Hello all, I could use a little advice from any Christians with children, especially children who are engaged/married.
Here goes, I'm an atheist and have been since I was about 13. I met the woman who would become my wife about 4 years ago. WHen we began dating I knew she believed in Jesus and God even though she wasn't very religious (rarely went to church). I didn't hide the fact that I am atheist from her, I believe in honesty. She didn't seem to be bothered by this at all, she loves me unconditionally as I do her.
WE married after a year and maybe 6 months after that we ran into our first moral quandary. Without going into any great detail, she was afraid she was pregnant and not ready to be a mother. SHe wanted my opinion, and being honest I told her I would abort it if I were in her shoes, but I would support any decision she made. She knew she wasn't ready, but she didn't want to burn in hell for eternity. This led to our first conversation about my atheism and I gently introduced her to the possibility she was wrong about Jesus, god, hell, etc.
Flash forward over the next two years and she occasionally comes to me with religious questions about the soul and free will and the afterlife. I of course answer her as honestly as I can, until about 6 months ago she admits to me that she no longer believes in god. She sees the whole idea as silly and she can hardly believe she ever bought into it. We're both still very much in love and all the more happy for it.
THe problem is this, her parents are still very much catholic. She seems to think they would react very poorly if they found out she is atheist. So what do you guys think? If your child turned atheist, was obviously very happy, would you rather know about it or not? We aren't in any hurry to tell her folks. I wondered how you guys would react if it was your child. Is It important to know? EVen if your child Is happy and in love? Would it change your feelings for her/him? What about your feelings for their spouse? (ASsuming prior to this you thought he was the best person alive)?
Here goes, I'm an atheist and have been since I was about 13. I met the woman who would become my wife about 4 years ago. WHen we began dating I knew she believed in Jesus and God even though she wasn't very religious (rarely went to church). I didn't hide the fact that I am atheist from her, I believe in honesty. She didn't seem to be bothered by this at all, she loves me unconditionally as I do her.
WE married after a year and maybe 6 months after that we ran into our first moral quandary. Without going into any great detail, she was afraid she was pregnant and not ready to be a mother. SHe wanted my opinion, and being honest I told her I would abort it if I were in her shoes, but I would support any decision she made. She knew she wasn't ready, but she didn't want to burn in hell for eternity. This led to our first conversation about my atheism and I gently introduced her to the possibility she was wrong about Jesus, god, hell, etc.
Flash forward over the next two years and she occasionally comes to me with religious questions about the soul and free will and the afterlife. I of course answer her as honestly as I can, until about 6 months ago she admits to me that she no longer believes in god. She sees the whole idea as silly and she can hardly believe she ever bought into it. We're both still very much in love and all the more happy for it.
THe problem is this, her parents are still very much catholic. She seems to think they would react very poorly if they found out she is atheist. So what do you guys think? If your child turned atheist, was obviously very happy, would you rather know about it or not? We aren't in any hurry to tell her folks. I wondered how you guys would react if it was your child. Is It important to know? EVen if your child Is happy and in love? Would it change your feelings for her/him? What about your feelings for their spouse? (ASsuming prior to this you thought he was the best person alive)?
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