My Mom wants me the read the bible again.

[Dangerman]

The nerve of my mom. She printed a calendar full of bible scriptures to give through me and wants me to "go back to the bible and go back to god".

I just became an atheist due to American soldiers mistreating the Koran and Stephen Hawkings' evidence of the creation of the universe. My mom has no right to force me back to Christianity. I am completely steamed!

But if I tell her that I don't need this, she'll get angry with me and may not trust me anymore.

I have the right to choose not to believe in religion and no one can force me to come to their religion. :mad:

Any suggestions?

[Orrex]

1. Tell her that you only read nonfiction.

[Lucian]

2. Tell her that.

If she gets pissed, that's her problem. Not your's.

And BTW, I trust Atheists more than I trust Christian nutcases.

[May Hamm]

43. She's his MOTHER for goodness sake!

"If she gets pissed, that's her problem. Not your's."

That's too bad. There are many tactful ways for families to resolve disagreements without a 'screw you' attitude. Yes, it's offensive when a STRANGER gets in your face about religion. But this is Mom. She can't turn off love and concern. Love and hugs along with a "I know you care and I'll try" will preserve the family and be easier to live with than "Go jump in a lake."

[dropkickpa]

50. It's equally offensive when it's family, mother or other.

[May Hamm]

53. You may think so but I do not agree.

I'm sorry for you if you've given your family no more relevance in your life than a stranger would have.

[dropkickpa]

54. Point completely missed

It IS offensive when family harrasses you about religion. You've obviously never been there.

[May Hamm]

55. Exaggerate is another word for lie

One conversation between parent and offspring is not harassment.

[redwitch]

3. Your mom loves you and will have to come to terms with this.

Hang in there young'un!

- A Mom

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

4. thumbs up mom

:thumbsup:

[madmom]

5. I have found that if I try to force my kids to do something, they rebel that much harder, tell

your mom that IF you have a change of heart it will be because of your insights into things not because someone tried to coerce you into it. If you do this just to appease her, it has no meaning, IMO.

[Tikki]

6. You could tell her that you will read..

the Bible as you can and only if she agrees not to talk at all
about what you have read.
Tell her, "It'll be a personal revelation and you don't want it spoiled by Bible verses quoted out of context."


Tikki

[Orsino]

7. You may have missed a lot of updates.

War is cool, helping the poor is out, and Jesus now uses high-capacity magazines.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I would avoid all discussion of religion with her.

Everyone has the right to believe in whatever they choose or choose to believe in nothing, but the true believers worry about you and your soul. Take it from me, as an atheist for years, I have more people praying for me than I ever would have had if I just believed. Your mom really is concerned about your "soul" and the less you talk about the subject, the better.

And as a side note, the bible is just a book. Reading it will not do any harm, so try to humor her. Then you can tell her that you are reading it without lying to her. Actually, Jesus was a great philosopher and if you know enough about his teachings, you can short-circuit some of the bible thumpers---and that can be lots of fun. Just say away from Numbers, nothing can be more boring.

[kentauros]

9. I highly recommend reading this version:

http://www.amazon.com/Cake-Bible-Rose-Levy-Beranbaum/dp/0688044026


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g_K6_QyQJRQ/TQYD0bMv1GI/AAAAAAAACh4/5K5dtls6zG4/s1600/Cake+Bible+-+Book+Cover.jpg

[blogslut]

10. I've read the bible a few times

First as a believer and then as a non-believer. Reading it again didn't turn me into a believer. In fact, I would say that reading the Bible is what led me to research other religions and ultimately reject them all.

[jobycom]

11. First suggestion... Umm.... You know, just...

I never talked about it with my parents, but one day, after about fifteen years, I joked about being an atheist by accident, kind of like, "Yeah, as if being an atheist isn't hard enough in Texas." Then I realized what I'd said. My parents were silent a long time, then awkwardly talked about other things. My father later tried to talk to me about it, but it upset him so much that all that came out was "You should be ashamed of yourself!" It wasn't really what he wanted to say, I could tell, but he's no good with words and he was just trying to say something strong to persuade me. Still, it wasn't nice to hear.

Anyway, point is, you're on your own, just like in the real universe. :) You just have to do what you can to live with her. She's afraid of your choice, and of course as she's older than you she worries about mortality more, so she's afraid she won't see you in the next world and all that. Just remember, that's why she's doing it, and she's just as absolutely convinced she's right as you are that you are. Cut her some slack, try not to let it come up, reassure her however you can that you aren't a bad person and you appreciate her and her concern. It might even go a long way to making her feel better if you give her hope, something like "That's what I believe now, mom, but I'll keep an open mind. If there is a God, I'll listen if he calls me." Something corny. Listen to whatever advice she's giving and sort of repeat it back to her.

It really depends on your relationship and what you can live with. I've known atheists who just tell others they aren't, to avoid the whole thing. I was always the type who lets people know who I am. My parents, despite their fears, were eventually okay with that, although I rarely bring it up to them. My mother, I think, has stopped believing in God, too, or at least she stopped believing in most of what she was taught. That was her own path, and had nothing to do with me--I've never tried to convert them or anything.

I'm a little curious. You say you became an atheist over the way our military behaved, and I can kind of understand that. Part of my first step was in seeing that noone in my church (in my teens) actually lived the life they said they believed in, and I started doubting that they really believed in a god. But I never actually decided to stop believing or made a choice to not believed. I just realized that I didn't believe in everything I had believed. It wasn't quick, it took place over a couple of years, as I began to see the world without a god in it. (I could explain that a lot more, but I've rambled enough here). I'm just curious--and this is just a note comparison and there's no hidden question or statement in it at all--if you really just decided you weren't going to believe, since that's what it sounds like you're saying. For me, it wasn't really a decision, it was just a realization. I'm always curious to hear how others got there, and where they got to. :)

[jobycom]

13. And rereading it, I realized I wasn't very specific about what you asked.

If it were me, I'd just tell her that I wasn't going to read them, and then explain that if you one day start believing again, you will study her list, but that now it would do no good because your mind and heart couldn't get anything out of them now. That's an excuse I use when I want to be concilliatory (which isn't often, but it does help when you have to find common ground with someone so you can move past it). I say something like "Right now, I don't believe, but I once did. So I know my heart can change. I don't expect it to, but I'm not closing my heart to it, either. If your god really has a plan for me, maybe I'll hear it again. Right now, though, I don't see that happening. I can't force myself to believe any more than you could force yourself not to. We'd both be lying to ourselves if we tried." Or something like that, depending on who I'm talking to.

[alphafemale]

12. So long as you go in knowing it's fiction...the bible can be seen as...well...interesting

It's why many people are why they are. They were brought up on it. They never questioned.

Imagine a society based upon a belief that Aesop's fables were literal. Or maybe that the tales of Paul Bunyan were a Sacrament.

I don't get how adults continue to believe in fairy tales either. I'm perfectly content with the idea of death being the end of ME. In fact the idea of eternal life horrifies me. Especially given the Christian view of an after life. Where you sing praises eternally for the pleasure of living eternally to sing forever and ever and ever to some insecure narcissistic god.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

64. I don't think that singing version

of heaven represents what most Christians think of as the afterlife. Maybe the fundies think that.

[PassingFair]

14. How old are you?

Your mommy tells you what to READ?

Give her a copy of the "The Portable Atheist"
and tell her you'll read hers if she reads
yours....

[rurallib]

31. Tell Mother

I am old enough to decide on my own what I believe. And that is all I have to say.

[nolabear]

15. I'd love to know if you're a teen or an adult. In my opinion the only way to approach this

is with respect both for your mother and yourself. If she really believes, then that belief includes a lot of things that make her afraid for you as a non-believer. She's expressing caring, but just not in a way that means caring to you.

If you're secure in your beliefs, then you can find hers interesting and some of their ideas worthwhile (there's a lot of wisdom in the book, even if it's just taken as I do, as a lot of ideas to be taken or left as fits with your own ideas) without buying into the actual existence of a God.

You and your mom are alike in your emotional reactions to the other's way of believing. I'd relax all the way around, though if your mother presses you too hard and you're not a teen who lives with her, you might practice the art of being elsewhere. If you're a teen, you might have fun reading a bunch of comparitive religious stuff and get an understanding of some of the interesting thoughts about God and religions.

Good luck.

[Phentex]

16. You DO need to read it!

I'm an atheist but I watch Jeopardy! You need biblical reference information.

Reading the bible won't force you into anything. Reading a cookbook won't make you a chef. Owner's manual doesn't make you a mechanic.

All of them give you a little knowledge. :)

[alphafemale]

37. Exactly. It's actually a very helpful thing to be able to quote if you're an atheist.

Unless the OP is shaky in his or her atheism and thinks that reading the bible will lead he or she back to the flock.

If that's the case I doubt they are much of an atheist anyway.

[Phentex]

59. UPDATE: Tonight's final Jeopardy category...

The Old Testament

[Arugula Latte]

17. Forcing yourself to believe in god is like forcing yourself to believe Santa is a real person

It's just impossible to make yourself "believe" something that you feel in your bones is fiction. I wish more believers understood that.

[dawg]

40. But Santa Claus is real ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas

[hobbit709]

18. Maybe she needs to read ALL of it again.

Not just the parts she happens to agree with.

[Tikki]

22. +1

Tikki

[Sequoia]

19. Some of the stories are fun to read.

If you like history you'll like them better. At least she's not making you read War and Peace or The Illiad (Excellent by the way).

[Kaleva]

20. Why be steamed? Your mother can't force you to do anything unless you allow it.

I'm assuming you are an adult and not living with your mother. Not exactly sure why you are worried she may get angry. So what if she does. Also wondering why you are concerned about losing her trust.

Appears to me you have given your mother a great deal of authority over you for some reason. Again, I'm assuming you are an adult and/or you are no longer being supported by her.

[elocs]

21. It's your mother. Take the calendar. Nothing fricking says you have to read it.

You don't live in her basement do you?

Even if you are atheist there is nothing wrong with reading the Bible because in doing that it would put you ahead of most Christians who have never actually read the entire Bible, but they are good at parroting what others tell them about the Bible. It would put you up on them by having read the Bible and knowing what it really says.

[egressingsparrowdrop]

23. Tell her this....

First of all, she's not "forcing" you...unless you're a destitute paraplegic and depend upon your mom for your life and she's threatening to withdraw her support.

But tell her this:

Religion emerged in isolation on all continents (ok, except Antarctica) in history. As explorers, mainly Christian, started landing in far away lands and discovering new civilizations/peoples the people they discovered invariably had a belief system.
The belief systems of the Aztecs/Africans/Aborigines/etc all had something in common with Christianity - they gave answers to the "big questions."
Why are we here? Who is running this show? Where are my deceased loved ones now, and where will I go when I die?
Based upon this, and upon the evidence in front of us, namely that "religious" people often seem more content/at peace, you have concluded that religion is a pablum for the human spirit. It serves to quell the uncomfortable uncertainties that come along with higher intelligence/abstract thought.
Thus, you have concluded that religion, all religion, is false.
Wish her well, tell her you don't and never will judge her for her belief, but ask her to respect your belief - based upon the real evidence above - that all religions are human constructs to address the unknowns that plague the minds of all humans.
And tell her if she remains adamant on judging you for your choice you will burn her Bible.

[hunter]

24. Clearly you must become a scholar of Ezekiel and celebrate with colorful language.

Tell her of those ...infatuated with male prostitutes, whose members were like those of asses and whose seed came in floods like those of horses...

Good old Ezekiel has plenty of stories told like that. It makes you wonder what sort of neighborhood he grew up in.

Johah is a fun story too, especially once you recognize it as satire about a shallow holy man, while the Fundamentalists are getting stuck wondering about the fish that choked the poor fellow down.

I'm afraid your mom doesn't know it, but your reading the Bible again with fresh eyes probably won't bring you any closer to her church-spun faith.

There's some wild stuff in that Bible.

[ZombieHorde]

25. I never bring up religion with my family, but if they do bring up religion I will debate with them.

They don't mention religion to me anymore.

[amerikat]

26. She needs to see this. West Wing episode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHaVUjjH3EI

[tigereye]

61. one of my favorite scenes and one I always think of when

Reps try to pull similar stuff on Dems.

:thumbsup:


I really need to find a way to re-watch some of those- what a wonderful series.

[OmahaBlueDog]

27. I think you should read it

If you look at the principles of the progressive movement and the Democratic party, their basis can be found in the New Testament. Jesus continually advocated for the poor and against the rich, and against war and for forgiveness of those who trespass against us. Of course his core teachings are ignored, and frequently twisted to justify damn near anything and everything.

Note that I'm not telling you to become anything. I simply think you ought to understand the book. I think it's also important to understand what Jesus said, and, more importantly, what he did not say.

Finally, you can quote the modern-day prophet Steven Colbert to your Mom:

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we've got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it."

[sakabatou]

28. Ask her, "Which one," when it comes to deities.

[edbermac]

29. Give her a copy of the Constitution.

And tell her to read the part concerning the 1st Amendment. :patriot:

[Generic Brad]

30. I've read through the Bible at least three times

The stories are interesting, but I am still an atheist. My mother, on the other hand, who insisted I read it through cover to cover all three times has never once read it all the way through. :crazy:

[WildEyedLiberal]

32. You're an atheist because some soldiers abused the Koran?

That's an... interesting reason. At least be honest and admit that you're an atheist because you don't believe that religion is true. Your reason seems like a copout, and frankly, it'll sound like a copout to your mom too. I don't think it's a good idea to have a religious debate with your mom at all, but if you insist on rising to her bait, then you need to be able to articulate your beliefs better than that.

[Richard Steele]

44. I agree- very thin copout indeed. There's more to this than he's telling us.

Either that or the OP is 13 years old,
in which case there's LESS than he's telling us.

[old mark]

33. Tell her you already read it once and didn't like it the first time....

I stopped believing in it all around age 11, but no matter how much I asked, my parents kept me in catholic school through high school. I managed to ignore as much as possible, and have not much interest in religion at all after years of studying and reading about the majors.

FWIW, get a KJ version and read that-it's at least interesting stories and language...the "modern language" versions are just dumb nonsense.

I doubt you will be re-captured by religion after thinking your way out of it's foolichness and fear mongering.


mark

[datasuspect]

34. her house, her rules

don't bite the hand that feeds you.

[Xithras]

35. If you can't read the Bible without becoming a Christian, you aren't a real atheist.

If the mere act of reading a book can change your perception of faith, then you weren't very committed to that faith (or lack of) in the first place.

I've read the Bible a number of times. It's an interesting book from a historical perspective, and knowing the source material puts you on better footing to confront the biblethumpers in arguments.

If you're still living in her home, I'd suggest that you read it. It will make her happy, and a happy mother is always a good thing. Just look at it as "research".

[frogmarch]

36. I'm an atheist and often read

from the bible.

At social gatherings with my husband's Christian family, someone is always trying to remember what biblical book some verse or another is from, and all heads turn toward me, The Lone Atheist, for the answer. :-)

My advice to you: Go ahead and read it again. It can't hurt you.

[seabeyond]

38. how old are you? a simple thanks mom, kiss on cheek and go on with life.

or

kick at dirt and rant on a board, yelling how dare mom

or

battle

[LanternWaste]

48. +1 Seriously. Sheesh.

"how old are you?..."

Seriously. Sheesh. The acting out of child-like petulance can be more annoying than the over dramatized "OMG It's being forced down my throat" routine. "It's my bedroom and I don't HAVE to clean it!"

[nolabear]

49. I asked too and it's an important question. If Dangerman's a teen

then his reaction is perfectly normal for a teen. If he's a grown-up (whatever THAT means) then I hope he can be kind and heck, maybe even read the thing and enjoy it, and his mom, for what they are while staying true to his convictions.

I notice he's not checking back in to talk about that though.

[dawg]

39. Be sweet to your Mom.

She loves you, and wants you to be happy. She probably believes athiests go to hell, which is a terrifying thought for her (because she loves you so much).

Everyone should read and be familiar with the Bible. (as well as the Koran)

[May Hamm]

41. That's a very big book there. Ought to take you many months to read.

But that does not mean you must become a christian.

Honor your mother. She will always be your mother. And showing respect for her is good practice.

Love Mom. Kiss her cheek and promise to spend several sessions every week reading the Bible. Really now, you don't have to commit to how long those sessions are. Tell her the truth the way adults handle it. That you will honestly read it but you cannot promise anything further than that.

[haele]

42. Well, go to the skeptic's annotated Bible

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/ It's complete - word for word copy of the different types of Bibles and other holy books that are used by the mainstream and covers all the contradictions, social issue arguments, and the different verses that are used to justify or comment on all sorts of situations. The site doesn't preach, nor does it mock, it just charts it all out there, and lets the visitor take what they will out of it, and points out the arguments that can be made.
BTW, most atheists I know have know the bible better than most Bab'tist preachers and church-ladies.

Haele

[udbcrzy2]

45. My mother gave up on me long ago

When I was very young my Mother tried getting me to read the Bible. She became very frustrated with me because I had too many questions about all of the bizarre things it talked about. She wanted me to accept this book as a true story. It did not make sense to me at 8-years-old just as it doesn't today. Sorry Mom...

[Deep13]

52. Mine did on "spirituality," but...

...she still pushes quack medical ideas on me.

[kimi]

46. Only you can know how to deal with this

It's nice to have input from others - I ask for it all the darn time. But we don't know your mom, don't know if she's harassing you out of a fundy belief system, or just worried about you.

FWIW, I'm a Christian, don't apologize for it either. But I would never in a million years force or ask my child to read the Bible. I have read it, and I know for darn sure that a lot of it is not realistic, I see it as parable/truth/fiction/mistranslation. I read it for the beautiful verses ("Song of Solomon", anyone?) and the Gospels are compelling, IMO. But I also know that it is MY choice to take what I will from it, and I find a lot of my progressive values come from the words in there.

Take care. Please know that she's your mom, and deserves respect. That's all that most of us moms want. :)

[Buddha2B]

47. Dealing with parents is like playing a game.

It's definitely akin to politics.

It is to your advantage to play nice.

Lots of Atheists read and study the bible.

“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” - Sun Tzu

[Deep13]

51. Ask her if it has gotten any better since the last time you read it.

Tell her "no."

[semillama]

56. Tell her you're reading them as fast as R. Crumb can crank out the illustrated versions. n/t

[pscot]

57. Lie

It's no big deal.

[Skittles]

58. tell your mom

your religious beliefs (or absence of beliefs) are none of her business

[bookworm65t]

60. I recommend the LOLCat Bible

she certainly didn't say WHAT bible to read. And the bible of kittehs is funny and cool! IMHO

:fistbump:

[AmyStrange]

62. Lots of UFO and ET sightings in there...

-

Interesting stuff really.

Of course they code the sightings with words like clouds, chariots and angels, but once you figure out the code...

The rest is just sex and killing. It's why it's still the best seller of all time. Hehehe,

Dave (and Caty)

[dembotoz]

63. don't chew on it--she might kill you

news story this past week.....
dog chewed on bible and some lady strung it up