digibutter.nerr

[Francine]

Well last night I got into a bucket load of trouble. At school, a senior had photomanipulated a picture of Jesus. My friend took a picture of it with my camera to put on Facebook. I forgot about it, and let my dad borrow my camera. He saw the picture, and exploded at me. During our pleasant, calm conversation, I ended up saying, "Oh, and if I say that I don't believe in God and I'm an Atheist, are you going to drill me through another thirteen years of Catholic education?!" Now he's threatened to pull me out of my current high school to an all-girls Catholic school.

I wish he didn't force me into religion like that. It's like my apathy for an higher power is a disease of mine to him, and to cure my mental state he's going to pull me out of my prestigious high school to some private school with rich snobs (and they are definitely rich snobs, I know people who go there and to other schools) JUST because I don't want a religion to be part of my life.

It's not like I'm burning baby animals as sacrifices to some strange god of a cult. It's not like I'm going around spitting in the faces of every person wearing a cross. It's not like I'm going to shun my family because they're Christian, but they might just do that to me because I'm no longer the obedient little Catholic girl in a blue plaid jumper. Instead I'm someone who decides to live by my conscience and values (which are STRIKINGLY SIMILAR to Catholic ones, mostly since I was raised as one), someone who's making her own decisions, someone's who's growing up.

In all truth, I started to give up on religion when I was a young child, but that's a sad story that no one needs to know unless I want them to. And even when I was still attending Catholic school, I was doubting things that were being taught. As I grew up in school, learning how science tells everything, I decided that Catholicism was not for me, and it isn't for me. It is possible to live life without religion. I know several of you do. But apparently I'm not allowed to as long as I live in a house with my parents. I understand that, and it's not like I'm rebelling when they drag me to church weekly. I participate in meal prayers. I just don't believe in what I'm doing, and if I tried to resist, I'll be smacked across the face. That's what happened to my older brother when he said that he wasn't going to church when he was 15.

I celebrate Christmas still. Why? Because it's no longer a religious holiday, though my family still goes to church. It's just a reason to give and receive gifts. I'd just tell people in my family to give them to me the day after or something, just as a gift. And I like to give the gifts too. Then there's no other holiday that has Christian roots that I celebrate that my dad would complain that I'm being a hypocrite about. Easter, nothing happens other than dressing in pastel colors for church and an Easter egg hunt for the really little ones in the family. I'm not being a hypocrite, I'm just celebrating a materialistic holiday.

I don't want religion to be shoved down my throat. He even said, "I'm praying for you that you'll believe again." Alright then, pray for the Agnostic (since it's more apathy than a complete disbelief). See how far that gets you.

Also, I don't have anything against religion. Live and let live. I like reading the Bible for its scenes, and it has general lessons of morality that everyone should listen to. I like religion, but I won't follow it.

[Tails Doll]

[Goomba]

It is your right, no, ANYONE'S right to believe what they want. Your father should not expect you to be 100% perfect. Individuality is important, and you seem very independent and smart. You have good values, as far as I can tell, and we all have made your share of sins. But not letting someone be who they are, I think is a sin.

Good luck to you, Francine.

[Super Cyber Mario]

I go to a catholic school.
I am forced into being christian.
Everyone at my school follows it without question, everyone does.

Personally, I am agnostic.

[Francine]

[Super Cyber Mario]

[Francine]

Really, my reasons to start doubting it are something I really rather not share. But I know people who went to the same Catholic school as me who also said that they don't care anymore. And some of the most devout people were doubtful by junior year, from the upperclassmen who I talk to.

Oh, and here's a bonus, my dad believes that Islam is a dangerous religion. What a terrible person.

[Sam]

Same. I believe there is a God though, However I am not a Christian. I like reading the bible for its stories, Which I also believe. It is taken in a medevel perspective which I like.

[Francis]

Although I am a Christian, I would never ever do what your parents are doing. I think its awesome that you have thought about these things for yourself instead of mindlessly drifting into the typical Christian American belief system. It's ironic that the very thing your parents are causing the very thing they don't want to happen. I only hope that your experience doesn't turn you off to reality of Jesus. I know its hard to believe, but there are many churches out there that are still relevant, it just takes a lot of searching to find one. I have experienced both sides, and I can tell you that even though we are all bundled under the title of "Christian" or "religion", we have a very different outlook on everything.

I pray that we are developing a new generation of Christians who actually know what they are talking about and don't just accept whatever is spoon fed to them.

[Super Cyber Mario]

[Yellow Magikoopa]

Well, sometimes I question my religion, too. I'm not really Catholic, but I am Christian. My family isn't that strict about it, though. However, I believe in God, but I don't go out of my way to make sure I'm not violating a commandment in every little thing I do like some people.

[Cherry]

The right to think for yourself, to be your own person...

It just doesn't exist anymore. That is the greatest sin of the human race.

[Celeste Dimentia]

Nobody should have religion forced upon them; you have the right to believe whatever you want, just as your parents have theirs, and you should both respect each other in that regard. I have nothing against people believing whatever they want to, such as that they need an imaginary, intangible friend to support and love them. I just happen to personally believe that there's no need for a crutch; I can walk on my own.

Oh... I'm an Atheist.

[Black Yoshi]

Personally, my view of religion is that someone or something created the universe via the Big Bang and is letting the worls run its course with minor intervention. I was raised thinking I was a Protestant, while my dad was an Aethist and my mom was secretly raising me for Paganism... which she still is trying to do. My ideals just came from all three of those backgrounds. Forexample, the stories of the Bible I don't believe to be completely true, but the morals set fourth by the stories are good to follow.

Anyways, If I knew your dad, I would whack him across the face with a cold, wet fresh mackerel and tell him what an ignorant dumbass he is.

[Mona]

My family is Christian, but to be honest, we don't go to church. Mainly because we can't seem to find the right one, I guess. But we still pray every night, we got baptized, and we still read the Bible, and then my Grandma has her own "mini-church" thing that me, my little brother, and my cousins go to in the summer, so it's not like we're evil people because we don't get "super religious". It's ridiculous how people are so...biased towards religions just because they think they are, as Drama Llama would say, "EEEEEEEEEEVIL!". I don't think that other religions are wrong, just because I'm Christian. I wouldn't ever DARE to think that other religions are stupid, because that's a sin right there. A big one. I think, in some weird way, that ALL religions are correct in one way or another. Even being an Aethiest. I count it as a religion. :|

It's also ridiculous when parents try to force their children into religion. Kids should be allowed to grow up with any freaking religion they feel like. People need to be allowed to be independant, and they need to be allowed to make their OWN decisions, or else they'll never be able to learn anything.

Anyways...I'm sorry that happened, Francine. D: