Helping my DS
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Anonymous
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MY DS is 17 years old. My DS announced that he was an atheist when he was 13, . My wife and I were dismayed, but we assumed it was a phase he was going through, and I recalled that I struggled with my faith in my early 20's, so we prayed for him daily. To all observers, my son has a wonderful life. He is healthy and blessing abound. He is a genuinely good person, and I am proud that he is my son. His overall gpa is about 3.76
When I asked him what he needed to regain his faith in God, he told me that he doesn't think he ever really believed, but that right now he would take accept the evidence that the apostle Thomas received. So there it is. My son does not take our faith seriously, I have prayed for guidance, and I pray that my son will return to God. pray because I don't know what to do. |
Anonymous
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There nothing you can do. You can't force religion. Not genuine religion. Let him take his own path. And you never know, he may return to a faith community when he marries and has kids. Many do.
The only thing I'd say is ask him to be respectful of "your" practicing your own faith. You all can coexist in the same house with different beliefs. Just stay courteous of one another. |
Anonymous
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You don't have to do anything but accept your son. There are tons and tons of people who are atheists, and they get along in life just fine.
You can be healthy, happy and an upstanding citizen all without believing in God. If you don't already live in a major city, suggest to your son that he go to college in one, so he can meet more people like him. |
Anonymous
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My 12yo tried to make herself believe because extended family members are devout. She felt pressured to be a Christian because she didn't want to disappoint them. It led to a lot of stress and anxiety. I finally told her she's allowed to be an atheist and she said it was like I gave her freedom.
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Anonymous
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Your say your son is a genuinely good person, which means (to me) he has a high moral character. He also gets really good grades. It sounds to me like he has a good relationship with you as well, since he came to you and opened his heart about this issue.
It seems to me that he has absorbed the teachings of your faith: honesty, character, duty, responsibility. He has, as you say, every blessing. It also seems to me that your duty, as part of your faith, is the burden to love and accept him. |
Anonymous
| You keep on praying. And let your son live his life with out you shoving your religion down his throat. |
Anonymous
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It's God testing you too see if you can let him have free will just like God gave you free will.
Pray for yourself. |
Anonymous
| Be glad he is thinking about it! |
Anonymous
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My DS is 10, and he's told me the same thing. We've had talks about how there's no evidence really either way. I told him "Faith is believing what you can't see". Sometimes he's not sure so he waffles.
I still make him go to church because he's 10, and I can, but I know eventually he'll have to make the decision for himself. I pray for him, too. I've had my doubts, too. Certainly not at 10, but in my adulthood. My DS is much smarter than I was at his age. 
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Anonymous
| You have to be ok with this. I'm in my 40s, with a great life and family, and my mother still holds it against me. She can't be happy for me, nor does she support me in tough times (other than to tell me to pray). My kids are not baptized and I know it bothers her. We barely speak. |
Anonymous
| My cousin is the only atheist in our family. It's caused a lot of heartache to the older relatives, but his sibs and cousins find it hilarious because he is always questioning why bad things are happening to him. My cousin has had more than his share of bad luck in life and always writes FB posts like "Someone has put a curse on me." Or "Who did I piss off this time?" Please note that none of us believers think God is punishing him for disbelief, but it sure seems like my cousin thinks he is. |
Anonymous
| I just don't really understand what the big deal is.... |
Anonymous
That's terrible. Have you explained about eternal damnation? Is he OK with that, or do you think it's just the immortality he feels being 17? |
Anonymous
| Actions mean far more to teenagers than words. Share your faith with him that way, where you can find common ground. Practice unconditionally love and acceptance. Don't judge. Serve the poor. As St. Francis said, "Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words." |
Anonymous
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Op ~ your DS is teaching you something important
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