Parents

[BrandiR]

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.