Is it okay to open up myself being an atheist to my hardcore religious parents?

Question

I was raised being a Christian. I was very religious and obedient of the church. But as I age, I notice the hypocrisy of most devoted Christians and how they judge non-believers. Most of them are bad, ironically-- cheaters, drug users, scandalous, and have many body counts as what my active-sex-life friends told me (not that having premarital sex is bad, it only varies to people and this also considers a sin in the Bible) and many more. And yes, I was also one of them-- having internalized misogyny, homophobic, overly judgmental, etc.

But now, being an atheist, I feel so much free and happy. I become more genuine to help and serve without the thought of having someone up there to bless me if I do so. I become more open and understanding to people's choices and expressions. I feel lighter now. No offense to believers, but I feel so dumb now remembering how much I believed the Bible before. Also, I don't pray but I receive many things and achievements that someone considers them 'blessings from above'. I only thank myself and the ones who've helped me, and I feel so full and contented. But okay, I still respect the Christians. But the real issue here, I still haven't opened myself up to my parents.

I'm still dependent to them despite being not a minor anymore-- well, being an Asian child u know. What if they will disown me? There's many what if's.

What should I do?

Please answer with respect, and don't shove in my face that I should try going back to 'God' because I'd never do it. Thank you ❤️

Is it okay to open up myself being an atheist to my hardcore religious parents?

ohshee · Accepted Answer

Is this picture of you I look into your eyes and I feel that I see so many things you are one hundred percent right about Christians it's about every denomination it's almost as if the ones that are the holiest for the most righteous are the ones that do the most sinning it's kind of really remarkable how that works some of the most wrong people in this world h i d e behind religion and that's what makes me sick. There are a lot of really good people though and then there's people like me I admit I'm a sinner. And I will always be a. s i n n e r because I'm one of these people that want to know I want to understand and if I have to do something to experience it I do it just about everything on this planet is a sin I've never read the Bible I can tell you a lot about the Bible but I've never read it that's weird I don't like to go to church because I don't like somebody telling me they read a certain part of the Bible and this is the way it has to be because and when I went to church and I would hear that he read what he read well I didn't get that message at all I heard it in a whole different way. But he says it's his way of the way you better the way he sees it or it's hell for me I can tell you this if it's hell for me so be it.
I do God's work in many ways but I will not be led anywhere I will not follow you have to understand when we were born we were all given a gift the gift is the word choose every single moment of the day we make a choice everything we do we make a choice choice is more powerful than the word love because we choose to love our we choose not to but we are giving that gift for one reason and that reason is we can become anybody we want to become we choose what we want to become by the things that we say we do no I can't tell you what to do like I told you I'm a sinner I'm one of the biggest sinners but I will not change my belief in God and become an atheist because then that way it's not a sin I would rather admit that I and a s i n n e r and if you ask me why I would be happy to tell you and whatever it is that you wanted to know just because I believe in God in Jesus Christ does not mean that I am perfect I don't want to be perfect I want knowledge I want you to understand I want to feel things and sometimes the only way to do it is to sin,, I'm not going to lie about it I'm not going to sugarcoat it I'm not going to beat around the bush I'm going to straight up tell you in a minute and accept it that's who I am that's what I did and I did it for this reason no justification just this reason if you do believe in God or Jesus Christ that's great I love that if you don't believe in then that's your choice we're all given that gift of choice

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I would strongly recommend that you ensure you are in a secure position on your own before you tell them because the potential for a serious backlash on you is very real and it would be awful to be trapped in a situation like that.

pleasestopthis · Accepted Answer

I grew up in a christian environment and I had a rebellious phase when I didn't feel like going to church anymore and I hated the hypocrisy of most people I knew back then. I went for full honesty back then and said it was my problem, my beliefs were a personal thing and to stop suffocating me. It was a very harsh blow for my father but he respected my choice and accepted it wasn't something it could be forced down my throat. My advice for you is to be honest at all cost, authenticity is priceless, be it if you live as a christian or as a non believer.

HOAAH · Accepted Answer

Being an "atheist" means you don't get "judged" for doing whatever free thing you want to do.
Being a Christian you get judged a lot. I think that's why it is so hard for you to tell your parents you are an atheist. It is becuase you think your parents will judge you. CHristians are not supposed to judge, they are supposed to love.

loveslongnails · Answer

Are you certain you're an atheist, or are you just fed up religious hypocrisy, whether it be Christian or anything else? If you're certain that you don't believe in any sort of "higher power" or God, or "conscious life force responsible for the Universe", then ok - but why confront your parents with it?

If you're not being pressured to openly display their faith, like go to church, then what good will come of it right now? Wait until you're much older, or the situation becomes imperative. I guarantee it will only break their hearts right now, and it won't be worth the "freedom" you feel from it.

Worst case scenario if it comes up - just say you have your own personal beliefs and just don't want to share or discuss them. Say it's personal and they need to respect that. If they try and ask " Well, do you at least believe in God and Christ and are Christian", then say " which part of personal and I don't want to discuss it did you not understand?"

hahahmm · Answer

Oh, there's good reason for a lot of the old traditional ways. The idea that people should do every and anything may sound good but it doesn't consider the long term impact on society. That said, sure you're free to believe whatever you wish to. It's not honest to pretend to be something you're not. By the way, a lot of Christians are just fakers who do it for social benefits (same with other religions). Or in some countries you will literally be killed if you convert to the "wrong" religion.

SamA_nold · Answer

First off, good for you.
Second off, if you feel that you are in a safe position where if they do react badly, you'll have a secure place to go and escape, and it truly matters to you, go for it. Be yourself, and don't hold back in fear of what others might say about you.

If you feel that your parents would turn aggressive, and you aren't ready to face that, try to steadily build your independence and get away in time.

Leavesbound · Answer

Good luck with that. I tried telling my Mom I was questioning my faith (in reality I was already an atheist) and my Mom disowned me outright. She used to have visions of the virgin Mary and eventually joined an order of nuns.

OfDeath · Answer

There's no reason to tell them unless they ask. You can still attend church for social and family reasons. Just attending doesn't amount to actually believing the Christian stories are true. You wouldn't be the only person doing it either.

Basically what I'm saying is you can be an atheist without being a militant atheist. I'm an atheist too, and while, I don't regularly attend church, if I'm invited to a wedding or a funeral or something which includes religious ceremonies in a church, I don't resist joining in the prayer recitals etc on the grounds that I'm an atheist. We already know none of the superstition is true, so it doesn't matter either way whether or not you participate.

Study, get employment, live your life. Once you're independent enough, you can tell your parents you're an atheist.
After all, there is nothing to be embarrassed for about not believing in imaginary superstition.

Kas19 · Answer

Congrats! I opened up as atheist when I was like 15/16? I was raised in a very similar environment. My family did not take it kindly. Guess who became the black sheep? Lmao.

I would make sure it's safe to do so. What do they think of atheists? A few members in my family had a meltdown over my loss of faith. Just enjoy the drama ig.

Anonymous · Answer

Sorry to hear you lost faith in God, though like many you have replaced it with faith in man. But you clearly have misconceptions, perhaps from your heart soil. All Christians are sinners, doesn't matter young, old, male, female, or ethnicity. All have sinned and failed God. Even in my own life I battled porn from 14 - 20. I stopped a week, a month, a year, but I was still controlled by it. It wasn't until I openly admitted the truth and repented that I have be freed of it. Over two years later I have been tempted, but God has delivered me from it. The sins of others is no justification of our own sins, we are accountable before God for how we live our lives. It is not my place to judge, but it is my duty to point to the Judge. Nothing in this lifetime is worth Hell. God will Judge us all for how we lived our lives.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

NightHawk99 · Answer

Hardcore religious folks are incredibly stupid, no disrespect intended. Feel free to open up, but remind them true Christianity teaches followers to love their enemies like they would their allies and themselves. If they can't do such with you, then they don't know the name Jesus. :)

slatyb · Answer

None of us can tell you whether you should tell your parents. Maybe you should, if the alternative is pretending to believe. Maybe not, if they don't raise the subject. Are you still living at home and expected to attend services regularly? If you are living away and they aren't asking, maybe you should just say nothing. It's possible they already suspect and would rather not know.

Anonymous · Answer

I had a similar upbringing, but I stared following Buddhism. I just liked the environment way better, no judgement, meditation, no expectations. That might be something to look into, for many Asian parents Buddhism is a very respectable religion.

jshm2 · Answer

Nope. You've deluded yourself that getting back at your parents is a clever thing to do. It's your home you're pissing on. Just don't be surprised if they leave you disowned and homeless.

Kaneki05 · Answer

Don't if you have no way to live if they do disown you. If you do. Then tell them if they do disown you, shows you need a better family honestly.

Anonymous · Answer

I feel like I'm more of an Agnostic. I don't feel that I have everything figured out, I'm just open. I doubt your parents will understand your choice.

Shihab91 · Answer

why open up and cause problems? keep it to yourself unless you had too

Bhavin2184 · Answer

Yes it's okay.. They will understand eventually..

JustDebra · Answer

Do not tell them you're an atheist until you are independent from them, trust me, do not. Just enjoy your inner freedom, and when you are not relying on them, then tell them.

888theGreat · Answer

You won't like Hell though. The bible says those that knew and then reject Christ are even worse off. I just don't want you near me in a thunderstorm.

Ragnaroockk · Answer

Just if you look for conflict, better not brainwashed people can be dangerous

Furuok · Answer

Funny thing. You could look at the bible a completely different way. Offering your parents some insight on their religion.

Anonymous · Answer

Make money, claim independence and autonomy over yourself. Then being disowned won't put a dent on you 😊

Boyka000 · Answer

If a millet has fallen in love with its executioner, Whether you listen to the azan or the bell, If he doesn't object, a disease like a herd, It is obscene with all kinds of humiliation.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

They never understand, do they?

Uy5gygt · Answer

Come to me and you became muslim

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