Your chosen path and your family

[Lylian]

I have always had an interest in paganism even I didn't have a name for it when I was younger. I come form a family that is mixed in their religous beliefs and pretty tolerant of other peoples choices. I know this isn't everyones experience. I also let my children choose their own path and neither one of them are really interested in paganism. Just wondering about everyone elses experiences.

[[Melissa]]

Well like you my family are pretty tolerant about whatever path we choose.
My mum and most of my family are Christians but my dads an atheist and I'm pagan.
My parents brought me up Christian just like my sisters were before me however they always made it clear that when I was the age to decide what path I wanted to take that was fine by them.
As well as my dad being atheist made sure we all studied and knew about other faiths so as to have the information for when we made our choice.

When I have children I hope to do the same since my partner is also an atheist and would like our children to decide for themselves.

[jcrowfoot]

I'm so glad to hear that there are atheists in the world who are tolerant of us religionists. Most atheists I've encountered were apostolic atheists, meaning that they didn't respect ANYONE who had religious belief. Talk about a bad wrap for the rest of them!

Living in a mixed religion family can be strange. My parents didn't really have any specific belief system, and while tried to be neutral about everything, didn't really succeed. My mom's family were Protestant, so they hated Catholics.

This is awkward since my fiancee is Catholic. I'm afraid what's going to happen when we get married! The problem is, that those who are vocal and obnoxious start reputations for the rest of them. My fiancee is a very sweet person who's very open minded and kind... without being judgmental at all. He thinks that the Catholic League people are idiots.
He has friends who are gay. We aren't talking about acquaintances that he's nice to... but adopted family that happens to be a lesbian couple! He doesn't bomb abortion clinics, nor does he freak every time someone mentions birth control. He lives in the real world.

He's cool with letting our kids knowing about different religions and in fact feels that it's a personal choice for everyone.

[Sobek]

that really sucks that you have only come across those type of athiests. the really good kind are my favourites to have intellectual discussions with its really extremely stimulating...

but you know, family is over-rated

[Shadowflame]

My father doesn't parttake in any religion and is happy to see me choosing my own path, my brother has autoism so that's not gonna be much use religionwise, my mother however is in spritalism and always imposing her own beleifs and oppinions on everybody around her, it kinda sucks

[ennui]

my father is more agnostic than anything, and my mother is christian. i was baptised catholic but was dissatisfied with the ways of the church.
my parents are pretty tolerant of my beliefs, and are open to discussing my thoughts and opinions on wicca.

but i do agree, i love discussing matters with an intelligent and knowledgable atheist.

[Ellie]

I grew up in a strict christian environment and I always had issues with it because I've always been a little bi-sexual, even when I didn't know what it was, and I've always been interested in Wicca, even when I didn't know what it was lol. I guess now I'm just taking my life into my own hands and giving myself a whole new religion and I love it, it makes me happy, and I actually believe in it!

[Sobek]

lol, it seems everyone is bi these days...howcome i got left out of that!

[Pixie Tales]

well my grandma taught me all she could before she passed away. everyone in my family and my friends know what i am. they dont all like it but they dont critize me for it either. im pretty lucky. i come from a family that tries to accept everyone for who and what they are.

[Malvok]

I was raised to be a Christian by both my mom and my dad

lets see... Oh yes my mom she would be accepting of what i choose even if she keeps a skeptical eye on me, she's always let me do my own thing.

My dad on the other hand, it's WHEN not If we go to chirch, he's right i'm wrong unless theirs indisputable proof.
he's also a homophobic cheep@$$ sexist bastard.
He's always tryed to control what i did and it wasn't untill i finaly had to bluntly shut him out once that i was able to get him to stop. (not that he doesn't keep trying to become over bearing again.

[shedtroll]

You know something...

I keep reading posts from those with a (sometimes) hardcore Christian up bringing. It really surprises me how anal some people are when it comes to other faiths. I know Some parts of the states are Really Bible-bashy, but...wow.

Still, I come from a secular (but not atheist) background. I was brought up to learn about other faiths. My parents are quite tolerant, we live a fairly multicultural city. Really, I haven't told them yet... I'll have to sometime soon. Dunno when.

[Malvok]

i live in ontario

[cherifizzle]

I come from a very unstable household, really fundamental Christians. I don't have anything to do with my parents anymore because they're too much of a negative influence on my life. I'm close to my mom's mom, and her side of the family. They're all Christians, not so fundamental, but pretty closed minded about other religions. I keep my beliefs to myself around them, and most people. The only people who know that I'm into witchcraft are a few good friends of mine. I don't see myself ever telling my family about it because they wouldn't understand it and it's not really worth the trouble of weirding everybody out and having to explain and having them judge me. They do know I'm not a Christian though, and I got a long lecture about how I'm breaking Jesus's heart.

[Malvok]

wow. thats a little hardcore... my dad would just yell at be for a few hours about how much of an idiot i'm being...

[cherifizzle]

Yeah, I know, nothing compared to my parents though. When I was in high school when I first got interested in witchcraft I checked about a bajillion books from my school library, then my mom got bored and decided to do an impromptu locker search. I got screamed at, grounded, restrictions put on my library card, and I got put in therapy lol.