Wrong... you came in and hijacked the thread with your "holier than you" attitude... all you've brought to this thread in an array of insults at people who weren't even talking to you. It's no wonder you always get banned and then come crawling and crying back for Clutch to let you back in.
That's probably a large component of it, though I've known a few people who attended St. Ed's even though they ranged anywhere from non-religious to anti-religious. St. Edwards offers some fine educational programs. Perhaps it was a tad early to be blitzed from Sunday brunch... The day is still early though... Just give it time, my friend.
Why would you even bring this up? Voting seems like something so easy to keep private. Had you even voted for the first time when you decided you were no longer a Republican? Why would you declare that you're an atheist to your parents? I've made decisions in my life that I know my parents wouldn't necessarily approve of. If it's something that would upset them, I just keep it to myself. Why would anyone ever write something that they don't want other people to know about? If your parents are going to be upset about the things you write, either: don't write them down or don't write them down in a format where they can read your thoughts. Imagine that. Your parents don't think you believe in god when you have stated you don't believe in god. Why do you need to have so many labels and proclamations? "I've left religion!" "I'm an atheist!" "I'm a teenage Republican!" "I'm no longer a Republican!" "I never want to settle down and have kids!" Maybe it would be beneficial to just live life without being so concerned about making a statement about everything. Just relax. Why do your parents need to know everything about your "new belief system" in order for you to "explore all it has to offer?" My parents are pretty damn accepting of me, but if there's something that we really disagree on, I am capable of looking them in the face and telling them "OK, good for you, that doesn't change my opinion." On the other hand, I know that I don't have to discuss every aspect of my life with them. One of my favorite activities in life is playing poker and drinking beer. Neither of my parents drink or gamble. I'm not going to broadcast it to them that one of my favorite activities in life is something they disapprove of. Sometimes it's best to
Sounds like finalsbound has a really tough problem that doesn't have a solution. No matter what decision is made it's not going to turn out well in the sense for her relationship with her family. I can relate a story of a good friend of mine - whose parents are very conservative Christian Koreans. He had a guilt complex of trying to live by their standards and always felt guilty. I responsibility to his family that he couldn't bear and he ended up trying to commit suicide since he couldn't find a pathway out. He took the easy way out. Afterwards his family didn't think he was responsible as he really wasn't. They harped on every flaw, and he tried to forgive them and find a way to make amends. He got a job, finished college, got into medical school. But then he got involved with a girl of a different race and much younger and his family flipped and basically demanded that he end that relationship "if they loved the family". He married her and had a kid with her. They essentially disowned him and refuse to ever speak to him even 10 years later. It's not a happy ending. Their family still is in a lot of pain and is scarred by the perceived injustice he committed to them. He feels rotten for the pain he caused them and for not having them in his life. But he made the choice that would make him happiest, and he's happier then he's ever been. I think for FB, there is no resolution that will be nice and tidy. One way or the other, it's going be tough. It's unfortunate. But at the end of the day, you are not responsible for other people's suffering that comes by their own hand and you have to live your life - whether your decisions or right or wrong. You just have to accept the consequences, but not sure i"d take my advice or any of the advice of anyone here as none of us are professionals in these sorts of matters.
This thread is mildly entertaining. We need more absent father Fatty chiming in with parental advise. ...oh yeah, cut the cord finalsbound.
This is probably the wisest course. Just live your life, belief what you want, but don't let your parent know about it. The truth can be dangerous stuff, and it doesn't sound like her parents can handle it and nothing positive will come out of it. They aren't ready for it.
Limit contact and live your life. Houston is big enough to limit contact without having to move. If you have caller ID use it. Pull an FFB and de-friend them. Your parents will always perceive you as their "little baby girl" and most familial relations revert to this perception naturally at every opportunity. Including relations with your siblings. This will not change. Holidays, birthdays, and the occasional "how ya' doing" calls are all that is necessary once you are an adult.
If you are using drugs to self-medicate (pretty broad definition, but you know it when you see it), then counseling is a real solution. That and your comments of mentioning things that you fear are "pathetic" sounds like a crisis of confidence. You need someone who knows the situation and one you can trust to sort things out to help support you when you do decide what to do. Most of us realize the answers to our core problems or weaknesses. Getting the help to make that possible is never easy, but it's worth it more often than not when you're hurting.
Watch everything. Epic boyfriend/girlfriend nerd spat! <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EAITnMv1j8Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EAITnMv1j8Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
True this. You don't have to move out of town, but you can make living a few miles apart comfortable for you. 1. Establish boundaries. Seek neutral ground: instead of staying in/visiting their home [turf], or allowing them into your living space, for the time being agree to see them on Sundays when you go out to eat, or go shopping. Public settings for limited time periods = less chance of a scene. After a while, they'll become used to not having emotional arguments when they're around you, and that'll be the norm wherever you meet. 2. Change the locks. There is no excuse for them snooping upon your privacy. Never bring personal items to their home/where they can steal them, and keep them out of your home/apartment. This goes the same for online. Password-protect any Facebook, etc., accounts you have that they know about. (This is complicated, of course, if they help you out financially. Financial independence is the first, and most important, step.) You'll never have the type of relationship with your parents that you did growing up. You'll never be able to be comforted in their arms like you were as a child. If you want a relationship with them moving forward, they have to realize this too. You can have a relationship as adults, if they are willing to respect your opinions if not agree with them. If not, if they're unwilling to change, cut them off, either completely or limit them only to certain agreed-upon holidays & reunions. Be civil when you're around them, knowing that you can scream an expiating "F--- off!" on the car ride home, and be happily done with it for another six months. The remorse over deathbed reunions/recriminations is terrible, yes, but it will not be as bad spending the next thirty plus years trying to live in their, and your childhood's, ever-receding shadows. He means it. I asked to meet up one time for some advice on a bad breakup. My insistence that my ex was her own person, and probably had her own valid reasons, for some reason pissed him right the f--- off. Long story short: I wound up getting sucker-punched in the jaw. For my own good. FFB is not afraid to bring the pain. Lessons learned all around.
I’ve been caught in the middle of a situation similar to yours. My parents are atheists and a couple of years ago my sister found God and became a devout Catholic. This caused a pretty big division in our family and I was kind of stuck in the middle. I can see things from both perspectives and one thing I kind of realized from my parents was that the main issue they had with my sister was not so much her religious beliefs, it was the lack of respect she showed them. They were deeply hurt that she had such little regard for their feelings/opinions and felt like she was an ingrate for disobeying them after all they’ve done for her. My advice would be to reassure to them how much you love and respect them. Let them know that their approval is very important to you and that you appreciate all they’ve done for you. If there are certain aspects of their faith that you still believe in (importance of family, etc.), discuss that and try to get them see that your beliefs are not really all that different from theirs. Try to find a common ground. If you find that every time you try to discuss things with them, a fight always breaks out and nobody listens to anybody, try to communicate your feelings via a letter or an email. Good luck to you. My sister and parents have reconciled and learned to accept each other. It is possible for Catholics and atheists to live peacefully in the same house, so don't give up on them just yet.
Whoa. Didn't mean to derail. Satire. I was hoping it was obvious. I think of FFB as a public figure around these parts, and so hide under the protective robes of Hustler Magazine v. Falwell. Actually, when I think of FFB, I think of a perfect chimera of Jerry Falwell mixed with Larry Flynt, so it kind of fits, actually.
Haha FFB just wants to meet up with fb so he can sucker-punch her. :grin: Don't do it fb! I was wondering how long the ex stuff would stay.
