Tell me, is this fair?

[Fabioisonfire]

Disclaimer: Please do not post your own religious beliefs here. That's not what I'm getting at or trying to bring up.

So, I go up to my mom. (I live in a Christian family.)

"Mom, I don't believe in God."

Long story short, my parents kinda freaked. I told them why I don't, that I was serious about it, etc. I thought I had freedom to believe what I please, but I guess not. They grounded me. No girls, no games, nothing. I told them they can ground me all they want, they can't change what I believe or feel. Now, is it completely fair or good parenting to do something like this, or are my parents just trying to 'insist upon me good morals'. What, anyone who's an atheist is bad? Anyone who's an atheist doesn't have good morals? I don't understand, but whatever they are 'insisting' upon me, it's not good morals. It's a kind of suppression. I'm nearly 16, I can drive, hell, I can think whatever I want.

 

[Propaganda Man]

I'm Jewish so I don't know that much about how Christianity works.

Thankfully for me my religion accepts disbelief in God because I don't. I told my Dad this and he reassured me that I can be Jewish still. (He made damn sure I knew) My mom sort of freaked but now she is okay with it.

I still go to synagogue. I am in a Jewish youth group (BBYO). I still go to Hebrew School (Last year but I plan to stick around for a couple more).

I think fair is a standard set in the mind. I don't know Christianity well enough to know that standard (or your parents). But just because you don't believe in God doesn't mean that the teachings in any religion aren't important.

EDIT: I wasn't aiming at posting my religious belief but giving an example/situation.

 

[UltraByte]

I don't mean to offend anybody here, but I really don't understand it when parents are like this. I had a really good friend on the internet a long time ago who was gay. He came out to his parents, and apparently he was grounded for life. Haven't seen him in years.

I completely agree with you, any amount of grounding cannot change your opinion on something. I think parents look at their children and see a mini version of themselves, which is in no way true. Every person has their own mind.

This actually happened to a very famous writer, Henry David Thoreau. He was thrown in jail for his thoughts that were against the public ideas in his time period, and wrote how prison could not limit his thoughts, just his actions.

Oh jeez, I think my English class is really getting to me. D:

 

[JJRamone2]

I agree with you completely. And though I am a Christian (Evolutionist-Christian, though), although, newly, as I had gone threw stages of atheism and agnosticism, I do, very much believe in god. But even I as a Christian, believe you and everyone else are entitled to their own beliefs and nobody in the world should be able to prosecute, or punish you for them. I only have one request, don't be one of those *CEN-1.3-SORD* Atheists (that frankly, there are to many of in my town) who when they hear someone talking about religion feel the need to say "I'm an Atheist", thats essentially just saying "I believe everything you believe in is BS and you are stupid for it", some of the worse actually would just go out and say that. Don't go out of your way to point out your beliefs and never argue with someone about their beliefs, if you do, you are no better than your parents.

 

[Fabioisonfire]

I agree with you completely. And though I am a Christian (Evolutionist-Christian, though), although, newly, as I had gone threw stages of atheism and agnosticism, I do, very much believe in god. But even I as a Christian, believe you and everyone else are entitled to their own beliefs and nobody in the world should be able to prosecute, or punish you for them. I only have one request, don't be one of those *CEN-1.3-SORD* Atheists (that frankly, there are to many of in my town) who when they hear someone talking about religion feel the need to say "I'm an Atheist", thats essentially just saying "I believe everything you believe in is BS and you are stupid for it", some of the worse actually would just go out and say that. Don't go out of your way to point out your beliefs and never argue with someone about their beliefs, if you do, you are no better than your parents.

Well no, I'm no God-hater, and nor do I have a 'It's all BS' attitude either. Anyone can believe what they want. Everyone thinks differently, and frankly, everyone thinks that THEY are right, and there's no stopping it.

 

[Propaganda Man]

I agree with you completely. And though I am a Christian (Evolutionist-Christian, though), although, newly, as I had gone threw stages of atheism and agnosticism, I do, very much believe in god. But even I as a Christian, believe you and everyone else are entitled to their own beliefs and nobody in the world should be able to prosecute, or punish you for them. I only have one request, don't be one of those *CEN-1.3-SORD* Atheists (that frankly, there are to many of in my town) who when they hear someone talking about religion feel the need to say "I'm an Atheist", thats essentially just saying "I believe everything you believe in is BS and you are stupid for it", some of the worse actually would just go out and say that. Don't go out of your way to point out your beliefs and never argue with someone about their beliefs, if you do, you are no better than your parents.

Well no, I'm no God-hater, and nor do I have a 'It's all BS' attitude either. Anyone can believe what they want. Everyone thinks differently, and frankly, everyone thinks that THEY are right, and there's no stopping it.

I don't think I'm right. I do believe that I'm right though.

What I mean is. When I look at all the religions and all the people following them I don't see how anyone can think they are right over so many people. Why are people looking down on millions of others. What has happened to them to give them the idea that their right.

The answer is their confidence that they are. Their belief. Logically, there is no real answer so, similar to the Ancient Greeks, we believe in what we are comfortable in.

 

[Mino]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, but are you doing this to be rebellious or are you doing this because it's what you believe?

 

[DarthGohan1]

Not to be disrespectful to your parents, but that's just stupid. You are obviously old enough to think for yourself, and religious beliefs are not something to be forced onto someone...

 

[Micah]

I'm a Christian and my dad's a pastor. I don't think my parents would punish me if I told them I didn't believe what they believed. I think they would be very sad and would pray for me. I don't think it's right for your parents to ground you because you don't agree with what they do. I think they should talk to you about why you think that and have an intelligent conversation with you before they do anything rash. (No disrespect to your parents)

 

[Sporge27]

Really grounding you I would think would obviously only alienate you more, soo I think your parents are a bit out of touch with you and your siblings (if you have any)

Fact is, being pushy like that is the biggest threat to Christianity now. In a country like this where many religions and beliefs collide, you just can't take on the attitude that your belief is infallible and no one with other ideas isn't at least possibly right. It is arrogant and pushes others away from the religion.

 

[SL92]

If I were you, I'd passively celebrate Christianity until you get out of the house in a few years. They can't do anything about it then.

I also agree with Sporge.

 

[Micah]

[quote="Shadow_] If I were you, I'd passively celebrate Christianity until you get out of the house in a few years. They can't do anything about it then.

I also agree with Sporge. [/quote]
Lying isn't the way to go.

 

[SL92]

[quote="Shadow_] If I were you, I'd passively celebrate Christianity until you get out of the house in a few years. They can't do anything about it then.

I also agree with Sporge.

Lying isn't the way to go. [/quote]
How did you interpret "passively celebrate" as lying XD

 

[Jeremy]

I don't know why you feel that it's OK for you to talk about something, but at the same time ask no one else to. This is really borderline... best left in private. Feel free to discuss the conversation in PM with anyone who posted here... even me for all I care.

 

[Jeremy]

This thread is being unlocked.

In order to follow the policies as closely as possible you need to edit the first post a little. You cannot discuss morals in religion (/atheism) because this is a banned topic. As long as this is a topic about parents, not religion, you can continue discussing it. Many of the posts in this thread are also borderline.

 

[Grawr]

In the other thread...I think uhh...

Fabio left TBT...or thats what it sounded like. I don't know, I'm kinda confused.

EDIT: Yeah, he did. He's got a Zetaboards forum now.