religion vs anti-religion which way is witch?  

my grandmother was always trying to force us to go to church when i was a kid. only during her visits to our home did our parents actually attend. When we moved closer to her, i was forced to go to church every sunday. since it was not my choice i never learned a thing. I think it's a touchy subject, but everyone should be able to have their own beliefs without being judged.

*nods* I learned my religion (Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism) from my great-grandmother, and pretty much everyone but me and her in the place where we lived was Christian. I went to church with various relatives at different times, but while some of it was interesting from an intellectual standpoint, I already had my religious allegiances. I wasn't going to betray the Gods I already worshipped to follow the Christian God no matter how much people tried to force me, and I still feel that way as an adult.

I have my own child now, and it's interesting because my husband and I have two different religions. But we plan to teach our child about many different people's beliefs, and let him choose whether he wants to believe in any of them, or none at all. I don't think that having religion forced on someone has ever helped them, and in fact just makes them resent both the religion and the person forcing it on them.

i have three children of my own, and i try to teach them to respect and help others. I teach them nothing of religion, it's not what's important in my eyes. I want them to believe in the power of themselves. to realize that they have every capability to change this world. when they are older, i will recommend they read a few religious pieces so that they may better understand, and if then when their minds are more capable of making a completely free choice they choose to follow something, i will only be supportive.

I could see the value of teaching them nothing of religion, but of course that wouldn't work in my household since my husband and I are both always doing our own religious things. So he's pretty much going to at least see us celebrating holidays and such, and in a way I would be sad to have him not take part in such things. So we will teach him everything instead of nothing, but to the same ends. =)

I think it's horrible by the way that people take such a hard stance on the abortion issue. I always value the life of the person already in this world first, and I can see many reasons why a person would have an abortion.

What's important is that no one is actually right or wrong. No one even knows what the future holds for them. Or why they are here on earth. Why people live and die and vanish. I mean they don't have the right to think that they are correct. What is important is that you always pray to God to help you out.

i am in no way talking to you. i am talking only of people like my grandmother who are narrow minded. I am not talking about you, you have shown me nothing but kindness

, oh good !! kind of threw me for a loop there for a minute. haha
just love yourself and others hun, and you will do fine. and it sounds like you already are.
ignore 'grandma', she sounds mean spirited saying things to you like that. in my book you are more godly then grandma !!!

thanks for the support. it feels good to hear such kind words. I am sorry about what happened to you too. I try not to let her words bother me, but i see her often and it's hard to ignore her cold dark stares. thanks for sharing your story with me, it feels good to find support here on these pages

Oh Thank you for BR... and I feel the need to tell you that you have to take care of you.. and if negative people.. even relatives want to make your life miserable.. it is okay to cut them out of your life until they act respectful. You don't have to take abuse from people. It is called standing up for you. You are not a punching bag for these people. Kudos to you for just being who you are! :D

i guess that's something you gain with age. I am 26 years old, and i think when i see my grandparents i feel like a child again, always seeking their approval. I live my life for me in every possible way, but once in their presence it's like my age fades and i am just a kid again. and when she stares at me with those cold dark eyes, and makes those little comments about the mistakes i made, i feel like i am 12 just standing there in her shadow.

Sweety, I think you should tell your grandmother just how she makes you feel, confront her and tell her it hurts you. Tell her you are not a child, you are a woman deserving of respect. It will be hard the first time, but if you don't demand respect from her she won't ever give it to you. When you get older with kids of your own.. (don't know that you have any yet.. you may already) you will never want anyone treating them the way you are being treated. You would stand up for them, right? Then stand up for yourself. You belong to you! If you won't take care of you.. no one else can.

i have three kids now, and they have given me more wisdom than i ever imagined, you are right i need to tell her something... we have had these fights before her and I, i tell her that i have made my peace with it, but she tells me that i am no more forgiven for it than i was the day i did it. she says i need to own up to what i did, and stop trying to pretend it never happened. i don't pretend it never happened, i've been dealing with this all along. she won't take me serious, and i do try and avoid her now because of it, unfortunately alot of our family gatherings happen at her home.

I believe I would have to take a stand and just not go to her family get togethers.. Maybe you could orchastrate some gatherings at your home or your mom's home.. but I would not show up to people's homes that dispise me.

She is showing you no respect. If you have forgiven yourself, that is all that is needed.. if you need that. I think she should stop forcing her religion down your throat. that is what she is doing... saying you are not forgiven. She doesn't know that! All I am sure of is that SHE has not forgiven you. She is beating you up with this, like you haven't been punished enough.

I would never darken her door again and let her know why! Oh I am so angry right now.. and it isn't even me going through this.