighty percent of Americans identify as Christians. So atheists here are rebelling against that. They're anti-Christian, prolly like yourself toward the LC.

But if you don't just want to go out there and party your brains out, like a lot of college students, but want to learn more about these matters, you'll learn that as far back as the eye can see into the fog of ancient history humans have believed in some kind of god(s).

Here's the thing. I'm pretty loosey-goosy about god(s) (maybe more on that later). I'm presently reading "From the Stone Age to Christianity: Monotheism and the Historical Process," by William F. Albright, a American archaeologist, biblical scholar, philologist, and expert on ancient ceramics. In the book he speaks of the gods as if they were real, cuz they were, to the people back then. Those ancient peoples -- maybe we can refer to them as primitives, at least the stone age ones -- needed their gods to make it thru their very hard lives. They were petitioning them, sacrificing to them, in hopes they would be favorable towards them, and provide badly needed blessings of some sort.

My point, perhaps following in Ohio's thought, is that historically, people have needed god(s). Here in America, where life is already full of blessings, god or the gods aren't needed so much. But when times get dicey, like with Covid-19, people who don't normally believe, turn to prayer.

I don't blame you for taking a drastic step against your cradle religion. I did that too. So perhaps you're just going thru a phase, and you need time to find your knew footing, to be youself, and not what others want you to be.

Don't despair concerning your parents. Give them time. A little bit before I went on a sabbatical from this site, we had a gay sister that grew up in the local church. She was outed, she got caught kissing another sister, on video, and was hated by everyone in the LC.

Her fanatical LC parents were apoplectic. They're Chinese so they thought they would save her by taking her to Taiwan. It didn't work. The video went viral in the local church, so they hated her there to. The rejection of her local church friends, that she grew up with, and her parents, drove her to the point of suicide.

Long story short, she now lives with her gay lover. She's ecstatic ; very happy. She can now be who she really is. And her parents? Well needless to say, they aren't happy about it. Her father, the most LC fanatic, doesn't fully accept it, but her mother is now making meals for them, and buying her lover gifts.

So likely, once your parents get over the shock of you becoming an atheist, will come around. But isn't it time to be who your are, regardless of what others think, including your parents?

Blessings ....
Harold

[manna-man]

Originally Posted by theLCfurry

Hey guys,

I had an argument with my parents about my beliefs in atheism... let me say that it wasn't pretty

In the end I remember that my mom would pretty much abandon me if I left the LC after I go to college. I asked her if she would do this and she pretty much acted that I had to be one with the family, somewhere along those lines. I interpreted that they would indeed abandon their atheist kid, which is me.

I want to ask for help, but I'm not sure how to in this forum and what kind of help I need. Any attempts to help would be appreciated...

Greetings furry,

Keep your eyes and spirit open for truth.
IMHO, we all are messed up to different degrees so what you are dealing with isn't so unusual.
It is also not unusual to not believe if you don't. I'm sure there is more than meets the eye here but please understand you are loved by the One you don't believe. I'm sure you've heard people tell you this before.
No worries....
There's a reason for everything and a time...be patient and show the love to your family you would expect from them. Be strong and be the unique individual God made you to be.
Remember that there was only one made like you!


If this is for real, We here will have faith for you and pray for your entire situation. We'll trust that our Great God of Grace will find a way for you and your family as He has for us and ours...

Don't be shy and please give us reports as time goes by and as we walk together by faith.

Peace