Gratz! How's she feeling now? Obviously I don't know your relationship but if I was in your shoes I think I'd do something light-hearted with her to try and make her feel better. It's got to be rough going through that.

Wow! That’s quite a turn of events it sounds

My mother has been hinting a similar sentiment these past 5 years. Like you did, just using unwavering logical rebuttals. It takes time to sink in when one is challenged about their faith.

So nice to hear that you got through to your Mom. That is a hard thing to do. And hard for her to change, too, as it blows up her whole way of living. Be kind to her as she is struggling - show her the positives of non-belief so she doesn't feel that she is losing her religion and gaining nothing. Show her the wonders of the world are still here, even if one doesn't have a god to thank for them. Congrats, and I hope you two have a great future together. I think my Mom (due to my Dad, not me) has really come around on the religion thing, too (although always much more a go-at-christmas-only person) - once she turned 78 or so. She'll be 84 in a few weeks and I've had to slow her roll on spewing anti-religion with my kid around - I don't want my kid to hate people who are religious, just hate the religion! Cool it with the viterol in front of the kid, Mom! Anyway, my Dad has read Skeptical Enquirer for years and Mom has now been reading it, too, and she is so fed up with church getting mucked in with state - and the hypocrites - that she has washed her hands of the whole thing. It has made her a much more politically active Democrat, too. Go Moms!!!

A positive and wonderful step in the relationship between mother and daughter. So happy for you both!

That's awesome. I wish I could have a conversation like that with my sister. She recently decided being one of the faithful was not enough irrationality for her. She is now in training to become some kind of alternative medicine doctor person thingy. Apparently there is an actual training course for this. I always figured they just made stuff up as they went along.

She actually said to me that all disease is mental and can be cured with the right attitude. So of course I ask "Uh, so all the cancer patients in the world are only sick because they have a bad attitude and can cure themselves by thinking away their tumors?"

Still waiting on an answer to that one.

Mixed feelings.... I'm glad you and mom had a revelation together.

Faith is how ignorance copes with the unknown. It's all about education and understanding. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's a self limiting thing to rely on. It's an opiate that calms restless curiosity at the expense of continued growth. As C S Lewis said, " only the vulnerable move among mysteries ". And the letting go of beliefs in order to expand ones understanding is not an easy addiction to break. Being an atheist should be the natural condition and unremarkable. What makes it controversial is that faith has spoiled the purity of thought and created such an obsticle to what's obvious.

I'm happy for you, truth has a way of shinning through being not born from deception.?
Fourty two is the answer to life the universe and everything anyhow ?

Getting a fundy away from biblical literalism, is the first and biggest hurdle, once they stop judging every one by that foul book they quite often will settle in to using their own moral judgement, they may still call it god but it will be a lot kinder and more loving than the god of the babble ever was.
Congratulations you taught her to think for herself, that in itself has made the world a better place.

Now seriously, take extra care about old people going out of faith. They might not be able to handle the values, social life and community support changes that this change of hearts bring.
If this progress be prepared to become the guide and for some time her only real social contact and support.

Where there is faith i shall bring doubt!

Last I read from you, you sounded like a ball of stress. It's good that you had this moment of connection!

Now bake her cookies and get her all the way to the darkside !!!

It sounds like a productive conversation. Something I like to make clear with devout people is that I'm not trying to change their mind about their own faith but rather to show that my perspective isn't unreasonable. It would seem you had something of a breakthrough with your mother in this regard. ?

Happy for, and proud of you, all at once.

This is heart-breakingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Lovely!

Sorry that you had to give up only being wayward and sinful ? But, I bet it was a great feeling to be able to communicate with your mother that way!

Wow, I would say that's great step in to the right direction ! At least mom was open minded enough to a point.
I had a great conversation with my JW friend today. She's going to be one of us in no time !
She felt so cheated after our conversation ! Cults are very powerful ! I was a JW kid thanks to my mother.

Wow! It sounds like she might be ready for a new start without religion. I cried when i realized there was no god, but eventually there is acceptance and love and life goes on... and I'm happier than I ever was as a christian ?

Thanks for sharing this. It is a bright and happy spot in a dark and unhappy world when things can start to heal between a mother and daughter. I am truly happy for you.

Oh my, that IS a breakthrough! Good on you and your mom, you both keep this up. ?

Good for both you. You started her on the path of enlightenment. Hopefully one day she will choose to be an non believer and be happier person for it. I know I'm an happier person since I decided to be an atheist.

Love this!