Should I incline toward my parents' beliefs?

College Confidential Community
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<p>To be frank, I don't necessarily believe in God entirely. I'm leaning toward being agnostic. Though, my parents are "Christian freaks", if you will. Dad restricts me from anything adulterated even though I'm 17. They won't even permit me to read any horror genre type novels. Everytime I try to debate whether God exists or not with my guardians, in the end, no one can prove anything. I been brought up as a Christian, going to chruch every Sunday, I just don't "feel" God or a infinite being exists, if you will. </p>

<p>Being an adolescent makes me realize my surroundings profoundly.</p>

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<p>Are you sure that you are just churched-out and it's your way of trying to control something? My grandparents were very religious and made my dad attend catholic school, go to every single mass offered, go to every holiday service, and everything else. By the time he moved out, he didn't want anything to do with church because he was so tired of it being forced upon him all the time.</p>

<p>If you don't believe, you shouldn't have to go. When you are on your own, you can decided whether you go or not, but until then, I think you should try to respect your parents and not try to debate them on religion. It won't accomplish anything. How often have you heard of a religion debate changing someone's beliefs? I never have.</p>

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<p>@ OKgirl: debates can be useful tools to catalyze a belief shift, though I think the actual changing of beliefs is actually much more personable (see C.S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to theism and, later, theism to Christianity: he first discussed it with Tolkien and later converted because of pressing questions).</p>

<p>@ insomniac: i was in a situation like you - my parents wouldn't even let me watch "PG" movies until I was like in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade. However, I have stayed in Christ for numerous reasons, personal, logical, and otherwise (if you wish me to share, I shall through here or PM). Everyone has free will: they can shift religions if they wish, though certain religious shifts in certain cultures will end in terrible ramifications (ex: Muslim -> Christianity in India). However, your option still exists. Again, I can offer what I have seen and learned, why I remain in Christ, but I cannot make any decision for you. You must pursue truth not "truth" (i.e., your own, personal truth). What more can I say? The choice is yours: it is not your parent's decision, no matter what they force upon you (though perhaps done in love). To quote Scripture, "Seek and ye shall find."</p>

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<p>Jesus... they don't let you read horror novels? And yet you have internet...? Don't they realize you can watch everything from 2girls1cup to hostel online? And you can read bad stuff too. </p>

<p>I'm 17 and I haven't been sober in like a week. My dad took me on a trip to Jamaica and showed me pot and reggae.. hahahahha. People are different.</p>

<p>My advice... you shouldn't be worried about your religious views. You'll probly figure them out in time. You should be worried more about whether or not you're happy and what you can do to enjoy life more, if you don't feel like you are right now.</p>

<p>Oh and btw... you're 17, you're not really an adolescent anymore... sounds like your parents really got you whipped lol</p>

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<p>PM me Tanstripe.</p>

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<p>I think a part of becoming an adult is challenging or at least questioning your parents' beliefs. I think most everyone holds these beliefs while teenagers and still keep them to a large extent when they are older. I'd say don't debate your parents about Christianity-that is the height of disrespect. I'm not saying you should believe, but if they take Christianity that seriously you ought to respect that. My advice would be to remain open-minded about your religion. In a year or two you'll be going off to college where your mind will likely be truly opened up and then you'll be able to decide your beliefs for yourself then. For now, go to church every Sunday, suck it up you only have one more year.</p>

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<p>PMed - hope to hear from you soon :)</p>

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<p>"Oh and btw... you're 17, you're not really an adolescent anymore..."<br>
Wellll, as I'm eighteen, I would want to agree with you, but it is a fact that the important, decision making part of one's brain doesn't fully mature until 23 or so? Most Lamentable (no offense, really) is a very good example of that....</p>

<p>So insomniac_01--
Like everyone has said, you should try to get along with your family, and you will be leaving sooner than later and will then be able to do what you want, but I though I'd add a little of my personal perspective.
For myself, I was raised with no constrictions in regards to religion. My mom was raised catholic, but left the church when she couldn't get any answers to any of her questions and was looked down on for daring to want more evidence than blind faith. She didn't raise my brothers and I as atheists though, we were allowed to pick which what made us happiest to believe. On my own, I came to the decision that while I don't believe that there is no pattern to life, but I don't believe there is a God who would make us all, knowing, somehow, exactly how we would be, and then would sentence us to hell for not believing in him, when he "knew" we wouldn't... It doesn't make sense, along with quite a few other things about all organized religion. I have tried the Christian mindset, even experimenting with the daily/nightly/every meal praying as a child. It ended up making me feel horrible. Every time I messed something up, or forgot to pray, I would have to worry about apologizing to God, and making up for my faults. I think I lasted 3 weeks.
Also, and I'm sorry if this is hurtful to anyone, but I think for many religion is mostly just a way to feel safe, and socialize with like minded, rater than anything really deep. If thinking there is an all seeing god makes your parents feel happier and secure, it is a wonderful thing! But if it doesn't work for you, you should have no qualms about finding the way of life that does, and your parents should respect that.
Again-- though, I agree you should try to honor your parents as well, they really shouldn't force you to go to church, not if you don't really believe, or want to be there.
I would be interested in knowing just what questions you have, and if they are the same as some of mine. If you want to talk about problems, or get another view on things, feel free to send me a message! Just remember- no matter what, your family is just doing this because they care, and that's what's most important.</p>

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<p>Think for yourself. If you want to be religious, don't.</p>

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<p>"Think for yourself. If you want to be religious, don't."
<em>hack</em> <em>cough</em> <em>no</em>
I disagree with certain doctrines of churches i attend, but that doesn't mean I have to autoconform to their doctrines (ex: speaking in tongues = salvation). However, I may want to talk to a few leaders if I continue go on a regular basis.</p>

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<p>?? Whats wrong with reasoning things out for himself? Of course, as I am well aware, the last thing any faith based cult wants you to do it <em>think</em>.</p>

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<p>God doesn't exist.</p>

<p>Come on over and live your life the real way.</p>

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<p>Ginger, we have very similar views about religion, I do believe that people call themselves Christian and such to merely feel secure, comforted.</p>

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<p>"Whats wrong with reasoning things out for himself?"
nothing. but if you are to reason, all doors should be left open unless they can be plausible. one cannot simply close off a topic simply because certain members bear tendencies that do not promote logical thinking. Illogical people do not make a thing true or untrue - it is what it is. that is why all doors must be left open until one logically reasons away from certain portals and ends up at Truth.</p>

<p>"Of course, as I am well aware, the last thing any faith based cult wants you to do it <em>think</em>.""</p>

<p>two definitions of "cult" off of google:
"followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader"
"Any religion that focuses on worship of a particular person or deity."
- which one are you referring to?
If trying to label Christianity as a cult that does not <em>think</em>, various works have been written over "thinking" related issues, whether it be the very existence of God or an historical piece concerning the Bible's accuracy historically, geographically, etc.
Faith and thinking go hand in hand. Once one reasons logically what is most true (or, as the case may be, is straight truth), one steps out in faith to embrace this option for why should one embrace an illogical lie?</p>

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<p><strong><em>Don't want to control this thread/let me know if i slip =P</em></strong></p>

<p>"I do believe that people call themselves Christian and such to merely feel secure, comforted."
some do, some don't
all depends on whom you speak to
it is amazing to be secure/comforted, but that should not be the sole purpose - the whole basis must be Truth and belief in the Truth.</p>