Need Guidance

[Jeweltgirl]

Last night I was talking to my 16yr daughter. And she told me she has been atheist for the last 3 yrs. I was shocked.She never told me. Not knowing anything about it, I started to question her. That was my mistake. We talked over a few issues and after I could see her eyes tearing up. Her last words to me last night were, " I dont question your believes, I just go along with them".

So what do I do? It has upset a lot of the family and her. Do I step back and leave her alone. Or do I keep making her do things with us that, its clear she wants no part of now.

Any words to help us get threw this would be great. Its hard enought to talk to teenages as it is.

[Rmplstlskn]

I personally wouldn't force her to do anything or attend something she believes is not true or a fairytale, she is too old for that forcing method, but I do think that having a conversation about her beliefs and why she holds to them is needed, but very gently and OBJECTIVELY. Let her try to prove her atheism and you may need to prove YOUR beliefs as well. Figure out why she was tearing up. How were you debating with her? You really need to be like scientists in a way. Both with theories and a hypothesis, now prove they are spiritual fact.

She obviously believes Christianity has some error. And in my personal opinion, it does have error, but the Father and His Son, the Creator, can be seen all around us and be proven. Atheism, when confronted with these facts, actually takes a HIGH LEVEL of faith. I suspect that she is rejecting some of Christianity's doctrines and dogma as compared to other input and data she sees in other places that contradict or challenge Christianity.

As it progresses, if you are honest with yourself, you may even re-evaluate some things you have taken for fact or truth that may not be that at all. This could be a very precious time of study and relational building if she is not too stubborn or emotionally compromised due to teen hormones and independence kicking in...

If you care to read a bit about my journey, you can visit my website, http://www.wwyd,org, but I warn you, I do challenge what I have inherited from my Father and from my Father's Fathers... I jokingly say I have taken the RED PILL and see the Matrix for what it is...

I also pray that the Father work in your daughters heart and mind and reveal Himself to her in a way she needs to see Him. I pray you are given wisdom and knowledge to give anyone an answer for the faith that is within you. In the name of Messiah Y'shua (Jesus, the Christ), Amein!

Rmpl

[610Alpha]

I personally wouldn't force her to do anything or attend something she believes is not true or a fairytale, she is too old for that forcing method, but I do think that having a conversation about her beliefs and why she holds to them is needed, but very gently and OBJECTIVELY. Let her try to prove her atheism and you may need to prove YOUR beliefs as well. Figure out why she was tearing up. How were you debating with her? You really need to be like scientists in a way. Both with theories and a hypothesis, now prove they are spiritual fact.

She obviously believes Christianity has some error. And in my personal opinion, it does have error, but the Father and His Son, the Creator, can be seen all around us and be proven. Atheism, when confronted with these facts, actually takes a HIGH LEVEL of faith. I suspect that she is rejecting some of Christianity's doctrines and dogma as compared to other input and data she sees in other places that contradict or challenge Christianity.

As it progresses, if you are honest with yourself, you may even re-evaluate some things you have taken for fact or truth that may not be that at all. This could be a very precious time of study and relational building if she is not too stubborn or emotionally compromised due to teen hormones and independence kicking in...

If you care to read a bit about my journey, you can visit my website, http://www.wwyd,org, but I warn you, I do challenge what I have inherited from my Father and from my Father's Fathers... I jokingly say I have taken the RED PILL and see the Matrix for what it is...

I also pray that the Father work in your daughters heart and mind and reveal Himself to her in a way she needs to see Him. I pray you are given wisdom and knowledge to give anyone an answer for the faith that is within you. In the name of Messiah Y'shua (Jesus, the Christ), Amein!

Rmpl

+100...hoping one day that we can get a like button for posts.

Praying for you and your family during this time. Those years are tuff cause we are trying to figure out who we are and those stinking hormones swing us around like a rag doll in a hurricane.

[jimmycthemd]

+100...hoping one day that we can get a like button for posts.

Praying for you and your family during this time. Those years are tuff cause we are trying to figure out who we are and those stinking hormones swing us around like a rag doll in a hurricane.

Went through this with my son a few years ago. Said he was an athiest and anarchist. Had several long discussions with him (no pressure, just letting him explain his views and explaining mine). He stuck by his guns but, after a few years, admitted he thought he was wrong. Give it some time and pray hard. The best way to turn a teanager the wrong way is to try to force the right one on them. As much as we want to protect them, we have to let them learn through their own experience. Part of developing that critical thinking that's missing in our society.

[FeloDeSe]

As a 20+ year Agnostic I am not opposed to religion and I am not saying there is a god or isn't a god. With that qualifier out of the way, for me religion requires too much in the way of faith. I personally believe that you do not need to be religious or overly moral to be a good person. Keep this in mind as you speak to your child. I was taught right and wrong from my parents and there actions. I learned more from watching them be kind to someone because they wanted to, not just because there is an omnipotent being watching and recording there actions. My parents are both Christians and I love them, but I do not discuss religion with them because they want to believe in a higher power while I want to do right because I want to not because I have too.

[Rmplstlskn]

I learned more from watching them be kind to someone because they wanted to, not just because there is an omnipotent being watching and recording there actions.

Yes! The difference between being REBORN (into a new nature, where fruits of the Spirit flow naturally, willingly, freely) and those who THINK they will EARN their righteousness by doing FAKE good deeds and warming a church pew every Sunday...

[Lowdown3]

Their is a wide gap between "religion" and a RELATIONSHIP.

"Religion" often entitles nothing more than "playing church", reciting what they need to here and there, looking and ACTING a certain way- at least around others.

God has sought a RELATIONSHIP with us since the day He created us. Adam and Eve kinda screwed that up for us, bringing sin into the equation and a Holy God cannot condone sin. So around 2,000 years ago God used a sinless Lamb as an atonement for our sins. In doing so, He gave us a way again to have a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

Love your daughter, pray for her, be there for her. Don't hound her, just love her, be there for her. The world will appear like they love her at times, and then it will hurt her. She will remember where the true love came from and she will come back to that. Sometimes loving her will mean being strong as well. Pray for her.

[Jeweltgirl]

I want to thank everyone. We are now talking again. I just told her, I was sorry for upseting her. I explained that I didnt understand and that is why I was asking questions. On a side note, I told her that this christmas I will not drag her to help pick out the tree. She said" mom I love to help pick out the tree, I dont mind." So there might be hope. :) No pressure, but Like many have said she is young and things could change. :)

[MustangGal]

She is 16, things change every day! It is a tough age for girls, many think their lives will magically change on that "sweet 16th" birthday, and when it doesn't - well, it isn't easy to deal with. It is a crazy period, one minute they want to be adults, and they next - they don't even want the few responsibilities they have - they want to be kids.

Growing pains don't just hurt the kids, they hurt the parents too. The only things you can do is model your walk with God, be consistent, but don't forget to talk about the times you mess up. We all fall short, and of course, we are thankful for forgiveness, but Satan uses that fact more than any other to label us "hypocrites" in the minds of others.