Confirmation for my brother.?

Savin_Jesus · #1 2007-12-12, 06:49

So, my brother thinks he's atheist, I have no problem with that.
The problem is he is making this big deal, of being confirmed, and well, I was there once. Sure, I don't like the idea, but I did it when I was his age. He is scared of telling our mother that he is Atheist. But he thinks that is his only answer, and I don't have a solution for him.

I wish I could tell him that I've found some sort of belief system, and it doesn't have a definition, But aligning with one faith isn't the solution, and he can't believe in one thing, because when the thing fails him, he will be fucked up and his world might collapse. It's happened to me, and I don't want that to happen to him.

Any advice or guidance is greatly appreciated

Real.PUA · #2 2007-12-12, 09:28

If he doesn't believe in god then he's an atheist. There's nothing wrong with that...you dont need a super natural belief system to be happy.

As for the confirmation, he could get confirmed just for the money and to make his mom happy or he can be open about his beliefs and not do it. My advice would be to help him weigh the options and make his own decision.

The_Big_Beef · #3 2007-12-12, 09:38

Have him look at the pros and cons of both options and pick the one that leads to less frustration and unhappiness. If your mom's going to go psycho about him being an atheist maybe the best thing for him to do would be to go ahead and confirm and then when he moves out (goes to college etc.) he can tell her. Honestly I haven't even "come out" so to say to my parents about being an atheist but that's just because I'd rather not deal with the passive aggressive bullshit they would throw at me.

gadzooks · #4 2007-12-12, 18:10

What the fuck is this confirmation thing you're all talking about???

AngryFemme · #5 2007-12-12, 19:07

Confirmation is a rite of sacrament usually reserved for children after baptism, when they've reached an age where they can understand the implied importance of baptism.

It's like a reaffirmation of their faith.

gadzooks · #6 2007-12-12, 19:13

Ohhh... so the atheist brother doesn't want to be confirmed as it goes against his beliefs, but he also doesn't want to upset his parents by refusing confirmation..

Is that the issue here??

AngryFemme · #7 2007-12-12, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadzooks

Is that the issue here??

S'what the first post seems to suggest.

gadzooks · #8 2007-12-12, 19:24

Hmm, that is kind of a dilemma I guess.

I can't really relate as my family just kinda phased out of religion as I grew up. I mean, I was baptized, and went to church every Sunday for several years when I was younger. My mom was even a Sunday school teacher.

But luckily, we just kinda grew out of it. So I never had to deal with things like this confirmation or having to 'come out' as an atheist to my parents.

23 · #9 2007-12-12, 20:10

Just tell him to get confirmed.

He gets the money, and he now has connections with a religion. Even though everyone here hates religion, you can use it (connections) as a tool.

gadzooks · #10 2007-12-12, 20:14

...money...????