Anonymous A started this discussion 13 years ago#32,574
I'll try to sum this up as
best I can, apologies for my
subpar english and long
paragraph.
So I'm an teen atheist (I
won't disclose my actual
age, but I'm nearing post-
secondary) that was raised
by very Christian parents. I
was baptized when i was
only a few months old and
have been going to church
as early as I remember.
Growing up as a "good
christian" i've had many
struggles with my faith and
how trying to justify the
preposterous claims
Christianity had to offer.
I've been honest to myself
about my atheism for about
a year now, but I don't know
how my parents would react
if I told them. They're very
right wing, they don't
believe in evolution and
they think homosexuality is
a choice, etc. But don't get
me wrong, they're loving
and kind parents and simply
want what's best for me
(which in their mind, is a
Christian upbringing). They
always said things like "If
you were gay, which we
know you aren't, we
wouldn't approve, but we
would still accept you as
who you are". However,
since the topic of me being
atheist never crossed their
mind, I honestly don't know
how they would be respond
to me coming out. Not only
that, but my Church
community has been a huge
part of my life, and I would
have to leave behind family
friends that have been core
to my upbringing, people
who have been close and
kind to me that I would
trust them with my life. And
I would have to leave all
that behind. My parents are
intelligent people, but
(especially my father) only
believes "parts of science",
theories that don't
contradict the bible. I've
even tried indirectly coming
out, having scientific
discussions with my dad
and hopefully having it
escalate to me coming out,
but it never worked. Many
people who are close to me
are thoroughly knit into my
Church community, and I
don't know how they would
respond, either. I've been
attending church regularly
but recently, as part of the
Church's youth program,
they are taking more
initiatives to "strengthen my
christian life", which is
getting the point where I'm
starting to feel
uncomfortable. I don't know
how I'm supposed to
balance this out, but I know
I'll have to come out at
some point. What do you
guys think?
Thanks in advance :/ I mean,
if I'm going to come out,
where else should I find
advice other than good ol' minichan.