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Originally Posted by elainevdw  I've experienced this to a smaller degree (seeing as my family's brand of Christianity was only slightly condemning). All I can say is that it should get better over time, especially if you surround yourself with like-minded friends.
I also string my parents along to some degree... I don't want to scare them by telling them that I don't believe in all that anymore, so I let them think that I do believe it but just don't like going to church.
I know that's not the healthiest way to approach things, but seeing as one of the reasons I rejected Christianity was pain over the thought of friends I loved going to hell, I don't want to put my parents through that, too.
It may always linger a little bit, though. Like, even though I don't consider myself Christian and don't really worry about hell, etc., I still hesitate to formalize it by even privately rejecting my confirmation vows or baptism. There's a lot of fear, there. |
That's a perfect description of my state as well.
What I was taught when I was younger was that God forgives everything. They would always say that there's no sin too great. Well, then why doesn't that cover not believing in God?
The thought of decent people who don't believe in one particular thing being punished for all eternity never sat well with me.