Implicit Atheism!!! Need Religious Support!!!!

 I don't believe in God, I don't think Jesus came back from the dead, I don't believe in an Apocalypse and I certainly don't think some greater being created us. Never really have. Asked for a sign, didn't get one. Preyed for a miracle, didn't get one. I believe I would be classified as "implicit atheist", but I'm not positive. Also, how do I tell my Mom my beliefs (well, actually, non beliefs) without killing our relationship? Also, don't tell me how I shouldn't be atheist anything. If you try to tell me that bible stuff, I won't listen. It doesn't sound logic to me, but you can believe it, it you want. 

P.S. It's nothing personal, but I'm a very science-and-math kind of person, so, if it isn't logical, I don't believe.

how old are you?

13

Keep your ideals to yourself until you can better express your point of view. 

You might want to consider changing the title of your thread.  From the outside it kind of looks like you are asking for religious support from people who are religious.  Of course, it's your thread.  Just a suggestion.

What are you looking for by starting this thread?

Here's what I think you want: 

You don't have to believe in a higher power if you don't want to.  Believing in any diety requires a leap of faith and if you can't make it, well then you can't.  Not everyone can.  Your relatives should be able to accept this.  Although you can go to a church service/mass and not believe any of the stuff in it.  If it's a catholic mass, don't take communion.  Your mother's God in whom you do not believe will not smite you for that. lol  I would view any sort of unwillingness from your mother to accept that you are athiest as an attempt to keep you spiritually connected.  Stay connected with your mom...tell her that you still will be even though you have different beliefs.

The OP is 13 according to her profile.

My religious beliefs are similar to yours, but I married into a very religious family.  My solution is to avoid the subject.  Whey they pray before dinner, I go through the motions.  It doesn't hurt me and it makes the evening flow pleasantly for them.  If a family activity involves going to church, I go too.  I consider it being polite and respecting their beliefs. 

I have a teenage stepdaughter who doesn't follow their beliefs.  She seems to find it necessary to confront her father and grandparents with that.  Doesn't want to pray, doesn't want to go to church.  I think it is more adolescent rebellion than any thing else.   I know it hurts the family deeply when she does it.

So my question for you is this.  How much will this hurt your family?  Is it really necessary to do it?  How much are your parents trying to get you to do that is religious?  Because if you had a strong religious belief, then going through the motions of a different belief would be a betrayal of what you believe in.  But if you don't really believe anything, it doesn't really hurt to do some things to make your family happy.  If it makes you feel dishonest, you should probably hint that you are questioning their beliefs and don't have the passion they do.  But ask yourself, "am I doing this just to piss them off?".

If I were the type of person who took offense, I think I might take offense to your implication that faith can't be logical.  I'm a college student at a top notch liberal institution, and I hate the idea of having blind faith, or believing in something just because you were told to.  I like to think that my faith is one based on reason.  If you're asking, how could faith in God ever be based on reason or logic, I would recommend The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.

This is if I were the type of person who takes offense, of course :).

As for your original post...I think you should be honest with your Mom, but try not to be intentionally causing a fight or disrespecting her beliefs.  That's just my opinion, not really based on anything except...my own opinion.  Lol.

I think clharr has good advice.   Respecting another's beliefs does not negate your own beliefs.  It's OK to have your own thoughts on religion.  But you do not need to make any grand announcements to your family.   If the subject comes up, use your scientific mind to ask pointed questions.  But there is no need to argue about it or make a production about it.  Just quietly accept that you don't see eye to eye. 

Original Post by medula_oblongata:

 If you try to tell me that bible stuff, I won't listen. It doesn't sound logic to me, but you can believe it, it you want. 

What is it about "bible stuff", or belief in a deity in general, that doesn't sound logical to you?

If you can articulate that in a respectful manner, that may be a good way to approach your mother.  Be careful though, and don't let it become a wedge between you and your family.

on edit:  Where did you get "implicit atheist"?  The very first sentence of your post is pretty EXplicit.

I'm not an atheist, I consider myself more along the lines of agnostic. I love theoretical physics, and have a very scientific way of looking at things as well. When I was 13 I might have been atheist (don't remember to be honest), but now I just accept that I don't know...and there are some things I just won't ever know. I don't think our brains will ever be capable of understanding something that is so much bigger than us.

My family is sort of all over the place as far as religion goes, but everyone believes in god. Most of them don't mind that I don't believe in organized religion, but when I mention I don't know if there is a god or not (or that I lean more towards the idea that there's something bigger than us, but not necessarily a "being" that created us or cares), I get a lot of crap. Especially when I try to defend evolution....(luckily the majority of my family believes in evolution).

You're young. Your views on religion, life, existence, it can all change. I'm not sure how religious your mom is, so I don't know if it would be better to keep something like this to yourself for a while. If you really want to tell her, make sure you keep an open mind about her views as well.

did my anti christian Slater thread create a monster?

But on a more serious note dude, I don't think medula being 13 has anything to do with it.

I knew 100% when I was 6 years old in Sunday School that I did not believe in religion or god or anything to do with it.

I thought it was all BULL. And I still do.

I don't label my religious views (atheist or whatever)

I don't talk about it with family.

I don't think my views are superior to others.

You don't have to tell your mom anything.

Believe what YOU believe and don't listen to anyone else.

If it looks like bologna and it smells like bologna and when you put it between two slices of whole wheat bread and it acts like bologna....its bologna.

I agree with schnooder, age doesn't have anything to do religious beliefs.  When I was 13, I stopped believing in Christianity, and a year later, I became an atheist.

Anyway, I don't and haven't discussed my atheism with my family - I figured they would know I'm not religious when I quit going to church.  They didn't mind me not going to church anymore, so I suppose I could be coming from a much easier base.  But If someone asks me about what I believe, I tell them I'm an atheist - I just don't make a point of bringing it up.

I actually remember pissing off my sunday school teacher for questioning how jesus could possibly be real.

I remember when I was like 9 and I told my mom

"Mom this is retarded"

and she kept making me go until the teacher told her I was offending the other kids in the class

hehe

I agree, I stopped believing the same time I learned Santa isn't real. I mean, if a guy can't fit into everyone's chimney (even those without!!) and bring gifts in a 24h period then Jesus can't turn water into wine.

Original Post by medula_oblongata:

 IAlso, how do I tell my Mom my beliefs (well, actually, non beliefs) without killing our relationship?

 I don't think you need to tell anyone anything. You'd only 'kill a relationship' if you made a big issue of it and had stand-up fights or something.  Or mabye if Mom is a priest?  Respect other people's points of view and ways of life.  Retain your own as far as you can without being deliberately offensive.  Accept that sometimes you might change your mind .... avoid being dogmatic.

I don't think you need to worry too much about labels either.  There are lots of ways to think and few people 100% conform to one description or another.  Believe the parts you're comfortable with.  Ask questions about the parts you're not comfortable with.  Keep your mind open to other possibilities.   It's a big ask at 13 but not impossible.

Original Post by cptbunny:

I agree, I stopped believing the same time I learned Santa isn't real. I mean, if a guy can't fit into everyone's chimney (even those without!!) and bring gifts in a 24h period then Jesus can't turn water into wine.

Lol I wish he could though! And I also wish there was an actual Easter Bunny bringing me chocolate every year... And a heaven to trot off to, though it's dubious I'd meet the requirements.

To the OP: I don't see why you need to bring it up with your parents. You are your own person, therefore you're entitled to your own beliefs. But so are your parents, so don't try and persuade them or argue with them - you'll only piss them off, and you're still going to be living under their roof for a long time to come.

First of all, is your mother forcing you to follow some religious traditions? If so, do tell them about your beliefs/ non-beliefs. Otherwise there is no point in telling others about what you beleive.

You don't need others support for what you beleive.

On a lighter note,: We have so many funny stories in our religion, like god dancing on a snake, lifting a mountain etc.

You are still a baby.  Your beliefs will change and evolve over the years as you mature and experience life.  Try to be patient with your mother.  Don't get into arguments about religion with her - she's way more mature than you.

Read.  Talk to others.  Don't close any doors/you mind regarding religions.

p.s.  God loves you whether you love Him or not.

It seems to me like the real problem for you is talking to your mom about your beliefs.  I would first recommend just saying nothing.  However, if she makes you go to church or Sunday school, then it is a different matter altogether.  I tried talking to my Catholic parents about my agnosticism when I was 15.  It didn't work.  I was forced to go to church (or punishments like grounding would ensue).  Nothing could have turned me off more to Catholicism than their behavior towards my beliefs.  I don't mind a good debate, but I will never tell anyone that they have to believe like I do.  In the end, I finally told my parents that I wasn't going to go to church with them anymore when I was 19.  Not for Christmas, not for Easter.  I wasn't a Catholic.  There was no point.  Church isn't family time (as they tried to tell me), it is about worshiping God.  I don't worship God, so it was pointless for me to go.  They threatened to take away my Christmas presents, and I told them to go ahead.  That was when they realized that threats wouldn't work anymore.  I still occasionally get snarky comments from them, but I just let it slide off my back.  There is no point in arguing with them.

The problem is, your mother might take it personally, when it has absolutely nothing to do with her.  That's how my parents took it.  It wasn't an assault on them or on their faith.  I never told them not to believe what they believe, just that I don't believe in it myself.  I was never insulting. 

If your mother is forcing you to go to church and you really don't want to go, the best you can do is calmly inform her that you no longer want to go.  If she doesn't accept it, try to explain why in a rational, yet non-offensive manner.  Tell her that you respect her beliefs and that you are asking her to respect yours.  Both of your beliefs are valid, no matter what anyone tells you. 

Good luck!

Isn't also a teenagers job to argue with their parents .  Anything is fair game.