Thanks for that post. I was a member of that church too. I graduated from their university. I was even a minister. The more I studied the more doubts I had. They still to this day believe they are the only ones going to heaven. I took the time to learn to read the new testament in greek. After a while I couldn't accept that the bible was the word of god. Two of the main things that bothered me was the issue of slavery and women as being less than men. The bible has been promoting slavery and the abuse of women from it's inception. The bible is the main source that is used in politics to make laws that affect everyone. It still puzzles me that many women still choose a book to live by that makes them second class to men. Few of us would join any organization that we could never be equal in. It would be against our self interests. Just my thoughts.

You are blessed to have an understanding family with that background in religion, many other atheists that come from a fundamentalist background find themselves shunned and disowned by their's. Thank you, for sharing.

My atheism is not welcome in my sister's and parent's families. It's simply not mentioned.

My nephew just now said that he found his last school mass enlightening because of the Ash Wednesday message "from dust you came, so shall you return". I'm sure he's heard it many times before. But he's at the teen age in which he is more impressionable (e.g. music, movies, book, sports heroes, religion, etc.). And this is the first time that message sunk in.

And I said that the saying is true but not in the Catholic sense. I tried to explain quickly about stardust. (But ran out of time for we had arrived at his soccer training.)

Before he got out, I told him that I was an atheist. And he took it as if it was a joke. (I kid a lot.) My sister did ask me never to talk to her children about my atheism. And I agreed except for when they bring up the subject of religion themselves (I replied to her in a whisper which I "know" she heard.)

My sister and her husband are quite religious - although non-practicing. They are holding on to the belief that they'll meet passed loved ones in heaven.

And that comfort is not all bad. And that is why I can't deny their children that belief.

I'm just hoping that they, and in their own time like for many of us atheists, will come to the realisation that religion is false hope and that it's better to live in the now rather than for heaven.

My college roommate was raised as a catholic and attended a catholic school; nuns brandishing rulers and all. When she asked the nun "where in the bible does it say that it's wrong for two people who are going to marry tomorrow to sleep together tonight?" the nun, instead of answering, (since she couldn't do so), sent her to the bishop. In his vast (hah!) Wisdom, his answer to her question was to kick her out of the school. NO RATIONAL THINKING ALLOWED!!!

True. Good decision.