Parents

[Green Gaia]

Do you practice the same religion of your parents? Why or why not? If not, how has that affected your relationship with them?

 

[cardero]

My mother was very understanding about the different religions that I have explored. She would sometimes raise a suspicious eyebrow every once and awhile because I use to bring my different religions home like stray pets. I think for the most part she is extremely surprised and a bit prideful to know that GOD still holds and interest in my life.

My father is not religious person at all. I think he believes in GOD but was always cautious about people (including his son) trying to tell him what to/how to believe in GOD.

 

[Watcher]

SHOOT! I hate is when I have to re-type replys!!! So (again).... I was able to tell my dad about being a UU/Buddhist with no problem. I'm not really sure how religious he was to begin with, but he was raised Christian. He just asked some questions about them, and seemed kinda interested. My though, well, let's just say I am a little afraid to tell her. I am not so sure why though. I think it is because everytime I try to talk theology and about religion she kinda shys away from the topic. I should probably just get it over with and tell her I am not really a Christian anymore.

 

[linwood]

My mother was whats best described as a lost Catholic.

She died in denial of my atheism.

Some people just cannot accept that their perfectly good moral ethical children are going to burn in hell regardless.

Edit:
I just re-read this and wanted to say that I don`t mean to imply that I`m "perfectly Good" as in angelic but perfectly good as in "Don`t throw that away it`s perfectly good".

If ya get my meaning.

 

[Godless Dave]

Yes and no. No one in my family practices a religion. Our beliefs are different: I am an atheist, my mom is some kind of deist, and I think my dad is agnostic. But we all practice the same.

 

[robtex]

My mother is agnostic and couldn' t care less. Her agnostism stems from apathy. My father was a methodist and later became a jehovah's witness at the request of his present wife. He is very very active in the kindom hall.

My brother (whom I live with) renounced his belief in God in college or shortly thereafter. He is an atheist who has since chosen not to look at religion again. My father suspects he may not be a Christian because of remarks my brother has made about the bible. My brother, of course, in the grand tradition of atheist is very bible literate and boardering on Bible scholar

I never told me father that I gave up on Christianity, never told him I became UU and am not going to tell him about my renouncing my belief in God.

I have to confess I get annoyed when my 1/2 bro sprouts that Bible creation theories to me that they have him memorize. He told my bro and I (I am assuming my father or step mother told him) that Mark (atheist bro) and I were Jwitness too and only Jwitness were going to be favored by God. I worry that he will be so brainwashed by the time he is old enough to think critically that he will either dedicated his life to what I see as a false cause or spend a signifigant number of years trying to get it out of his head and suffering because of it.

My father is one of the Christians that thinks Bush is doing the will of God. Ironically he has a marketing degree and does financial anaysis spending a signifigant portion of his year critically evaulating companies financial worth and cash flow but thinks that God micro-manages his life.

 

[jewscout]

Well my father's a deacon at some church around here in Richmond, but since i haven't spoken with him in a decade it really doesn't matter. My mother has always been a spiritual person, just not religious, and my choice in this path of Judaism really hasn't changed much except for what i can and can't eat at her house.

 

[Lintu]

My dad believes in some form of native american spirituality, and my mom is southern baptist. I have no problem talking to my dad about religion. He was forced to go to Church of Christ services his whole childhood and hated it. My mom, on the other hand, once believed that only Baptists were saved, but has since decided that that's not true. She was very upset when I tried out Catholicism because of the anti-choice message (I should have listened to her there). I'm not going to tell her about Judaism because it will only upset her, even though you'd think she'd be happy I'm actually finding this religion great so far.

 

[robtex]

Well my father's a deacon at some church around here in Richmond, but since i haven't spoken with him in a decade it really doesn't matter.

I am sorry about your father. I have always found it intrigiuing but disturbing that many spirtual leaders are able to sunday after sunday expound on message of love peace acceptance and humanity and than show poor skills in applying that to their own lives.

 

[jewscout]

I am sorry about your father. I have always found it intrigiuing but disturbing that many spirtual leaders are able to sunday after sunday expound on message of love peace acceptance and humanity and than show poor skills in applying that to their own lives.

My problem is that he continues to be a hypocrite in what he does and these people think he's some sorta G-dly man. Hell most of his own family can't stand him and his holier than thou attitude.

 

[robtex]

My dad believes in some form of native american spirituality, and my mom is southern baptist. I have no problem talking to my dad about religion. He was forced to go to Church of Christ services his whole childhood and hated it. My mom, on the other hand, once believed that only Baptists were saved, but has since decided that that's not true. She was very upset when I tried out Catholicism because of the anti-choice message (I should have listened to her there). I'm not going to tell her about Judaism because it will only upset her, even though you'd think she'd be happy I'm actually finding this religion great so far.

Your mom would love Texas. Lots of Baptist down here feel the exact same way about salvation. If you come and visit Texas again and want to see something really REALLY scary spend a day in Waco Texas a town run by an invisable yet everypresent set of churches most of which are by and large baptist.

 

[Lintu]

Your mom would love Texas. Lots of Baptist down here feel the exact same way about salvation. If you come and visit Texas again and want to see something really REALLY scary spend a day in Waco Texas a town run by an invisable yet everypresent set of churches most of which are by and large baptist.

My grandmother, my mom, and I were all born at the same hospital in Dallas. She's through and through a Texan, and loves Texas. And she's absolutely been to Waco--she was pretty much forced to root for Baylor by her church.

 

[No*s]

Neither of my parents were particularly religious. My Mother believes in God, the Bible, and little more. At one point, she married a Jehovah's Witness, which was a strain on both of us. However, when the cult forbade her to talk to her husband (he's disfellowshipped), me (I'm "satanic"), her parents, and several others, she rightfully left it. Now, however, she wants very little to do with religion. Instead, she has replaced it with politics (she almost religiously supports Bush, though she can at argue her side to a point).

My Father wasn't religious. He died before I became so much as a Christian, much less decided on Orthodoxy. He despised Baptists, which I first became, and used the term as a sound-alike for a cuss-word so that he could use it in polite company on me. He hated the Catholic Church even more (and would have considered Orthodox Catholic). I think I'm rather fortunate he's dead.

My extended family either considers me a black sheep for it (most already did, because I was always piddling with useless things like telescopes and old books), or they just think of it as no import, and when I see those, we play video games and shoot the bull.

 

[robtex]

My grandmother, my mom, and I were all born at the same hospital in Dallas. She's through and through a Texan, and loves Texas. And she's absolutely been to Waco--she was pretty much forced to root for Baylor by her church.

Keep talking like that you are making me want to leave. Texas. Waco is freaky ain't it? Hard to describe to those that ain't been there. Tell you mom that she doesn't have to root for Baylor they are God's chosen team (gold helmets=halo?) and to root for them is to undermine God's larger plan for football in the univese. When she looks at you preplexed than ask her why the fighting Irish (again notice gold helmets= halos?) of Notre Dame have a much stronger football team year in and year out if the Baptist are right?

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I'm pretty sure my Mom believes in God...other than that, I don't really know. My Dad is Christian...he believes having faith in Jesus saves us, etc. He doesn't know that I am an atheist as far as I know. I'm not sure I want him to know that I'm an atheist, because if he knew that he would probably want to discuss/debate a bunch of things, and if we debated I would probably defeat him handily. But I don't want to "defeat" my Dad...I'd rather believe he walks on water for a few more years.

*edit* Not that my Dad and I can't debate with each other...we discuss politics and religion all the time. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't. I just keep the topics away from theology. When it comes to atheism/rationalism vs. theism/faith, you're dealing with two opposing worldviews...I'd rather keep on pretending that my Dad and I come from the same worldview.

 

[MagickIsFun]

My Mom's Episcopalian. I think that means Christian. My Dad's Jewish, but not Orthodox. These differences actually helped when I first told my parents I was going into Wicca. They were sceptic at first, but when they found out what it is about, they even let me buy spellbooks and research it on the internet. I love them for it. We now celebrate Christmas, Hanukka(sp?) and Winter Solstice! More holidays, more fun!

 

[Runt]

My mother is Wiccan and my father is an agnostic who draws inspiration from Taoism and Zen Buddhism. Both of my parents have attended the Unitarian Universalist church in the past, and although they do not attend as frequently as I do, they both consider themselves to be UUs, which I guess means we belong to the same religious organization, but do not claim to have the same theological beliefs... which is true of pretty much all UUs, lol!

 

[huajiro]

My parents baptized me Lutheran.....I became Catholic by choice when I was about 24 (my Mexican influence)....I am now about 2 steps from becoming Unitarian. They aren't very religious (my parents used to smoke pot and praise the Lord in our kitchen). I guess, I haven't really started with any base...I won't force my kids to believe what I do. I will give them the information (as much as I can), and let them make their own decisions.