Happy Atheist Forum

so i finally told my parents I'm an atheist. thanks to everybody on the forum and other atheistic websites, i knew what to expect. they went through the normal cycle of shock, disbelief, denial, questioning, semi-acceptance. all in all they were pretty cool about it. my grandmother (who is really cool) was really understanding and said she would support my decision as long as i keep an open mind. my dad was really cool about it, he pretty much accepted it. my mom, however, was doing that whole self pity thing where it's her fault and she failed to raise me as a child for a little while, but then she calmed down. I think they think that there is still "hope" for me becoming theistic again, but i didn't have the heart to tell them there isn't. i know that sounds terrible closed minded, but there isn't. i think they think I'm just going through a phase. but i feel as if a burden has been lifted off my shoulders. they said i can't be a part of christmas or get gifts, i said that was cool, but i am still going to get them gifts. but seriously, thanks guys, every question they had, i had an answer to. i was able to explain my conclusion as well as i did because of your help. :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages14.fotki.com%2Fv363%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2Fkane-vi.gif&hash=4e4962da945d0c38a17e72f17ac4857fa393fa15)

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages14.fotki.com%2Fv363%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2Fkane-vi.gif&hash=4e4962da945d0c38a17e72f17ac4857fa393fa15)

that's awesome

hehe.. so long as you've never actually watched Citizen Kane, then that scene has a whole different meaning..

 

Quote from: "Jolly Sapper"hehe.. so long as you've never actually watched Citizen Kane, then that scene has a whole different meaning..

 

nope, never seen it

Congrats.

That is bs about them automatically excluding you from the christmas celebrations...what an odd thing to bring up.     I guess it just seems odd to me since christmas is basically a secular family holiday in my family.

Quote from: "laetusatheos"Congrats.

That is bs about them automatically excluding you from the christmas celebrations...what an odd thing to bring up.     I guess it just seems odd to me since christmas is basically a secular family holiday in my family.

i know, it's  the same thing with my family too. just a big family gathering.

Quote from: "quizlixx"

Quote from: "laetusatheos"Congrats.

That is bs about them automatically excluding you from the christmas celebrations...what an odd thing to bring up.     I guess it just seems odd to me since christmas is basically a secular family holiday in my family.

i know, it's  the same thing with my family too. just a big family gathering.

The Christmas gifts might of been a bargaining chip. That reminds me of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mcOIyf9TOQ

That's nice, lixx. One less lie to live - nothing bad about that  

A very good way of handling that whole christmas thing too.

Two thumbs up.

Quote from: "Msblue"The Christmas gifts might of been a bargaining chip.

Uh... People can buy their own damned socks and sweaters, so some bargaining chip... I wonder if that is one of those things used in desperation by people who do realise that it's nowhere near a good bargaining point, or if they really think that everyone else is shallow enough to sell who they are for a (usually small) gift or three..?

Quote from: "Asmodean"

Quote from: "Msblue"The Christmas gifts might of been a bargaining chip.

Uh... People can buy their own damned socks and sweaters, so some bargaining chip... I wonder if that is one of those things used in desperation by people who do realise that it's nowhere near a good bargaining point, or if they really think that everyone else is shallow enough to sell who they are for a (usually small) gift or three..?

i dunno, i would try it too. if i thought there was a slim chance of working. wouldn't you?

I'd buy them even more and better presents than last year, just to prove a point: you may want to count me out, but I still love you and consider this a family holiday, so here are your presents, bitches.

Well, I'd leave out the "bitches" part, but you get my meaning.

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"I'd buy them even more and better presents than last year, just to prove a point: you may want to count me out, but I still love you and consider this a family holiday, so here are your presents, bitches.

Well, I'd leave out the "bitches" part, but you get my meaning.

I'd write "bitches" in fine print on them little cards that people hook up to gifts to put the name on.  :cool: If I really wanted to turn asshole on someone, I'd kick them out of the house - unless of course it was their house.

I celebrate the winter solstice for Christmas and the spring equinox for Easter then I have two more extra holidays the fall equinox and summer solstice. That's great that you told your parents. I'll probably never tell mine.

Quote from: "quizlixx"i dunno, i would try it too. if i thought there was a slim chance of working. wouldn't you?

I had a friend who was told (when she was old enough that it would be normal to know better) that she had to believe in Santa in order to get her Christmas presents.  Even her older brother (who was in college at the time) was required to follow this same rule.  For some reason, to the mother, her thinking her children believe in Santa was important enough to encourage them to say they believed even if they didn't.  I would guess it was because not believing in Santa is a sign that your kids are getting older and no longer are going to believe everything you tell them.

Maybe your mom associates your leaving Christianity behind, not just with concern for your soul, but also with the realization that you aren't her little baby anymore (even though not matter how old you get you will be their little baby).

Grats for coming out of the closet!  Losing a few Christmas presents is a small price to pay for being able to be who you are with your family (although I agree with others that's an odd thing to use against you).  They seem to have taken it pretty well, all things considered.  And once they see that you haven't changed, aren't eating babies or worshipping Satan at midnight, hopefully they'll just accept it.

Wow, that bit about Christmas is absolutely revolting. The fact that they would even bring it up, and threaten you, I suppose, with the prospect of no presents, shows that they don't take your decision seriously.

I am earnestly sorry for your situation but proud of you for speaking out.

Quote from: "dodgecity"Wow, that bit about Christmas is absolutely revolting. The fact that they would even bring it up, and threaten you, I suppose, with the prospect of no presents, shows that they don't take your decision seriously.

THANK YOU! That's what I was trying to formulate, but couldn't so I had to change it. And now you said it and that's one more wart falling off my brain  

Quote from: "Faithless"And once they see that you haven't changed, aren't eating babies

first of all, babies aren't delicious, second of all, i don't have one.

Quote from: "quizlixx"first of all, babies aren't delicious, second of all, i don't have one.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages39.fotki.com%2Fv1234%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2F1215254181926-vi.gif&hash=bb279ef2cef7aa316aaaa08194e1c72063d533ff)

What do you MEAN babies aren't delicious?!

WTG, quiz!  I'm really proud of you!  That takes such bravery and strength to tell parents about atheistic beliefs... I couldn't do it until I was over 40!  Wish I'd had the courage to do it earlier.

About Christmas... that's a shame that they are going to hold Christmas hostage on you.  Educate them on the origins of all of the Christmas celebration rituals... maybe they'll change their minds.  Many atheists still celebrate Christmas, we just do it without the god/Christ bit.  It's a mostly secular holiday these days anyway, what with Santa and stores selling god as early as September.

Again, congrats!  

Congratulations! Very brave of you to come out of the closet like that And isn't Christmas about loving your family and being with them? Hope your parents will understand that this decision doesn't make you a lesser person. Good luck!

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "quizlixx"first of all, babies aren't delicious, second of all, i don't have one.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages39.fotki.com%2Fv1234%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2F1215254181926-vi.gif&hash=bb279ef2cef7aa316aaaa08194e1c72063d533ff)

What do you MEAN babies aren't delicious?!

you know. :devil:

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages14.fotki.com%2Fv363%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2Fkane-vi.gif&hash=4e4962da945d0c38a17e72f17ac4857fa393fa15)

Where do you get those marvelous GIFs?

Quote from: "Sophus"Where do you get those marvelous GIFs?

The very depths of the internet hate machine. I have to subject myself to the filthiest, most depraved images mankind has ever captured and digitized in order to get these occasional gems. I wish it upon no one.

 

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Sophus"Where do you get those marvelous GIFs?

The very depths of the internet hate machine. I have to subject myself to the filthiest, most depraved images mankind has ever captured and digitized in order to get these occasional gems. I wish it upon no one.

 

Ha ha. I believe it!

Sidewayspony.com?

Quote from: "Mister Joy"Sidewayspony.com?

Close. /gif/ (http://cgi.4chan.org/gif/imgboard.html) and JJ.am (http://www.jj.am/). Neither of these.. I repeat, neither of these sites are SFW whatsoever.  

Quote from: "quizlixx"so i finally told my parents I'm an atheist.

Well done, I don't know how my dear late Dad would have reacted had I told him as he was quite into his religion (Catholic).

Quote from: "quizlixx"they said i can't be a part of christmas or get gifts, i said that was cool, but i am still going to get them gifts. but seriously, thanks guys, every question they had, i had an answer to. i was able to explain my conclusion as well as i did because of your help.

Maybe you should point out to them that many people celebrate Christmas as a time of good cheer, good company etc and not only atheists, I know of others in British society such as Muslims, Hindu's, Chinese and so on that do, it's just fun here (there are a few nuts who think otherwise)

Kyu

Quote from: "dodgecity"I am earnestly sorry for your situation but proud of you for speaking out.

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages14.fotki.com%2Fv363%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2Fkane-vi.gif&hash=4e4962da945d0c38a17e72f17ac4857fa393fa15)

I watched my VHS copy for the first time last night and I still don't get it. D':

Quote from: "Moosader"

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"(Kane clapping)

I watched my VHS copy for the first time last night and I still don't get it. D':

I was just applauding quizlixx for telling his parents he's an atheist. That's all.  

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"I was just applauding quizlixx for telling his parents he's an atheist. That's all.  :D

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Moosader"

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"(Kane clapping)

I watched my VHS copy for the first time last night and I still don't get it. D':

I was just applauding quizlixx for telling his parents he's an atheist. That's all.  

Ah, I thought there was some hidden meaning.
Like he wasn't singing opera perfectly, so you were mad at how it made you look.

I have wanted to tell my parents so much lately. My uncle came over a couple of weeks ago and asked me, in front of my parents, why I don't go to church anymore. I just said I didn't want to talk about it, but I wish I could have told them the truth. I'm just afraid of my dad pulling something like your mom did by saying he was a bad parent and failed God and didn't raise me right and all that. My dad's 60, he doesn't need stress like that.

Quote from: "Chimera"I have wanted to tell my parents so much lately. My uncle came over a couple of weeks ago and asked me, in front of my parents, why I don't go to church anymore. I just said I didn't want to talk about it, but I wish I could have told them the truth. I'm just afraid of my dad pulling something like your mom did by saying he was a bad parent and failed God and didn't raise me right and all that. My dad's 60, he doesn't need stress like that.

i understand where your coming from, i didn't want to tell my grandprents because of heir age. But then i thought about how they have lived through so many things in their lives. i mean lets face it, most grandparents arent these old, sweet, innocent people that we need to protect from the outside world. most of them have already experienced some pretty rough stuff like vietnam, civil rights, and everything else that comes along with living as long as most of them have. so when you think that you shouldn't tell someone you love something that means alot to you because of them, your just hurting them. one last thing, to all closet atheists, after i  "came out", everyone said the same thing..."i wish you didn't keep this from me for so long."