How do I deal with a religious family as an atheist?

As an atheist myself, I know how it feels when all your religious family shares their beliefs and you simply cannot participate in their ceremonies and stuff like that in the same way but, even then, i believe my way of seeing religion is valide and not a made up thought. Religion shouldn't come between family and, if it does in your family, you should do something about it, for it is not okay for family to mistreat someone of their own in anyway and is even worse when they do it for something like a belief. But, the same goes to you, you shouldn't judge and mistreat others of your family because they aren't atheists.

In my experience it really helped to find ideals for common good between my own and others belief, in this way we could work towards the same goals without clashing about the details. If you can't quite find such similarities, it is sometimes worthwhile putting the effort into maintaining peace. For instance, during prayer, you could take a moment to center yourself instead of arguing that you don't want to be involved. Arguing about belief systems with family can cause unnecessary rifts, especially if we consider it from the perspective that we actually all just want what is best for each other.

This was really tough and it still has its challenges some days. I am Gay and my family is from a Catholic background. Some members of my family made it clear they didn’t except my lifestyle because of the church. My lifestyle was wrong and my thoughts were sins. I found friends that went through similar things and was able to connect with them and the more I focused on myself and my lifestyle. My family and I have worked on our relationship since then but when the topic of religion or God is brought up, I don’t engage. For me there is a connection between all humans by our vibrations and our energy. I can’t control what my family thinks but I can control how I think and how I react to situations and I don’t think it’s worth the energy or time to defend my lifestyle or beliefs.

Developing resilience is the key to dealing with any opposition over your life choices. Being at odds with family members can be a frustrating and hurtful experience. Ask yourself: What is my goal? Are you trying to explain your point of view during a family function or keep calm during a prayer with a family member? Once you have settled on a goal, you know the next phase is how to share your message without alienating your family. Finding a trusted confidant to practice what you will say in certain situations, or how you will cope in others is the best path. Create scenarios, act them out, practice. Remember, lead with love and compassion, be honest and authentic - be yourself. Listeners on 7cups are with you.

I can't give a direct advice on how to deal with the situation but I can encourage you to express your feelings to your family regarding religion and hear what the response will be and just take it from there. It's okay to feel nervous about the conversation , anyone would be , but always remember that your own personal values and beliefs are also important even though they wont be always similar to the ones of your family members. Everyone is going through their own personal journeys in life and what works for you might not work for the next person.

The first thing you can do is that respect your family's opinion at being religious. Never disrespect their opinions especially in publicly. Make them understand your perspective about this. Make sure your belief about things doesn't make you aloof from your family. Make your self very clear in front them. They should know what u feel. Never act as if u agree with this will give them a wrong idea about your opinion. Never force them to change their minds. Try to keep a balance between a healthy debate and harming their ideas. Hope this helps you. All the best.

Be firm in your beliefs. Stand up for yourself, but remember just as you have a right to your beliefs, they also have a right to thiers. Remind them of this in a non heated environment. Respect thier beliefs and ask them to respect yours. If they choose to practice, for example praying before dinner, try not interrupt. If they try to target you, simply stay with that mantra in a calm, steady, firm manner "You have a right to your beliefs, and I have a right to mine." If they offer to pray for you, say thank you and move on. It's sometimes hard to stay calm when you feel like you are being targeted, but it is the best way to be respected for your stance.

There are some people you know you will never agree with regarding various social, religious, or political issues. If your family is very religious and insists that you follow in their footsteps, the best thing I found to do is to avoid talking about religion altogether. I have told my father on numerous occasions, "This conversation will not end well and neither of us will cause the other to change their belief. So let's not go there and enjoy what we love about each other." This is delivered with a smile and wink to show I'm not being aggressive or confrontational but simply wanting to enjoy a good talk. There are so many things we all enjoy or have in common - why not talk about those things? Some people may still try to push their beliefs on you -- in this case, I recommend standing your ground once. Tell them politely but firmly that you feel each person should be able to choose their own religion. They have theirs and you respect that. Equally, you have yours. You won't disrespect them by trying to force your beliefs on them - and ask they do the same. Explain that if they do not, you will have to leave the room, change the subject, not talk to them - depending on the severity. This may not work for everyone but it is the only thing I've done that allows me to keep a cool head, establish boundaries, and maintain self-respect.

The key to overcoming something that appears to be a difference it to discover the similarities among you and your family. While they are people who possess some form of religious beliefs and you do not; everybody believes in something. For example, christians believe in being good and kind to ones neighbor. You may feel that this is a worthy virtue as well. Being kind to ones neighbor, whether back by religious motivation or person values is a commonality that you and your family share. You may also maintain a belief that people are inherently good, as religious people your family may see the world in that same light

Empathy. We do not need to blow off others' beliefs and try to walk a mile in their shoes. We are all entitled to our beliefs so long they don't hurt others with that mentality it can help avoid awkward situations or offending others I personally, try to be kind and understanding. Religion is and can be used to cope with difficult situations in life thus if a family member is religious and I am an atheist, I will respect and be mindful of it because everyone deserves to live their truth so long as nobody is being harmed by their beliefs.