I don't know what it is lately, but I feel like I'm just surrounded by people who are so negative in their outlook on life. I understand people have problems, some of them grave, but people who are constantly 100% negative...I don't know how to deal with it when I'm around it all the time.
Today my dad started an entire argument with me because I told him I wouldn't be voting this election (please, I don't want this thread to turn into a political/general debate, because this is not the point). I told him that my personal opinions of Romney and Obama are to the point of voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil.
Therefore, I just have no interest in voting this election. I don't have any faith in the American government right now, especially of politicians. I just feel like I should not put my faith into fallen men/women. Then more conversational chain reactions occurred. Too many off topic but political things he went into with me. He keeps calling me a communist (which I'm not, I don't affiliate myself with any political party) and an America-hater, all because I don't want vote this election. He says that we are needed to go to war in the Middle East because if we don't stay in war with them more terrorists will come to this country. I keep telling him the Christian thing to do is not to constantly go to war and kill people, but he doesn't get it.
I know those two paragraphs don't really have much to do with anything, but I have been feeling this cloud of "doom-and-gloom" coming from family members. My dad tells me he "believes in the God of the Bible," but he doesn't believe in Heaven or Hell (don't be fooled, he is not "religious"). My line of thinking: if he believes Jesus is the Son of God, why then does he not believe in Heaven or Hell? After all, Jesus talks about Heaven and Hell in the New Testament, even if it is not detailed or entirely descriptive.
Seeing as Jesus is fully God and fully man, why would Jesus lie about Heaven and Hell? Even worse, he kept telling me it's better for children born into poverty if they weren't born at all, or they should be aborted. I told him he has no right to say whether who lives and who dies, and it's better to live then to not exist at all. I can't imagine telling an abortion survivor that they have no right to exist. Plus, we are ultimately in God's hands, and it is His choice.
One after another, it's just a stream of negativity from him. But it's not only him, but others I know as well. No one has any faith. My grandma for example, is spreading her seeds of "doom-and-gloom." I'm sure some people are aware on here that my aunt and uncle both have cancer. Instead of praying and hoping, she is constantly telling everyone that they are dying of cancer. As far as I know, none of them have given up life yet. It might be true that they are dying of cancer but it's also true that they are still alive, therefore their cancer may be cured eventually. She is just so negative. No one puts any trust in God. No one wants to believe in God, or Jesus.
I am just trying to be a good Christian but I find I am not good at explaining Catholicism and don't know everything about our rich and glorious faith. I am learning a lot every day. I am reading the Bible, for example, and putting more faith in God. It is really hard for me sometimes, because I was an atheist. But I also feel that I could never go back to disbelief.
I am constantly reminded of what Jesus said: "You will be betrayed by your own parents, brothers, family, and friends. Some of you will even be killed (Luke 21:16, CEV)."
And: "Because of me you will be hated by everyone (Luke 21:17, CEV)."
I know those two verses don't really point to absolute hatred or betrayal in my case but I definitely feel like I am being cornered. I'm tired of being called a communist too, and I've confronted my dad, but he won't stop calling me that and plenty of other awful things. I wish I could just move out, but that won't be happening ever, not unless I find a job in my field. And the job market hasn't been good in my case.
I'm sorry for the long post/rant. I just don't know how to deal with "doom-and-gloom" family members. That's all it is with everyone when I come home from work.
Today my dad started an entire argument with me because I told him I wouldn't be voting this election (please, I don't want this thread to turn into a political/general debate, because this is not the point). I told him that my personal opinions of Romney and Obama are to the point of voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil.
Therefore, I just have no interest in voting this election. I don't have any faith in the American government right now, especially of politicians. I just feel like I should not put my faith into fallen men/women. Then more conversational chain reactions occurred. Too many off topic but political things he went into with me. He keeps calling me a communist (which I'm not, I don't affiliate myself with any political party) and an America-hater, all because I don't want vote this election. He says that we are needed to go to war in the Middle East because if we don't stay in war with them more terrorists will come to this country. I keep telling him the Christian thing to do is not to constantly go to war and kill people, but he doesn't get it.
I know those two paragraphs don't really have much to do with anything, but I have been feeling this cloud of "doom-and-gloom" coming from family members. My dad tells me he "believes in the God of the Bible," but he doesn't believe in Heaven or Hell (don't be fooled, he is not "religious"). My line of thinking: if he believes Jesus is the Son of God, why then does he not believe in Heaven or Hell? After all, Jesus talks about Heaven and Hell in the New Testament, even if it is not detailed or entirely descriptive.
Seeing as Jesus is fully God and fully man, why would Jesus lie about Heaven and Hell? Even worse, he kept telling me it's better for children born into poverty if they weren't born at all, or they should be aborted. I told him he has no right to say whether who lives and who dies, and it's better to live then to not exist at all. I can't imagine telling an abortion survivor that they have no right to exist. Plus, we are ultimately in God's hands, and it is His choice.
One after another, it's just a stream of negativity from him. But it's not only him, but others I know as well. No one has any faith. My grandma for example, is spreading her seeds of "doom-and-gloom." I'm sure some people are aware on here that my aunt and uncle both have cancer. Instead of praying and hoping, she is constantly telling everyone that they are dying of cancer. As far as I know, none of them have given up life yet. It might be true that they are dying of cancer but it's also true that they are still alive, therefore their cancer may be cured eventually. She is just so negative. No one puts any trust in God. No one wants to believe in God, or Jesus.
I am just trying to be a good Christian but I find I am not good at explaining Catholicism and don't know everything about our rich and glorious faith. I am learning a lot every day. I am reading the Bible, for example, and putting more faith in God. It is really hard for me sometimes, because I was an atheist. But I also feel that I could never go back to disbelief.
I am constantly reminded of what Jesus said: "You will be betrayed by your own parents, brothers, family, and friends. Some of you will even be killed (Luke 21:16, CEV)."
And: "Because of me you will be hated by everyone (Luke 21:17, CEV)."
I know those two verses don't really point to absolute hatred or betrayal in my case but I definitely feel like I am being cornered. I'm tired of being called a communist too, and I've confronted my dad, but he won't stop calling me that and plenty of other awful things. I wish I could just move out, but that won't be happening ever, not unless I find a job in my field. And the job market hasn't been good in my case.
I'm sorry for the long post/rant. I just don't know how to deal with "doom-and-gloom" family members. That's all it is with everyone when I come home from work.