Parents

[Ridinandreptiles]

I think the resentment gets me fed up. But the fact of the matter is, I don't believe what all the other people in that group do!

[gsarchie]

To those of you that say that someday he will appreciate it and at least his parents are doing something "positive," thanks for your opinions but NO THANKS! Throughout my life I've seen enough and learned enough to know that there is no higher power out there. To me religion and belief in a higher power is incredibly ignorant and contrary to what I've been taught since I was a young adult. Are we not told to make important decisions based on reason and evidence/proof and not emotion? Why would you then make what is the most important decision in your life (at least christians claim that belief in god is an important choice) based soley of your "feelings" that there is a god there when there is absolutely ZERO evidence to support it? Also, to those of you that don't believe but still say that you respect peoples religious views, why do you feel this way? Is there a reason that I should respect the fact that someone else believes in god any more than I respect their belief that blue is the greatest color in the world or that Incubus is the greatest band of all time? I say that there isn't.

RidinandReptiles - if you send me your address in a PM I will buy you a book on Amazon that I think will be a good read for you called The god Delusion by Richard Dawkins. If not, no worries, just wanted to put the offer on the table. I won't force it on you if you're not interested.

[CatandDiallo]

I do understand where people are coming from when they say "it's their house, their rules", but I think these things should only be true for, you know, curfew, who you can have over/when, etc. Things like that, ABSOLUTELY NOT with regards to one's beliefs (and trying to force your own upon your child).

I think it is absolute bollocks, and it will only breed resentment (like the OP has stated) for both the parents and the subject that is being forced upon them and nothing good can come out of that.

[Mike41793]

Well so much for me biting my tongue, archie took care of that!

[Ridinandreptiles]

Tanks for the offer ill keep my eyes out, but I don't want you to buy it for me

[MrLang]

I...

You...


Tell them you've found your god. Tell them you've been graced by the touch of his noodly appendage.




That sucks dude, at least you know how NOT to treat your own children when you have them.

Good luck.

[Kaorte]

You should just use the time in your youth group to play "devils advocate" Maybe then they will just kick you out, lol.

I stopped believing in god after my 13th birthday (bat mitzvah, I was raised jewish) but I continued to go to religious school and went on to be confirmed. Then again, I was in a very relaxed environment where not everyone really "truly" believed what they were saying. I made the most of it. I made friends and most of the time it was just philosophical discussion on various things, not always having to do with religion or the Torah.

My parents ask me every year, on every holiday if I am going to services and I always say no....I don't know when they will realize that I just don't subscribe to "God's magazine" anymore..

I made the choice on my own. No one convinced me to think the way I do, that is just how it is. Find a way to enjoy the youth group, but also make your parents aware of your beliefs in an Adult way. Everyone is free to believe in whatever they would like to, and so should you. 17 is close enough to being an adult. Its not like some magical switch goes off in your brain when your turn 18 and suddenly you can decide for yourself.

Tell them why you don't like spending time there, but be reasonable. Understand why they want you to go and try to make them understand the reasons why you don't want to be there, and how being there at all just makes you more unhappy with the current situation.

[ewaldrep]

I bit my tongue as well and posted a bland post that attempted to be supportive but do what you want, you could even fight for your emancipation and take them to court and make the arguement that your parents cannot restrict your access to your possessions if you paid for them. The God Delusion is a great book and I own a couple of copies myself, but this doesn't seem like the venue nor did it sound like you were questioning your own stance regarding religion, just frustrated that you are pressured to attend groups by your parents. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Marduk]

I only skimmed previous posts - mainly because I'd like to avoid the inevitable religion debate - so, sorry if I'm being repetitive with what has been said.
Above all, I'd encourage you to suck it up, despite your frustration. Believe me, I know - I went to Catholic school for 14 years of my life, and I'm an avid atheist and professional scientist. Another year of the group may seem like a long time, but in the grand scheme of life, it's not. Pick your battles wisely. Without getting into whether I think what your parents are doing is "right" or "wrong," they do still have legal sway in what you can and cannot do.

You're so close. Keep on trucking along. Vent here if needed, and read all the Dawkins and Hitchens you can in the meantime (if that's what you want to do). I know I did

[Ridinandreptiles]

For the record I didn't make this to get into the religion debate. I was just stateig my frustration. Honestly, if i never had religion forced upon me I would still be Christian but te more I go te more I shy away