christian family doesnt understand me

[gloom is beautiful]

my family recently found out that i dont believe in god or any religion for that matter. they don't get it...they think someone has brainwashed me into believing in nothing. i used to read the bible...regretably...and even used to believe in god. but my mind has expanded since then and i began questioning everything...then i dropped it and said fuck it religion its evil...

im alone in my family...im the only one who doesnt believe in a higher power. my brother got like...scowled upon, by our parents, because he was reading into wicca. and they do the same to me and it sucks. its not really a problem, they dont try and force me to go to church or do anything religious with them...i just feel like they think less of me. advice? opinions? happen to anyone else here?


:( *sigh* ...insomnia.......

[Hikaru Zero]

Hikaru has experienced the same thing with his family; used to be an avid churchgoer, and was even confirmed Christian, and was an acolyte several times; even participated in church events.

Then, as Hikaru was exposed to Christianity, he began to see ... not necessarily faults, but things he didn't like in these Christians. They all claimed to be good people who do their best to make the world a better place.

Blasphemy, he found. None made a difference in anyone's lives but themselves, and his parents were a prime example of this.

And over time, his viewpoints changed for several reasons, and Hikaru explored other options,

Buddhism, Wicca, Pagan, Gaian, Tao, Pan/entheism, Atheism, Agnosticism ... the list continues.

And his parents scowled at him for it at times,
Ever vigilant in their crusade to convert him back,
Not realizing that it was such conversion that turned him away,
Ignorant in their arrogance.

Over time, Hikaru secluded himself from them, and is now at college, finally free, and not regretting it.

Hikaru's advice to you? Try to reason with them. Try to create compelling arguments against them. Perhaps they are knowledgable about Christianity. Hikaru has met some quite interesting and enlightened people (Jatom from these forums, for example) who are Christian and have good reasons and even better philosophies, and were able to refute those ideas; for these people, Christian or not, Hikaru has great respect.

If reasoning does not work, and explaining what you believe in (if you believe in something at all; agnosticism is a popular choice these days) does little to satisfy them, then try to isolate yourself from them.

That may seem harsh, and may not become you, but their limited mindsets are holding you back; they are chains on your wrists and ankles, binding you from realizing both truth and your own true personal potential.

Burning bridges is never fun, but sometimes, it may very well be necessary.

And go to college if you don't already plan on it.

And just as a side note ... an answer to your question ... yes, they probably do think less of you, simply because they do not understand. They don't WANT to think less of you, as you are their son, but they likely do, as do Hikaru's did, though they would never admit it. Ignorance combined with dogmatism, in any form, leads to contempt. Fortunately, your parents are wise enough NOT to try and force you to go to church; perhaps there is hope for your parents where there is none for mine ... try reasoning with them; burnt bridges always mean fewer options anyway.