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Ebone4rock
SFN Regular
USA
894 Posts |
 Posted - 04/15/2010 : 11:26:49
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I have been an Atheist all of my life. Fortunately I was brought up without religion and had no influence from my family what-so-ever when it came to religious ideas.
My wife's family on the other hand is VERY religious. Her sister is a devout Evangelical Christian who goes to one of those Rock-N-Roll- Laser Light Show churches. Her parents and grandparents are devout Catholics.
My wife has always known about my Atheism. She was raised Catholic but all it really was to her was something that her parents made her do that she hated. She does not really think about religious ideas at all.
Recently my sister-in-law was diagnosed with gluten allergies. She tried some different treatments that her Dr. suggested which did not really seem to help. Apparently last week she was supposedly Faith Healed by her pastor. What the pastor did was rub my sister-in-law's back while saying a prayer. She claims she is totally cured of her gluten allergies now.
My wife was very impressed by this supposed faith healing. I tried gently explaining to her that either her sister never really had gluten allergies or that she is only temporarily feeling better and her symptoms will probably return shortly. My wife told me that I am a horrible person for saying such a thing. The rest of the family (Sister-in-law, her husband, Mother-in-law,and Father-in-law)talk about this "miracle" every time we see them. I have to keep my mouth shut and listen to their superstitious rambling otherwise I will put a strain on my relationship with them.
I love my in-law family very much and I am concerned that next time there is a health problem with one of them that they will seek "Faith healing" rather than seeing a real doctor. I cannot speak this out loud to any of them though.
Does anyone else have similar experiences to share?
Advice and comments are welcome.
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Haole with heart, thats all I'll ever be. I'm not a part of the North Shore society. Stuck on the shoulder, that's where you'll find me. Digging for scraps with the kooks in line. -Offspring |
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Robb
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 08:15:29 [Permalink]
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I have kind of the same problem except I am a Christian. My family and in-laws is Christian as well and we all have different beliefs. I am of the opinion that doctors do much more for the sick than any faith healer does. My current situation is that my wife’s cousin’s family does not vaccinate their children. They feel they will be healthier if they let God take care of it. I am firmly for vaccinations of children in our country. The facts prove that they are most beneficial and it could be dangerous to not vaccinate.
What I did was at a family gathering I spoke to my wife’s cousin when we were alone together. I said my peace about the issue and said that if he wanted to talk some more I would be willing to talk and share scientific information with him. I took the approach of a fellow concerned father and let him know that I would not talk of it again. I feel that's all I can do. It's not my child and it's not my decision. But it is also my duty to care for my family and bring it to his attention. This way it was between us. We have not spoken about it since but our relationship has not been adversely affected either. In fact he is a Catholic and has talked to me privately about why my children are not baptized. This approach seems to work for us.
I am sure it is much harder to be an atheist in a Christian family than my situation.
I get hassled a lot about my children going to public school but that’s a different issue.
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Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. - George Washington |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 08:59:58 [Permalink]
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| Provide them data on hundreds of people who dropped dead cause they thought they were healed. Better than a glutton meal 'test of faith' me thinks. |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
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Gorgo
SFN Die Hard
USA
5310 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 09:55:30 [Permalink]
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| If they've been around a while, they know that prayer doesn't work all the time, and if they've gone to the doctor in the past, they'll probably continue to. You can't predict or control what people will do, but if they are reasonably sane, you can at least have the distant hope that they won't go completely off their berserk because of one incident. |
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright-
Jerry Garcia
Robert Hunter
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astropin
SFN Regular
USA
970 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 10:23:14 [Permalink]
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| Not having children vaccinated is not only dangerous to the children but to the community at large. They could be putting others at risk not just their children. Pure Stupidity. |
I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies.
You are free to believe what you want to believe and I am free to ridicule you for it.
Atheism:
The result of an unbiased and rational search for the truth.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum |
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Atheism, Religious family, and Faith Healing
