15 Year Old Atheist...

RHRN

Ever since I was maybe 10/11 I kinda realised that "Hey.... I actually don't believe this stuff!"

I never told my parents about it when I was younger becuase I thought they wouldn't take me seriously.
Now, all my friends know I'm an atheist, and they don't really give a **** about it to be honest, neither does my religion teacher.

But, I have this feeling that my parents most likely won't be as......... tolerable? Maybe thats not the right word but they certainly seem to be quite conservative anyway.

Even though they know I read Dawkins and other atheist writers they seem to think I'm just some sort of intellectual (my bookshelf is filled with all sorts of science books, and I've had a subscription to BBC focus since I was 11), rather than reading atheistic literature because..... Hey, I'm an atheist!!

I'd also like to stress I'm not one of those "LOL GOD IS STOOPID" Atheists, but I mean I really thought about it long and hard before realising I didn't believe any of it.

I also hate having to go through the motions when my family go to mass and having to say prayers to a god I don't believe in, and accept sacraments in a religion I don't really follow.

What I want to ask is, should I tell my parents and family? If so, what should I say? I'm completely clueless A&A!

The Mad Hatter

When I was about your age, I told my parents I didn't believe in God. Their response, essentially, was 'yes, you do.' So I told them again last year, and they said 'fair enough'.

I'd say don't bother bringing it up. *shrug*

dlofnep

Don't bother. There is no need to bring it up. My father is pretty religious, but I'd feel awkward bringing it up. Ask no questions, tell no lies!

Latchy

It's not really an issue at your age .Perhaps when your older and have more life expierences you will Rethink or revalue your beliefs .

Mena

Personally, I'd tell them, and stop going to church. But that's me, and my background. I can't tell what/if any affect this may have on you and your relationship with them so it's best you give it a think and then make a decision yourself.

If my daughter comes to me one day and says she's decided to become a theist (read it again :P ), I'd be shocked and disappointed, but not in front of her. I'd support her in whatever decision she made, it is after all, her life.

Zillah

Well it does largely depend on what your parents are like. When I told my parents that I thought all this God lark was silly and I wasn't going to mass any more I was about your age, maybe a little older. Their response was "No, you have to go to mass, when you're 18 you can decide for yourself." My response was "No, I'm not going any more, as of now".

Just bear in mind that however badly they react, they'll get used to it and their opinion will mellow over time. It's a bit like coming out as gay, at first they might be shocked, appalled and upset, but after the initial surprise wears off it'll stop seeming so weird.

Don't approach them apologetically about it either. Last thing you want to do is to reinforce the notion that you're doing something wrong. Go in with the attitude that you have every right to decline mass attendence if you so choose. They'll probably think you're being childish or silly at first, stick to your guns. Also, maybe consider easing them into it. Drop a few hints about your atheism at first so that when you announce that you're giving up mass it won't be out of the blue.

Good luck.

Valmont

RHRN wrote: »

I'm not one of those "LOL GOD IS STOOPID" Atheists

Too bad, they have a little clique on here and everything:pac:

Handsome Bob

RHRN wrote: »

Ever since I was maybe 10/11 I kinda realised that "Hey.... I actually don't believe this stuff!"

I never told my parents about it when I was younger becuase I thought they wouldn't take me seriously.
Now, all my friends know I'm an atheist, and they don't really give a **** about it to be honest, neither does my religion teacher.

But, I have this feeling that my parents most likely won't be as......... tolerable? Maybe thats not the right word but they certainly seem to be quite conservative anyway.

Even though they know I read Dawkins and other atheist writers they seem to think I'm just some sort of intellectual (my bookshelf is filled with all sorts of science books, and I've had a subscription to BBC focus since I was 11), rather than reading atheistic literature because..... Hey, I'm an atheist!!

I'd also like to stress I'm not one of those "LOL GOD IS STOOPID" Atheists, but I mean I really thought about it long and hard before realising I didn't believe any of it.

I also hate having to go through the motions when my family go to mass and having to say prayers to a god I don't believe in, and accept sacraments in a religion I don't really follow.

What I want to ask is, should I tell my parents and family? If so, what should I say? I'm completely clueless A&A!

First of all I'd like to commend you for being a very eloquent 15 year old (hope that doesn't come across as patronising).

Now. From my own personal experience, parents just tend to feel your being rebellious or making excuses for not going to mass when you air your reservations at a young age. They don't take you seriously.

However, you sound very intelligent so I'm sure you can put across to your parents how firmly you feel about it all. You might get the cold shoulder or the silent treatment for awhile but that's as far as it will go. Unless your parents are religious zealots they won't do anything radical.

Finally, stop worrying. As I said just once your parents aren't fundamentalists they'll get over it. There are things that parents would dread hearing far more than just hearing their son is an atheist.

Thoie

I had a pretty similar personal experience. I was relatively lucky in that my parents didn't feel the need to beat me with a stick, though they were disappointed.

A few hints:

The time to bring it up is not just as everyone is getting in the car to go to mass. Pick a better time to discuss it, and try to reinforce the fact that this is not teenage rebellion.

Point out that you are open to changing your mind on the subject, but at the moment you'd find it hypocritical to attend weekly services.

Remember that what the neighbours think is irrelevant.

Don't refuse to set foot in a church ever again. Look on situations such as funerals, weddings and baptisms as paying respect to the recipient of the service. Regard something like annual mass at Christmas as a way of spending some quiet time surrounded by family rather than anything else. You don't have to go up for communion, but can spend your time doing sums in your head in the church if you like. Or use it as personal reflection time for yourself to review the year.

A last bit of interesting info - my father admitted it me many many years later that one of the reasons he was so annoyed at the time that I stopped going to mass was because he'd only been going for the previous 14 years out of a sense of duty to bring me up "right". His irritation wasn't really about what I or he believed, but more to do with the fact that he'd wasted so many Sunday morning lie-ins

Mickeroo

I went through the same thing, but i waited til I was 18 before i told them i'm not going anymore. Sure they were upset at first,but it didn't really take them long to get over it,they jokingly ask me am i going to mass still but thats about it. I still go at weddings,funerals,baptisms etc. I also still go at christmas just to keep them off my back. My younger brothers all stopped going when they turned 18 too.

Don't worry,they're your parents.

RHRN

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Of course if I were to tell my parents this, I would still go to funerals, weddings, baptisms other celebratory occassions out of respect for whomever died/is getting married/baptised and their families. I wouldn't take part in the prayer or go up for Communion though.

I have a feeling they wouldn't be too receptive however...
I was reading the God Delusion at my kitchen table and they asked me what it was about. Not willing to go too far into details I said "He wrote a book about why he doesn't believe in God". My mom said "What??" as if she was incredibly shocked. "How does he believe we came about then?"

I said probably the Big Bang Theory (well I said Big Bang, they didn't know the scientific meaning of Theory, I presumed. Slightly arrogant of me, I know). This was followed by a general consensus at the kitchen table (my dad and younger sister were there) that the Big Bang Theory was nonsense and they believed the Creation story.

Then they looked at me, presumably to agree with them. I mumbled some nonsense (well at least to me) about God and the evolutionary process, then carried on reading.

Quite awkward, to be honest.

I'll try telling them at some point soon. It doesn't seem that big to me, I just think it might to them.

Also:

First of all I'd like to commend you for being a very eloquent 15 year old (hope that doesn't come across as patronising).

After looking that up , I can now say thank you!

Mickeroo

RHRN wrote: »

Of course if I were to tell my parents this, I would still go to funerals, weddings, baptisms other celebratory occassions out of respect for whomever died/is getting married/baptised and their families. I wouldn't take part in the prayer or go up for Communion though.

Dont forget the free food!

DublinWriter

RHRN wrote: »

What I want to ask is, should I tell my parents and family? If so, what should I say? I'm completely clueless A&A!

I wouldn't sweat it, it's a personal thing.

When I was aged 13, I announced to my Mum that I was an atheist. She contacted the local Parish Priest who told her that it was 'just a phase'.

The same parish priest died ten years later in the sauna of a Dublin City Centre Gay Club from a heart-attack induced by stiffing amyl-nitrate capsules.

Twenty-five years later, it's still 'just a phase'. I lost my Mum to cancer two years ago and excused myself out of the room in the hospice where she was eventually laid out and where another local Parish Priest and her friends were saying a decade of the Rosary over her body.

Said Parish Priest was a missionary in South America who had recently returned to Ireland. I was informed by a parish worker and one of my late-Mum's close friends that he had spent the majority of an €100K inheritance from a rich family member traveling to L.A. to get botox, hair transplant treatment and comprehensive dental work carried out.

To me, it felt hypocritical to take part a this ceremony that I thought was abject nonsense. I honour her memory in my own individual way.

STBR

Well I'm also a 15 year old Atheist, and I don't exactly remember a big kind of "coming out" to my parents about it.

But they both know fully and I've even managed to get any bit of belief that they had out of them also. [Which wasn't a lot though].

And I hadn't gone to church in years anyway, so I didn't have to say "No, I'm not going" or anything. So I'm not too similar to you really.

I can't really recommend what you should do, I guess it depends on your parents.
But either way, I think you should tell them. No matter the response.
I mean, what are they going to do? They can hardly give out because you don't believe something is true.

Anyways, good luck!

rainbow kirby

I told my parents when I was 12 that I was an atheist, they kinda shrugged it off in a "yeah, she's just being a teenager" sort of way. I haven't gone (voluntarily) to a church since then, but I've been to family occasions which involve church services, and I survived going to a Catholic secondary school.

Zillah wrote:

Just bear in mind that however badly they react, they'll get used to it and their opinion will mellow over time. It's a bit like coming out as gay, at first they might be shocked, appalled and upset, but after the initial surprise wears off it'll stop seeming so weird.

In my experience, coming out as gay was a lot more difficult than telling people I was an atheist, then again the 10 year gap between the two might have had something to do with that.

Judging by how disappointed my mother was when I told her I didn't believe in Santa I think coming out as an atheist would kill her.

sukikettle

Hey 15-year old you'll get a lot of support in here from the same old pie holes spewing their anti-God stuff...you don't know Him because you know nothing about Him. You say you read Dawkins, science books and subscribed to some BBC thing...you never said you read the bible and came to any conclusion and by the way God isn't a catholic or a protestant or any other religion. He's just your Father and mine besmirched by centuries of religious nonsense. You need to peel back the layers kid. God isn't into sacraments and babbling prayers either. He's just into you and who you are...

Handsome Bob

sukikettle wrote: »

Hey 15-year old you'll get a lot of support in here from the same old pie holes spewing their anti-God stuff...you don't know Him because you know nothing about Him. You say you read Dawkins, science books and subscribed to some BBC thing...you never said you read the bible and came to any conclusion and by the way God isn't a catholic or a protestant or any other religion. He's just your Father and mine besmirched by centuries of religious nonsense. You need to peel back the layers kid. God isn't into sacraments and babbling prayers either. He's just into you and who you are...

That's an unfortunate way of putting in.:pac:

sukikettle

Like I said...same old pie holes. Goodnight kid and watch who you listen to;)

rainbow kirby

sukikettle wrote: »

He's just your Father and mine besmirched by centuries of religious nonsense. You need to peel back the layers kid. God isn't into sacraments and babbling prayers either. He's just into you and who you are...

Your belief, not the OP's. He's clearly thought about the issue enough and read widely enough to come to his own conclusions.

axer

I kind of waited until I was about 17 before I started to refuse to go to christmas mass since that was the only mass that I could not get out of without my parents knowing (I still would attend funerals, baptisms and weddings etc out of respect to the parties concerned). Believe it or not even though that was nearly 10 years ago, my parents are still not happy that I am an agnostic atheist (they dont really understand what it means either).

As long as you understand that your parents grew up in a different Ireland than that which you are growing up in now so don't try and argue your beliefs with them since their believes are not rational.

In the ideal world, your parents would completely respect your beliefs but we do not live in that ideal world and they were not shaped in as kids in that ideal world either.

CDfm

My son is 18. Im catholic and he has been atheist for a few years.

Its no big deal really.

So long as he doesnt go around burning crosses in the neighbours gardens or desecrating churches Im cool with it.You cant force somene to believe.He knows I was joking when i suggested exorcism a while back.

I still give him Xmas presents and Easter eggs -as his sister believes. Just joking there- but they are universal holidays and why not.

CDfm

Deleted User wrote: »

Judging by how disappointed my mother was when I told her I didn't believe in Santa I think coming out as an atheist would kill her.

ROFL:D

Thoie

RHRN wrote: »

I said probably the Big Bang Theory (well I said Big Bang, they didn't know the scientific meaning of Theory, I presumed. Slightly arrogant of me, I know). This was followed by a general consensus at the kitchen table (my dad and younger sister were there) that the Big Bang Theory was nonsense and they believed the Creation story.

Then they looked at me, presumably to agree with them. I mumbled some nonsense (well at least to me) about God and the evolutionary process, then carried on reading.

A younger sister does complicate things a little (I always forget other people have younger siblings ). Remember your parents are trying to watch out for the well-being of both of you, and if you don't go to mass that might "set a bad example" or lead to awkward questions from her depending on her age. Again, depending on her age, she might not be old enough to understand the Christian differentiations between what bits of the bible are "real" and what bits aren't.

You don't have to agree with it, but the fact is that many Christians will happily agree that creationism and the Garden of Eden is a nice analogy, and that they don't believe the world was actually made in 7 days. Some scholars will also argue about the translations used and have theories that the use of the word "days" is misleading, and that it should be something like "7 ages".

Anyway, whatever they do or don't believe, try and have the discussion sometime your little sister isn't likely to walk in.

Havok1610

Hey man,

I was just like you at your age, I even wrote in my Junior Cert exam about my life as an atheist. I know it sounds like a load of codswollop, but thats what I thought, and I still do. Last year my mother passed away, and losing your mother at 18 is one of the hardest things in life to go through. I'm not preaching here, but you should at least try and believe in something after death, doesn't have to be religious, but trust me, it will make losing someone slightly less hard.

CDfm

RHRN wrote: »

I said probably the Big Bang Theory (well I said Big Bang, they didn't know the scientific meaning of Theory, I presumed. Slightly arrogant of me, I know). This was followed by a general consensus at the kitchen table (my dad and younger sister were there) that the Big Bang Theory was nonsense and they believed the Creation story.

Then they looked at me, presumably to agree with them. I mumbled some nonsense (well at least to me) about God and the evolutionary process, then carried on reading.

Just saw Thoie's post.

Funnily enough the Big Bang Theory was written by a Catholic Priest George Lamaitre and here is a link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre

Catholics and I believe C of E accept evolution.Some Christian churches dont.

Atheists dont believe there is any God behind the universe. Theists say prove it.Stalemate.

Lots of believers are ignorant of the theological beliefs of their own faiths.I post and discuss stuff on A & A as some posters have a greater grasp of theology and ethics than lots of believers including those posting on the Christian forum.

jill_valentine

I told my parents I didn't believe in God when I was twelve. We argued about it literally every single Sunday until I moved out at seventeen.

I'm twenty three now, and I think they still think it's a phase.

The point is, they may be entirely cool is, they might not be. You'll be alright either way.

Phototoxin

I dunno I look at the cleverness behind creation and how it's evolved and how it has some sort of innate system that had to come from somewhere and I do wonder. Then again eyeball eating worms

Hey 15-year old you'll get a lot of support in here from the same old pie holes spewing their anti-God stuff...you don't know Him because you know nothing about Him

Perhaps the OP does know. I'm agnostic and I would wager (if I were a gambling man) that I know a lot more than most catholics I know about their religion.

CDfm

Phototoxin wrote: »

Perhaps the OP does know. I'm agnostic and I would wager (if I were a gambling man) that I know a lot more than most catholics I know about their religion.

I'm Catholic and would take you up on that anytime:D

Galvasean

sukikettle wrote: »

Hey 15-year old you'll get a lot of support in here from the same old pie holes spewing their anti-God stuff...you don't know Him because you know nothing about Him. You say you read Dawkins, science books and subscribed to some BBC thing...you never said you read the bible and came to any conclusion and by the way God isn't a catholic or a protestant or any other religion. He's just your Father and mine besmirched by centuries of religious nonsense. You need to peel back the layers kid. God isn't into sacraments and babbling prayers either. He's just into you and who you are...

Is this the part where you say 'Yo kid, lemme rap with you.' and try sit on your chair backwards?

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

Is this the part where you say 'Yo kid, lemme rap with you.' and try sit on your chair backwards?

and also mentions Dawkins with science.:mad:

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

and also mentions Dawkins with science.:mad:

Yeah, how dare someone mention Dawkins and science in the same breath. He's only a scientist after all.

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

Yeah, how dare someone mention Dawkins and science in the same breath. He's only a scientist after all.

the God Delusion is a comic and cant be a serious read. The theology isnt there. Dawkins chief target is Creationism which isnt even mainsream christianity.Professor D is a bit of a media whore.:mad:

Big Bang and evolution are accepted by believers.

I respect the OPs decision not to believe in God and his right to read.

Being an atheist doesnt make him a bad boy whatever or alternative -the OP is the same guy except he doesnt believe in God.Parents and others should respect that. 15 is a bit old to be told what to believe and he is right to read up and make up his own mind.

Denerick

I knew I didn't believe any of that crap since I was about 12/13. Went through all the stages of mass etc. in my teen years until around 17 I just stopped going. My dad is particularly religious and we've had too many arguments over it. He thinks I don't go because I'm not arsed getting up on a Sunday morning. I'm 20 now, and only go at weddings, funerals, once at christmas etc.

My advice is bear with it. Go to mass on a Sunday and devote it to some 'me' time. Really think for that 45 minutes in a world of your own. In that at least, it might be some use.

axer

CDfm wrote: »

the God Delusion is a comic and cant be a serious read. The theology isnt there. Dawkins chief target is Creationism which isnt even mainsream christianity.Professor D is a bit of a media whore.:mad:

Dawkins target is illogic, irational and superstitious beliefs - not just creationism. I think catholicism would then be considered a prime target.

I find it hilarous when the likes of catholics laugh or look down on those who believe in scientology or even creationism.

RHRN

sukikettle wrote: »

Hey 15-year old you'll get a lot of support in here from the same old pie holes spewing their anti-God stuff...you don't know Him because you know nothing about Him. You say you read Dawkins, science books and subscribed to some BBC thing...you never said you read the bible and came to any conclusion and by the way God isn't a catholic or a protestant or any other religion. He's just your Father and mine besmirched by centuries of religious nonsense. You need to peel back the layers kid. God isn't into sacraments and babbling prayers either. He's just into you and who you are...

I was forced to read the bible when I was younger. I had to go to some kids kinda sunday school when my parent's would be at Mass. They'd take all the kids out about half way through and tell them stories from the bible and give us passages to learn off (NEVER saw the point of that by the way) and other stuff. Before my confirmation my religion teacher made our class read the bible (well, not all of it obviously) alot.

Anyway, atheism is the belief that I am comfortable with. If God is into me and who I am, and isn't into sacraments and babbling prayers, surely he doesn't need me reading the Bible constantly.... or am I missing your point here?

Anyway, my decision to personally stop following the Christian faith was not a snap one, I would like to emphasise that. I went through... a sort of half-belief is the only way I can think of putting it as I took a serious look at my religion and why I had been following it all the time and what I came up with was:
My parents told me it was true.
I'd then taken a look at it myself and decided, well I don't believe it. They are many Christians today that just go through the motions (I'm not reffering to you sukikettle, you seem to be a true Christian and I respect that) but surely you must agree that it takes as strong a leap of faith to reject religion as I have, and to follow faith strongly like you and others do? This is just the direction I have taken, and the direction you have taken.

I considered my anaylsis of my religious beliefs something very important. It is not something I regret and I have had no thoughts of returning to the Christian faith, although in the early days I must admit I came close to pulling a Pascal.

Surely God, by whatever name people call him, respects people who are convicted in their beliefs, whatever they may be?

I don't want to start an argument as I know that we are not going to agree on alot of things regarding religion. As I can see, this is going off-topic quickly enough anyway....

RHRN

CDfm wrote: »

the God Delusion is a comic and cant be a serious read. The theology isnt there. Dawkins chief target is Creationism which isnt even mainsream christianity.Professor D is a bit of a media whore.:mad:

Big Bang and evolution are accepted by believers.

I respect the OPs decision not to believe in God and his right to read.

Being an atheist doesnt make him a bad boy whatever or alternative -the OP is the same guy except he doesnt believe in God.Parents and others should respect that. 15 is a bit old to be told what to believe and he is right to read up and make up his own mind.

I know the Big Bang and Evolution are accepted by many believers, just not (seemingly) by my parents. And it seems like a sort of Teenage Rebellion (to them probably) to not just reject Christianity but also their ideas on where the world came from etc.

Thanks for that message aswell by the way.

EDIT:

Sorry for souding like an idiot, but C of E is Church of England, right CDfm?

Also, as Phototoxin said, I would wager I know alot more about Catholicism then most Catholics.
By most Catholics I mean most, if not all Catholics I know personally. Obviously suki and the Christian board would wipe the board with me. It must be admitted that there's a growing trend of religious apathy and people saying "Eh, yeah I'm Christian", when they just go through the motions. In my third year religion class, I'm the only one that knew that the Immaculate Conception reffered to Mary as opposed to Jesus. I'm the only one who knew what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus when our teacher asked us. I could name the three wise men and no-one else could (granted that's more obscure (sorry, couldn't think of any other word) than the others) In fact, its embarrasing that my so-called Catholic class know so little about Catholicism.

Dades

RHRN, ignore sukikettle. Another outburst like that in your thread and she'll be gone (there is a history of thread derailing).

suki - last chance saloon.

lostexpectation

RHRN wrote: »

Ever since I was maybe 10/11 I kinda realised that "Hey.... I actually don't believe this stuff!"


Even though they know I read Dawkins and other atheist writers they seem to think I'm just some sort of intellectual (my bookshelf is filled with all sorts of science books, and I've had a subscription to BBC focus since I was 11), rather than reading atheistic literature because..... Hey, I'm an atheist!!

I'd also like to stress I'm not one of those "LOL GOD IS STOOPID" Atheists, but I mean I really thought about it long and hard before realising I didn't believe any of it.

so how long is the required length of thought?

I also hate having to go through the motions when my family go to mass and having to say prayers to a god I don't believe in, and accept sacraments in a religion I don't really follow.

What I want to ask is, should I tell my parents and family?!

is the consensus that the answers is no.

i wonder if you have any other opportunities to show your independence, or independence of thought, like i dunno going to festival and coming back in one piece or something. opportunities where they see you as person and not just their child which might convince em that you can make your own mind up on things.

Handsome Bob

sukikettle wrote: »

Like I said...same old pie holes. Goodnight kid and watch who you listen to;)

:pac:

I took a shot so I'll let that slide.

meglome

My father isn't that religious but he was brought up by his granny so he was thought that being religious was the right thing to do so it would be right and proper for his children to be religious. When I was 10 or 11 I realised I had no interest or belief in religion but I knew it wasn't going to be well received so I went through the motions. Pretending to go to Mass and just going anywhere but. By the time I was 17 I was getting very bored with this sneaking around so when asked one Sunday morning was I going to mass I said I wasn't and that I didn't believe, full stop. He told me that I wasn't 18 yet so I had to do what I was basically told, not that I was ever one for doing what I was told. So a few months later I was 18 I was asked the same question, "Are you going to mass?" I just said I'm 18 and I'm not going. He looked at me for a moment and left it at that, and never brought it up again. My father in fairness to him is a man of his word. Just thought I'd share, it being the time I'd be normally bunking mass back in the day.

CDfm

RHRN wrote: »

Sorry for souding like an idiot, but C of E is Church of England, right CDfm?

C of E is church of England.

Most of the science is accepted by the Catholic Church and it embraces most science and technology. Most Catholics are ignorant of the Theology.

I wouldnt worry about your parents too much. If you dont believe its not the end of the world.

CDfm

axer wrote: »

Dawkins target is illogic, irational and superstitious beliefs - not just creationism. I think catholicism would then be considered a prime target.

I find it hilarous when the likes of catholics laugh or look down on those who believe in scientology or even creationism.

This isnt about me and me scouring second hand bookshops and charities for copies of the God Delusion to burn.

Its about the OP.

The Mad Hatter

Dades wrote: »

suki - last chance saloon.

And they say atheists have no sense of charity...

seamus

Atheists dont believe there is any God behind the universe. Theists can't prove it.Stalemate.

FYP

One of the biggest things you'll come up against is the notion of it just being "a phase" that you'll grow out of. A lot of people will leave you alone to get the rebellion out of your system, which suits because it means that by the time you're old enough that it's no longer "a phase" (40), nobody will be shocked when you carry on being atheist.

Thoie gives some good pointers though - try to avoid it becoming something that you've made up out of thin air to get out of mass or school events or whatever, show that you've thought about it and that you really mean it.

One thing which many Atheists are unprepared for is the "well you explain it then", counter-attack. When you say that, "No I don't believe that there's a God", the counter-attack is usually one of the big questions; "Where did we come from", "Why does the universe exist?", "Why do we think", and so on and so forth.
This is where many atheists struggle and perhaps look weak because they feel like they need to offer an alternative. However, "I don't know" is a perfectly valid answer. Many religious believers feel that a belief system has no credence if it doesn't offer answers to the big questions. After all, this is the point of religion in the first place - making up answers to unanswerable (for the moment) questions. They are wrong - a belief system is perfectly valid, even if it only says, "I don't know the answers". There is no *need* to answer these questions to be happy.
In fact it's one of the most liberating things in life to accept that you will never know the answers to some questions instead of making up some answers to fill that evolutionary bug in your brain which insists that everything needs an explanation.

Ultimately however because you're only 15 you may find that you've no choice but to do what your parents want you to do until you're 18 or so. It's regrettable, but you can make the most of that time - listen to the scriptures, listen to what they're saying and arm yourself, get to know the beliefs of the people who will try to convert you and who will attack your beliefs. There's no better weapon against a raving religious lunatic than to know their religion better than they do.

One thing that you can take out of any pain in this is that you're making an easier path for your younger sibling in two ways:

1. You're showing that there is in fact an alternative, that religious belief is in fact a choice which we're all entitled to make.
2. Older siblings always have to fight harder to get what they want, younger siblings encounter less resistance because parents are more comfortable with loosening the reigns.

CDfm

seamus wrote: »

FYP

One of the biggest things you'll come up against is the notion of it just being "a phase" that you'll grow out of. A lot of people will leave you alone to get the rebellion out of your system, which suits because it means that by the time you're old enough that it's no longer "a phase" (40), nobody will be shocked when you carry on being atheist.

I'm a Catholic and I dont see any of this as rebelion.RHRN if you have doubts you have doubts. If you are looking for proof for Gods existence along scientific lines that could go to a lab and get tested by physicists etc you are not going to get it.

Some atheists go all out and look for a type of Atheism that compensates for the lack of belief in God. Thats all I can come up with for the reason behind Memes etc.

I dont know if thats to fill a gap or what -its what some do.

axer

CDfm wrote: »

I'm a Catholic and I dont see any of this as rebelion.RHRN if you have doubts you have doubts. If you are looking for proof for Gods existence along scientific lines that could go to a lab and get tested by physicists etc you are not going to get it.

Going to a church definitely aint going to give you proof anyway.

Zombrex

CDfm wrote: »

Some atheists go all out and look for a type of Atheism that compensates for the lack of belief in God. Thats all I can come up with for the reason behind Memes etc.

Memetics is a way of modeling the way cultural information moves around culture?

CDfm

Wicknight wrote: »

Memetics is a way of modeling the way cultural information moves around culture?

Wicknight - I am an open minded guy ande this is what I make of Memetics

http://www.freewebs.com/ravensguild/

CDfm

axer wrote: »

Going to a church definitely aint going to give you proof anyway.

So you have the Bible - thats not good enough for you.

A Christian Affiliated Group funds the Voyage of the Beagle and puts a depressed Charles Darwin on the boat and the studies to explain the origan of the species for ya.Still not far enough.

Then a Catholic Priest Creates and explains the Big Bang Theory to you and you are still whinging.

I donno

philologos

RHRN wrote: »

Ever since I was maybe 10/11 I kinda realised that "Hey.... I actually don't believe this stuff!"

10 / 11 is quite a young age to call it a day on the God question. I don't think I was even that sure of my own faith at that stage.

RHRN wrote: »

I never told my parents about it when I was younger becuase I thought they wouldn't take me seriously.
Now, all my friends know I'm an atheist, and they don't really give a **** about it to be honest, neither does my religion teacher.

Of course they welcome your freedom of conscience as guaranteed in the constitution. I of course would argue that you are missing out on quite a lot, but then again that is the theistic mindset. Mind you at 15, I was an agnostic, so your religious views may go into a state of flux and change. Just curious, had you ever read what Christians actually believe (in the Biblical text) before you had dismissed it out of hand? I was actually surprised at some of the things that I had learned about Christianity that I wouldn't have discerned just from being at church.

RHRN wrote: »

But, I have this feeling that my parents most likely won't be as......... tolerable? Maybe thats not the right word but they certainly seem to be quite conservative anyway.

If they love you they will be. I can imagine how it might be difficult for them to come to terms with it at first, but eventually they will.

RHRN wrote: »

Even though they know I read Dawkins and other atheist writers they seem to think I'm just some sort of intellectual (my bookshelf is filled with all sorts of science books, and I've had a subscription to BBC focus since I was 11), rather than reading atheistic literature because..... Hey, I'm an atheist!!

If you want a fuller view of the God question, (I've read the God Delusion by Dawkins myself), you should read some Christian writers on the subject such as C.S Lewis, Lee Strobel, Francis Collins and so on for a start.

RHRN wrote: »

I'd also like to stress I'm not one of those "LOL GOD IS STOOPID" Atheists, but I mean I really thought about it long and hard before realising I didn't believe any of it.

That's somewhat of a relief.

RHRN wrote: »

I also hate having to go through the motions when my family go to mass and having to say prayers to a god I don't believe in, and accept sacraments in a religion I don't really follow.

You don't have to though surely?

RHRN wrote: »

What I want to ask is, should I tell my parents and family? If so, what should I say? I'm completely clueless A&A!

I think you should to be honest and clear about the issue.