Parents

Okay, I'll throw it out there...I'm a Christian. I don't force my beliefs on anyone. If someone wants to talk about it openly I share it, but never hover over them saying "YOU'RE GOING TO HE'LL!" I have my beliefs, and I respect those who have different beliefs and am close friends with those who don't believe, I may think they are wrong but I don't put that out. Everyone at my church knows I have snakes nd they think its cool, I've even used them before. I've never heard anyone call them the devil lol. As far as your situation, if I'm pushed into something, I fight it even harder. My parents never made me go to church, I just did. Try to talk with your parents about your beliefs, it will be hard for them to hear but maybe they will understand.

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Originally Posted by pigfat

Okay, I'll throw it out there...I'm a Christian. I don't force my beliefs on anyone. If someone wants to talk about it openly I share it, but never hover over them saying "YOU'RE GOING TO HE'LL!" I have my beliefs, and I respect those who have different beliefs and am close friends with those who don't believe, I may think they are wrong but I don't put that out. Everyone at my church knows I have snakes nd they think its cool, I've even used them before. I've never heard anyone call them the devil lol. As far as your situation, if I'm pushed into something, I fight it even harder. My parents never made me go to church, I just did. Try to talk with your parents about your beliefs, it will be hard for them to hear but maybe they will understand.

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It's good to see someone different

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Originally Posted by Ridinandreptiles

Where did I claim to know everything?

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Well, your parents are attempting to instill values in you and teach you about the faith that they have experienced throughout their lives which had brought them happiness. They're hope is that you will embrace that same faith and find the same happiness. But you, in your 17 years know better than they do so you are rebelling. It is basic teenager behavior. In 10 years or so, you'll see that your parents are not as dumb as you think.

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Originally Posted by chet1028

Well, your parents are attempting to instill values in you and teach you about the faith that they have experienced throughout their lives which had brought them happiness. They're hope is that you will embrace that same faith and find the same happiness. But you, in your 17 years know better than they do so you are rebelling. It is basic teenager behavior. In 10 years or so, you'll see that your parents are not as dumb as you think.

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Sometimes people don't want other people to instill their faith on them, parents or not. Especially when you're of an age where you can explore all other belief systems and views yourself. That has nothing to do with being a teenager and "rebelling". If my parents started doing it now, and I resisted, would it be just a rebellious teenage thing?

Sorry to say, but you can still have amazing values without religion. If your child does not want to embrace the same faith as you, or as intensely as you, you deal with it.

If you can't, that shows immaturity on your behalf, not the child/young adult's.

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Originally Posted by chet1028

Well, your parents are attempting to instill values in you and teach you about the faith that they have experienced throughout their lives which had brought them happiness. They're hope is that you will embrace that same faith and find the same happiness. But you, in your 17 years know better than they do so you are rebelling. It is basic teenager behavior. In 10 years or so, you'll see that your parents are not as dumb as you think.

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I'm an atheist. I have been my entire life (even at six, I thought the idea of the world being created by someone in the sky to be absurd). Does that mean that I don't have values? Here's a hint: I do have values.

You don't need a 2,000 year old book to teach someone values, especially one that has values that are out of date, in most cases. Not to mention, what brings one person happiness won't always bring another person happiness. As an example, there are plenty of people who love wrestling and it brings them happiness to watch it. Me? I think it's a load of garbage and is stupid. I prefer such shows as Fringe, Bones, or House. Those same people might just end up feeling the same way towards the shows I enjoy.

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Originally Posted by chet1028

Well, your parents are attempting to instill values in you and teach you about the faith that they have experienced throughout their lives which had brought them happiness. They're hope is that you will embrace that same faith and find the same happiness. But you, in your 17 years know better than they do so you are rebelling. It is basic teenager behavior. In 10 years or so, you'll see that your parents are not as dumb as you think.

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i never thought my parents were dumb....were best friends practically so im rebelling? heres the thing i dont like the things the church teaches, heck it could just be that church not the faith! so its not a rebellious thing, i dont stay out late and drink like my many do. i sit in the garage and tear engines apart and sit in my room messing with snakes. lol

I'm surprised none of the older people here have pointed out that you will NEVER be free! Someone is always going to be dictating to you what you may or may or not do. Sometimes it will be in a huge way, and sometimes so minor you won't even notice that you're being forced to behave a certain way.

I don't believe in God, but most of the people I socialize with on a regular basis do. You need to keep in mind that if your parents are believers, they believe with every fiber of their being that your soul is on the line here. In your mother's mind, allowing you to disregard religion is the equivalent of allowing you to step out in front of a semi truck going 100 miles an hour. Your parents are doing what they think is best for you.

You know what else isn't going to happen? You will NEVER see the day when religion isn't forced down your throat. You will encounter it with friends, coworkers, likely even perfect strangers. This is where this religious youth group will actually help you. When you're confronted with religious banter, you will be able to debate respectfully and intelligently. The more of the Bible you know, the easier it will be for you to express your own side of the "debate".

I am not against religion, and I don't necessarily believe that religious people are stupid. I just think they are as misguided as they believe I am :) The more you learn about other people and what makes them tick, the more capable you are of expressing yourself on their level without being manipulated or coming across as hostile. As an atheist I can tell you, when the topic of religion comes up, the religious party is usually expecting anger and hostility out of you, because you're a heathen and that's how heathen's behave.

You don't have to believe in something to know about it. Knowledge is power, so use this opportunity to learn all that you can because I can assure you, this is a debate that will not end when you turn 18 and are no longer forced to go to church.

As a fellow 17 year old, and someone who spends half the day questioning religious beliefs, I believe that I may be able to understand somewhat where you are coming from. I go to a religious school by choice, but I believe very little (none) of what I learn as fact, and am one of several of my peers who insists on continually questioning things. Thankfully I have teachers who are willing to attempt to answer our questions. I have never had pressure from home to have a religious belief, and I think I can understand your issues of feeling forced into it by your parents. BUT, I have found that it is beneficial to learn these beliefs, even if you don't feel that they will follow you later into life or have any effect on you other than to annoy you.

As others have said before, knowledge of religious beliefs will help you in debates/arguments later in life, either preempting common debate points or providing evidence against others' points or supporting your own.

I also find it important (as somewhat of a side-point) to look at the Bible as either a novel or an allegorical work rather than a literal one. It helps in understanding/tolerating some of what it says.

Also be respectful of the beliefs of those around you, but do not be afraid to question them when you don't agree with or understand them.

As for your parents, while I know I would be very angry if my parents tried to force a set of beliefs on me, as long as this group is not cutting into sorely needed time, just try to tolerate it a little longer until they won't make you go anymore.

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Originally Posted by geeko

As a fellow 17 year old, and someone who spends half the day questioning religious beliefs, I believe that I may be able to understand somewhat where you are coming from. I go to a religious school by choice, but I believe very little (none) of what I learn as fact, and am one of several of my peers who insists on continually questioning things. Thankfully I have teachers who are willing to attempt to answer our questions. I have never had pressure from home to have a religious belief, and I think I can understand your issues of feeling forced into it by your parents. BUT, I have found that it is beneficial to learn these beliefs, even if you don't feel that they will follow you later into life or have any effect on you other than to annoy you.

As others have said before, knowledge of religious beliefs will help you in debates/arguments later in life, either preempting common debate points or providing evidence against others' points or supporting your own.

I also find it important (as somewhat of a side-point) to look at the Bible as either a novel or an allegorical work rather than a literal one. It helps in understanding/tolerating some of what it says.

Also be respectful of the beliefs of those around you, but do not be afraid to question them when you don't agree with or understand them.

As for your parents, while I know I would be very angry if my parents tried to force a set of beliefs on me, as long as this group is not cutting into sorely needed time, just try to tolerate it a little longer until they won't make you go anymore.

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Usually it doesn't cut into things too bad but tonight I was prepping for a race and tearing my quad apart plus doing H. I will be up til 1130

I don't know if your parents would settle for this, but maybe if you agreed to go (with little to no complaint) on nights when you did not have a full schedule, they would let you skip the group if you had a fuller schedule.