Religious Argument

#1

My dad’s a Methodist preacher, has been since I was born. I’d gone to church every Sunday up until about a year ago, even though I had already said I did not share his beliefs. He’s been forcing religion on me. He’s been a Christian for so long it’s become part of him- he has a personality fixed upon his religion and refuses to believe otherwise, and maybe he can’t believe otherwise, but this isn’t about him. It’s about me. :stuck_out_tongue:

I want to convince him to give me the freedom to believe what I want, and stop trying to force upon me what I find to be repulsive and incorrect. Anyway, I referenced “The God Delusion,” and that seemed to have made things worse. Apparently he’s read it, proving my earlier point about his personality fixed religion. He “remained firm in his faith” even through reading this book, and I bet he went on a search right after for a book that scrutinized “The God Delusion” for affirmation of his religion, because that’s like him. He wrote me this cute little note and made me sign:

It reads,

He always brings computer in where it doesn’t belong as a form of punishment. It’s the only thing he has control over, computer use…

Anyway, help me help him help me by not forcing stupid religious beliefs. I need to be able to refute whatever he says, basically. I’m almost positive he read a book that analyzes “The God Delusion” from a dimwit Christian perspective. (Also, any ideas for a loophole in that contract? It’s not legally binding or anything but it could bite me in the ass later.)

#2

Sounds like your dad has a stick up his arse.

#3

More like a boulder.

#4

I’M A ROMAN CATHOLIC. AND HAVE BEEN SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN. BUT THE ONE THING THEY SAY ABOUT CATHOLICS IS. THEY’LL TAKE YOU AS SOON AS YOU’RE WARM!

Also seems like a pretty shitty problem. There’s no real way to solve it if he’s that stubborn. If he really truly wants you to believe in his nonsense then he will force you to. Nothing you can say will change his mind. So try this:
Stare him in the face. Tell him you don’t want to believe in it. If he bans you from the computer. Ignore him telling him that you didn’t want to believe in it and that there is nothing he can do about it. Keep doing the things he’s banned you from. Don’t do the thing he asks. Above all. Don’t argue with him. Just tell him that you don’t want to believe in it. Ignore him until he gives in. It’s the brute force method. Show him no respect until he respects your decision basically. Religion is srsbsns.

#5

Why did you sign that paper, and how old are you?

#6

Almost forgot, this was his argument against The God Delusion:

Pretty simplistic.

Also, @Trigger, I don’t want to just hand him the computer I spent ~$1000 on for religions sake. I’m hoping to find a “diplomatic” way to get out if this.

The main thing I’m worried about is that if I succeed, religion is part of him; what would become of him without religion? Would it be better to let him stay blind, so to say?

EDIT: @Chrillen, I’m 15 and I signed the paper so he wouldn’t take my shit. That’s how he threatens me. He takes stuff.

#7

You shouldn’t of signed the paper as a way of not taking his shit. Then start taking his stuff, like hiding his bibles and holy water.

#8

Oh don’t change his opinion. Just change the way he handles it around you. Also brute force method is best method. When he takes your computer away. Go take it back. Or introduce him to the wonders of the internet. Let us sort him out. :freeman:
edt: also get him to point out the difference between 18th century god and present god. Then show him how he is wrong using that book. Or just go through the whole damn thing debating at every corner.

#9

His job IRL is sales, and he has a home business of computer repair. He’s well aware of the internet, and trolls Slashdot with his religious bullshit.

#10

Let him attempt to troll us. Slashdot ain’t real internet.

#11

I had asked if he was open for a mediated argument, but he said that I’d probably choose some “snotty nose teenager who is even more anti-religion than I am.” Not sure if he’d be open to BMS forums.

#12

Yeah you have to resist him.
I had the same kind of father. He did those things to me when i was young. And i still haven’t told him i was an atheist but he isn’t a very religous person, though.
He forced me to do other things when I was young. He took something from me i take it back or sabotage his stuff lol :stuck_out_tongue: . I confronted him sometimes and explained him how he was wrong. He still continued to be a prick. But he couldn’t go too far again. He was scared and angry when I confronted him and showed him what the fuck he was doing.
We respect each other right now. There’s still a little anger in me when i remember what a prick he was. but things come and go. I am sure you will find your own way. Just doN’t fear him! DON’T!

#13

hmm
Tell him you have an unbiased friend who would be willing to aid in this situation. What with me being agnostic he may give it a try. Also lie and tell him I’m 26 or something.

#14

I’ll try when he gets home from preaching. :X

#15

Good luck, you gonna need it.

#16

When you talk to him about religion, do you also insult his beliefs like you’re doing here?

#17

Tell him that you’ll go and convert to Buddhism if he doesn’t stop harassing you.

#18

No. The worst I’ve done is say it isn’t worth going to church, and I hardly call that an insult as it can be defended even from a religious point of view.

#19

Be a sneaky-ass bastard and pretend you’re convinced (not immediately, of course) until you move out.

#20

Now, I’m a Christian, personally, so maybe my views will help (Probably not, but you can try)
In the end, it’s really about whether you follow the teachings, not whether or not you believe in God. Peace, Love, Tolerance. I stopped going to church because the congregation I was in failed to follow those simple concepts, and I’ve lost my faith in organized religion because of it. But I haven’t lost my faith in God.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if you believe, it matters if you’re a good person. Personally, I think you’re wrong, but as long as you’ve been a good person, and can accept that there is a God when you’re at the pearly gates, with proof staring you in the face, I don’t think He really cares. I know I don’t. As a Christian, I believe everyone has a right to their own beliefs, as long as it doesn’t cause harm to others.

And there’s really no point in taking away a computer. The computer didn’t do anything besides provide entertainment and a way to communicate with people.

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