Non-Religious Family?

Originally Posted by rjwould

That's a good post, Jester....And you're correct in that I am speaking from my experiences...my scars...

However, if she were motivated by pure love....Then why does that love contradict Corinthians version of love...Why does she not just say "I Love You" to her father-in-law and not attempt to convert him?....Which, BTW, is evident by the title of this thread..

Is she not doing all of those things in love? She's caring not only for what she sees as his physical needs, but also for what she feels is his spiritual needs.

If she helps him and cares for his immediate needs, get him water, wipe his brow, clean his body, fluff his pillow or read him a book, and she says dad, I have somethign I want to say that you might find offensive, but I love you and I want to tell you, will you hear it?

And then she followed his wishes depending on his response, would you fault her for that?

Originally Posted by rjwould

No, she is doing them out of her own fears...She is assuming that her father-in-law should fear death's consequences as she does....

He is responsible for his own spiritual needs....just as he is responsible for his physical or financial needs...Who said he has spiritual needs??Did he volunteer that information?

Ok, I was just asking, you obviously have some deep scars brought on by religion.

Helen, I would say just ask for permisson like Clint suggested, and take a chance. If you word it right and your intentions are outof love, most folks wont lashout at you for it, they may politely say no thank you, but they typically wont get angry.

Originally Posted by rjwould

In fact I do....I don't like lying or liars....We all have probably had our share of them.....Hell, there are those out there that would overthrow governments for lying and those whom dislike there fellow citizens when they suspect people are lying about why employment is not current, thus sucking tax money out of the system from the righteous..

RJ I'm sorry folks treated you that way, especially religious ones, if they were indeed truly Godfearing they should be apologizing to you and making amends to you.

I hope the best to you.

[Lon]

Originally Posted by helenavner

I have a question...does anyone come from a non-religious family where your met with awkwardness because of your devout faith. My husband and I are both very religious but his family is not. I feel like we are always disassociated with them because of this.

Recently his father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and I feel like he could benefit or find comfort in the words of the lord and would like to approach him about it but am not sure as to how to approach the situation.

I'm interested in hearing anyones similar experience with this kind of family dynamic as well as any ideas as to how to introduce my father-in-law or at least open the door to religion.

thank you

I am a 73 year old father, grandfather and soon to be great grandfather with cancer, although I am not dieing of it yet.
My daughter, her husband, all of the married grandchildren are religious, attend church regularly, and much of their life is centered around the church and it's activities. They do not know the extent of my non belief, just that I never went to church, never said grace at meals, nor gave any indication of being religious in any way. I know they pray for me, as they have said so. I appreciate that but feel it's really for their benefit and makes them feel better. I think they are wise enough to realize that now or on my death bed, would it be of any avail to try and open the door as you say. I am quite content and comforted by my non beliefs, believe it or not.

[Kathy Ellen]

Hi Helen,

Welcome to the garden

No disrespect to your beliefs, but I just feel that people don't need to be saved by others. People have their own mind and conscience and have the right to believe what they want.

I am not a religious person, but I do believe that if there is a God then that God will forgive no matter what...if not, then we have a problem Houston

Originally Posted by rjwould

Thanks, Jester, but I think I'll be OK. I'll just keep taking all my suppressed anger out on anonymous people in Internet forums and release my tension that way..

In the mean time, if God ever decides to show his/her/it's face and debate me sometime on religion, I will be ready....

Well, just to console you a bit, I hear its ok for real men to cry and keep close to thier feminine sides. I won't think less of you if you do.

[suzycreamcheese]

Originally Posted by weeder

In my life whenever I have gotten the smallest inkling that anyone is going to try to push their religion on me, I avoid them like the plague. Not only do I find the recruitment tactics boring, I also resent anyone presuming to know what my personal relationship with my God is. The fastest way to influence anyone spiritually is simply by being an example. When your life reflects joy and happiness and compassion, people are drawn to you.

Thats how I feel too.
I really dont like it when people presume that I havent actually thought about it myself too and come to my own conclusions. Its presumptious to assume someone wants or needs "saving" and to try and push that on someone on their deathbed is a bit much. If he wants to talk to you about religion, im sure he will ask you, and if he doesnt want to talk about it, then he wont.

[Jerry]

I believe in God, and I don't go every Sunday to Church, but I bet I'm more of a Christian than most that go every Sunday.

[Geronimo]

I am from a non religiosu family, completely atheist.

but it never stoped me to walk my own path nad they dont care and my mum was never opposed to that, on the contrary, she had us all 8 kids baptised from birth in the catholic church, in case we chose later on to be christian, so that was doen. At her time there wasnt any other religion anyway, and i dont think she was crazy enough to baptise her kids in all existing religions anyway..

I think tha tit si you that feel the need to have him religiosu now becasue you do not know how to shopw yoru support to him in any other way than by speaking of God as you are sued to hear it all yoru life and thats why oyu are in front of a dilema.

My advice to you is to support him with your love, an duse your faith to pray for his health, but do not try to press him in anyway, i think he is under enough pressure already,a nd he could feel yoru approach as being a kind of emotional pressure.

Many so call non religious people often live more like christians than people calling themselves chrisians and going to church on sunday.
It is what you do, how oyu live your life and htink, your mentality, how you respect people and love them, how you are that determine yoru faith, not what faith you say you are into.
thats how i see it.
and reality around me confirm it. Many people whjo never heard the words of church people and never read the bible, often say and do things like taken from the bible, because their ethic, inside them guide them into the path of God, and not going there becasue they feel obliged to, or looks like they do so, becasue that the faith they say they have..
I DO NOT SAY ALL WHO SAY THEY ARE CHRISTIAN ARE HYPOCRITE, nor any othe rreligion, but simply that often atheist people are more close to God in their demaneour than religious ones. they are more tolerant, more open to others, andless confined at judging and condemning others and more compassionate.
those quality are christians at the very basic, so therefor dont dismiss the fact that your grand father have qualities that are close to thsoe required by yoru faith.
I he wants to talk to God he will on his won premisces.

[Geronimo]

Originally Posted by Jerry

I believe in God, and I don't go every Sunday to Church, but I bet I'm more of a Christian than most that go every Sunday.

i agree completely with that one.