Non-Religious Family?

[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

[Clint]

Ask him for permission to tell him what gives you peace, hope and joy. If he gives you permission, tell him. Don't try to persuade and leave church out of it. When you have told him, thank him for letting you tell him then leave it alone unless and until he brings it up.

If he doesn't want to hear you, start preaching but don't say anything unless he asks.

[yaaarrrgg]

IMO the best way to give him peace is to respect his views and not see him as a potential convert to your religion.

[kayleneaussie]

I respect the fact that you are religious but I dont think this is the time to start pushing religion on a person who does not believe. That dosent mean you cant say prayer for him.

[helenavner]

I agree and I have been praying for him. I get the feeling though that he could be open to it, but am not sure. The thing is that he really has no opinon on what happens when one dies. Although my siblings aren't particularly religious they have their own unique beliefs which i respect albeit don't agree with it.

I am not looking to force anything upon him I just feel like he is searching for something and I think i can help.

Helen just be there, meet his needs, pray for him, God will open up a pathway, his spirit will seek yours out and you will know exactly when to mention whats on your heart.

I agree with Clint though, and what soemone else said, mention it once, let him respond or not. If what you have to say is doen in a caring way most folks will respond in kind, they will either politely ask you to leave them alone thanking you for caring, or they will want to know more, at that point dont over whelm them, just answer thier questions as simple as you can.

That seems to work for me, and I find that it even works that way with strangers too.

[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.

Originally Posted by rjwould

Maybe a good first step would be to stop projecting your feelings on him.

Perhaps, like me, he doesn't have any need to worry about what happens when one dies.

You never use your intuitive sense to read somebody? I thought you were in sales?

[Chezzie]

Personally I feel he didnt need religion in his life up to now so why try to convert him now. I personally wouldnt like it but id be very happy and content with your love and devotion to me in my hour of need.

Originally Posted by rjwould

That's an excellent question, Jester...I am very intuitive in fact...

She is not being intuitive though, she is using her fears and feelings as an excuse to do her required preaching and hopeful converting of people closest to her....In the car sales business there is a saying that goes; "if you can't f@ck your family and friends, who can you f@ck?" The same holds true for Christianity; "if you can't preach to and convert your family and friends, who can you preach to and convert?"

Many people are Christians because they fear death. The Christian promise is the defeat of death, so it is based on fear. The reason it is such a cheap ploy to me is because they prey when and where people are most vulnerable. Today we have such a better understanding of emotions and fear that religion is losing it's grip, but they keep trying..

You dont know that RJ. You assume that based on your experience of other so called christians, you may very well be projecting your own feelings based on that experince, you arent that close to be able to read the situation, you could be thousands of miles away and you dont know the personalities involved either.

She may very well be motivated out of pure love for her inlaws. She wants to share something that has been so good to her.

Nothing wrong with lovingly and careingly sharing an opinion even if its a relgious one.