I am dreading tomorrow because of religion!

[StinkyXmasCheese]

Dreading tomorrow with my family.
They are all strong in their faith Christians and I know there will be praying and thanking god etc.
I was brought up Christian but am no longer and I'm actually quite angry about religion at the moment. (Working through these issues with my counsellor.)
I know Christmas is a Christian holiday but I know I can't have a drink or I'll say something to cause an argument and I have to bite my tongue.
I've already said to dh that we're going away for Xmas next year cos I just don't want to deal with it.
I don't know how I'm going to get through the day without letting something slip!

Takeabuscuit

I spent my whole education in Church run schools. My father went to Church every day (he wouldn’t have dreamt of posting videos like that on this thread - he would have respected the OP).

Quite frankly that video was about as compelling as the case for Father Christmas.

What @Moondust001 said on P2.

YABU.
Lots of people grow up to hold different opinions from their parents on big subjects - religion and politics being two of the really big ones. YOur anger is not normal however. You've decided to reject the religion you were brought up in. That is fine. Totally up to you as an adult. It is not normal however to be so angry about the way you were brought up that you can't cope with spending a day with your parents. It is you that has the issue if you can't have a couple of drinks without having a go at people just because you hold different views from them.
I was at a party last night, when conversation wandered in to politics / the General Election - it was very quickly apparent there were some differences of opinion, as, as adults who were all family, it was quickly agreed that wasn't the time to be discussing politics, and we all talked about other things instead.

@StinkyXmasCheese

1. there were 3 videos
2. how so No one seems able to give anything other than vague insults. can anyone on this thread disprove any of the content.
3. how exactly have I disrespected the op?

Causation argument relies on an uncaused cause to be at the beginning therefore contradicting the statement that everything has to have a cause, see also the Design argument (I teach this) - who designed God ? being the obvious question.
Evolution disproves the design theory as adaptation is the key to survival. Genesis is a fable.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo

You've disrespected the OP by making this about what you believe to be true, even though people not listening to her, and trying to insist on those same beliefs, has been scarring.

It's unkind. It's thoughtless. And if you don't care about that, then think on this: it's counterproductive. You're turning people away from your truth, not towards it, by approaching this subject so uncompassionately.

@Takethebuscuitandthesink Those 3 videos are all nonsense

Video 1 : The law of cause & effect. All things have a cause therefore the universe must have a cause. ... Unless you believe in a god in which case it doenst need a cause. FFS

Video 2 : You MUST believe Jesus was resurrected because the Romans were precautious. ... Oh please shoot me now.

Video 3 : Did jesus exist? The bible says he existed therefore he existed, BOOM. ... oh dear. #harrypotterlives

@Nancydrawn I fully appreciate that comment how would you suggest I should have approached and how do you feel I have been uncompassionate I genuinely would like to know?

I wouldn't have said anything at all.

If you felt you must (and you should examine that), then I would have said, "I'm really sorry you feel this way and that religion has been used to hurt you, not heal you. My own faith heals me, and anyone who uses faith to hurt rather than to love ought to be ashamed."

But really, I would simply have not said anything.

Also, I would stop hijacking this thread, which is about religious trauma, with your videos. This is not the place for it.

@Takethebuscuitandthesink, the word ‘evidence’ does not mean what you appear to think it means.

@Takethebuscuitandthesink
Vid1: Have watched all 6 and they are all equally as nonsensical.
Perhaps you would care to explain why any of those arguments makes any sense to you?
Vid 2: I watched it all, perhaps you would care to explain why any of it makes any sense to you?
Vid 3: See reason for video 2, perhaps you would care to explain why any of it make any sense to you?
New video: "The Bible is the most historically accurate book ever penned". Hmmm which seems to ignore how the bible is one of the most historically INACCURATE books ever written.

@Nancydrawn thank you I appreciate your response the only points I would add are:

1. I hardly think you could describe it as a thread about “religious trauma” and also the original point of the thread has already happened.
2. I actually think they do have a place as many PPs have derided Christianity so I think it is reasonable I should provide a defence. I do like your suggestions and will bear them in mind for the future.

It's obviously traumatic to the OP. Your lack of empathy is a terrible basis for evangelization.

I have no problem with your faith or even you saying that your faith has done good for you. The videos, which are defensive and about being right, are not about your personal story, they're about trying to convince people.

Honestly, if you can't understand it or take the point, then there's no point in engaging further.

Look I am very sorry if I have done a bad job believe it or not my actions on this thread have been out of love and concern. I will no longer be posting on this thread. I ask that everyone will please ignore any of my failings and please accept Jesus as your personal lord and saviour to Jesus and . This link will be useful www.gotquestions.org/got-forgiveness.html . If I have put any of you off Christianity please forgive me as that was not my intention and please don’t let it sway your views on the matter and please keep an open mind on this remembering that I am just one person on the internet. Please look into it much more and remember I am fallible and open to mistakes. Even if you are an atheist please check out the link- thank you all. God bless.

I do believe it, and I wish you a happy Christmas.

OP, to the point, I hope you have had/do have a peaceful and calm end of this month.

@StinkyXmasCheese I hope today was not too bad. I am a Christian and was quite a zealos one when younger. I've mellowed considerably in my old age (50 something). my kids know about the religion I chose in my teens but both have so far rejected it.

Your thread is a timely reminder to me to respect the views of my kids (which I do try to do) and to be loving and accepting of different views.

I really hope that today was not too bad for you and I am sorry that some of the replies on your thread have been incredibly rude and stupid.

I ask that everyone please ...accept Jesus as your personal lord and saviour

Oh do go away now.

I ask that everyone please ...accept Jesus as your personal lord and saviour

Well that is very offensive

Give over buscuit. This thread isn't for conversion attempts.

You sound very bitter. Christmas is a Christian festival (yes I know about the pagan roots) - I go to church stbexh didn't, we agreed to disagree end of (church had nothing to do with separating, we just got bored after 25 years). Live and let live - I don't care what you believe or not, all i expect is to be respected, I don't force my beliefs on others (it's the c of e!) and I expect others to have the same courtesy - eg we don't say grace if family and friends are with us at Christmas but my dd and I go to church and leave them drinking my alcohol!

My DHs family were all devout catholics except him. He was forced to go to church and pray from a child but rebelled in his teens and of course by marrying me, a non catholic in a non Catholic Church and not bring our children up as catholics they were very upset. They said grace at every meal and when my children were small gave them bibles although they knew we were not religious. I just let them get on with it.

For my MIL religion was a crutch which got her through hard times. In the end as she got older and dementia set in it was us, her family who helped her not her God. It was quite upsetting to see her pray to God to take her as her health got worse and worse but she believed so I said nothing. She is dead now but taking issue with her faith would not have helped her and done nothing for me. The rest of them still insist on grace and go to church regularly and pray. It isn't hard, just bite your tongue and think of something else. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs but it is your choice whether you share them or not.

A very wise person said to me don't discuss religion or politics unless you are spoiling for a fight. Certainly true in our family as we are split politically and religiously. They are still your family.

I hope your day went as well as it could. We avoid politics at any dinner table I'm at with my father as we have very, very different views. It must be harder with Christianity at Christmas as there are several festivals all playing out at the same time and they they can bump into each other. I've spent the last few days running the Christian bit of carol services, Crib services and midnight mass. Yesterday was full on feasting and present sharing which is midwinter and pagan in origin as we have been doing that for thousands of years in the northern hemisphere.

A warning that the answers site linked upthread a bit is from a very conservative Protestant strand of Christianity. It is unlikely to help the OP who was raised in a conservative denomination. It isn't obvious at first look at the site but many Christian websites from these strands have a statement of faith and in theirs they list the Bible above God and Jesus. It is a site that is Protestant. My very strong suspicion is that they would not regard me, a priest in the C of E as a proper Christian.

I do hope you have a better day today OP.