Re: I need help

[Killa_Kron]

I unfortuantely have a very religious family. I might have one or two atheists and that's me thinking optimistically. My parents already know i am atheist, but my much more religious grandparents don't know. Is there a way to tell them without them breaking out their bibles and trying an exorcism?

[Kylyssa]

You could just be passive and only mention it in a non-confrontational manner if religion comes up. Unless your grandparents are pushing religious hooey on you, I don't see any real reason to bring it up.  I'd just casually say,"I'm not religious" if they do bring up religious hooey.

[Killa_Kron]

if they do bring up religious hooey.

Hehe...hooey

[EssejSllim]

I agree. Unless there's some pressing need for it I would just stay mum about it. Realistically (and I don't mean to come off as rude here) you're grandparents probably aren't going to live much longer. Unless you're suffering because they don't know. It seems to make the most sense to let them believe you're still religious (it's worked for me).

If you feel as if you have to tell them though, I don't think there is a surefire way to break the news. If they do break out their bibles and try an exorcism, you know it's not going to work, so I'd just ignore them. Assuming they probably wouldn't be that dramatic and they try to convert you, just respectfully decline. If they ask why, respectfully discredit their arguments for.

My $0.02

[curiosityandthecat]

I'm in the same boat. My mother knows I'm an atheist; we agree to disagree. My extended family really falls into that "cling to your God and guns" category, so I just go along with it to keep the peace. It's not like I have any sort of doctrine that discourages blasphemy or anything, right?   It's not the Bibles and exorcisms you have to worry about; it's the making-your-life-difficult that you gotta watch out for.

[elliebean]

....you're grandparents probably aren't going to live much longer.....

Idk, at Killa's age, one's grandparents usually have a long way to go yet.

[hvargas]

You may want to introduce your grandparents to this book: THE SINS OF SCRIPTURE written by: JOHN SHELBY SPONG. His a retire Bishop. This book may also be good for your whole family.

[Tank]

I unfortuantely have a very religious family. I might have one or two atheists and that's me thinking optimistically. My parents already know i am atheist, but my much more religious grandparents don't know. Is there a way to tell them without them breaking out their bibles and trying an exorcism?

Why do you want them to know that you are an atheist? Is it important to you that they know or is there some other reason?

[EssejSllim]

....you're grandparents probably aren't going to live much longer.....

Idk, at Killa's age, one's grandparents usually have a long way to go yet.

That may be true. However, I am 15, have two grandparents left and both of them have got one foot out the door. Anyway, the actual length isn't the issue. The issue is how much you are "suffering" by going along with their religiousness. The more you are, the shorter you would probably be able to stand going along and the more advantageous it would be to tell them.

[elliebean]

Fair enough. Actually, the youngest of my grandparents died by the time I was 12 or 13. The oldest, now approaching 90, is the only one left, my grandmother having held out until just last year - in her mid 70's - still quite young to be the grandmother to someone my age. They were, and my grandpa still is, very religious. I never told them, but it didn't matter because I'd only been seeing them once every 5 years or so. And, well, my atheism isn't really at the top of my list of things I needed to worry them over. For instance it might be a little more important to know that their oldest is a granddaugher, as opposed to a grandson? Let's just say that folks back home have an entirely different mental image of me than people anywhere else, or in reality in general. =/

That and I have had a lot of conversations with people regarding the pros and cons of 'coming out' to parents and so forth, with various issues, and it always ends up something that breaks down to, "If you feel you must, for your peace of mind; only be prepared for the possible consequences."