My child doesn't believe in God

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My daughter just turned 16 years old. She’s preparing for her confirmation this May. She just returned from her Teen Acts Retreat last week. Yesterday, my sister drops a bomb shell on me. She tells me that my daughter confided in her that she does not believe in God. The only reason she goes to her religious classes is for me. My daughter won’t tell me because she doesn’t want to disappoint me. I have no idea how to react. I feel so hurt, angry & disappointed. I feel like I’ve sacrificed my life for this child, did my best as a parent to raise her in faith. It was a hard journey for us. Now she’s on to becoming a young adult and she has no faith. I’m flabbergasted. I’ve had a day to think on this. I haven’t approached my daughter. I do remember her making a comment before she left on her ACTS retreat. She said, “I don’t understand why I have to do this, it’s not like God is there.” I responded with “God is everywhere baby. I hope you find him there.” My heart is broken. I don’t know whether to leave my daughter alone and just pray she finds her way or talk to her and ask why she feels this way? Any thoughts/suggestions on this?
 
Hi there. First post on the forums. Anywho this is all im my opinion. I suggest you have a long chat with your daughter and find out why she feels the way she does. Then think about why you are having more hurt feelings. By my point of view your daughter only went along to not disappoint you, I done the same thing for my family, so she isn’t getting anything out of faith, of any kind, because it is feeling forced. Rather, again in my opinion, faith should come naturally.

Be kind and take it slow. Respect her feelings as she may see, again may, you talking to her as she did something wrong. Wish you the best,
 
I have just the prescription for you, if your daughter has not closed her mind, that is. Lee Strobel’s The Case for a Creator walks the reader through scientific agruments, and explains why there MUST be a Creator. The radical anti-theists control virtually all levels of society in America, and they have put on a full court propaganda press, and their fondest dream is to destroy the faith of young people. We as adults who love God must fight against this rubbish in a way that our ancestors never had to consider doing. The scientific facts are on OUR side, so we need not fear the Truth. A companion book is The Case for Christ, which is similarly stunning. God Bless! Rob 😃
 
RACJ said:
I have just the prescription for you, if your daughter has not closed her mind, that is. Lee Strobel’s The Case for a Creator walks the reader through scientific agruments, and explains why there MUST be a Creator. The radical anti-theists control virtually all levels of society in America, and they have put on a full court propaganda press, and their fondest dream is to destroy the faith of young people. We as adults who love God must fight against this rubbish in a way that our ancestors never had to consider doing. The scientific facts are on OUR side, so we need not fear the Truth. A companion book is The Case for Christ, which is similarly stunning. God Bless! Rob 😃
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I also think it’s quite natural for young people as they grow up to question things. I think it’s important that you speak to your daughter and maybe get a priest who knows her that ***she likes ***to talk to her. Also the above advice sounds good to me. Good luck. 🙂
 
I’m sorry to hear this. My advice? Take her to Eucharistic Adoration or a Traditional Latin Mass; here she can contemplate in silence and awe. Preferably try to do this in a big old Church that is beautiful; beauty is a simple and subtle reminder of God’s wonder.

Also! Pray, Pray and Pray! (Ora, Ora et Orate!)

God be with you.

Deus Salus Nostra :gopray2:

@SeekingKnight - Are you really a Pagan? If not, please don’t joke about such things. It’s such an unusual religion; it is indeed very inoften I have heard someone admit that they are a Pagan. However, it’s great that you have joined us! 🙂
 
My prayers are with you and her right now.
it was indeed your duty to raise her in the faith as you have indicated. think of this as planting the seed in the garden, one day it may grow into a might tree. you have done well. it is hard for a parent to have their child grow into their own with their own ideas. it definitely says something about her when she has said she doesnt want to disappoint you.
talk openly about her ideas maybe over pizza and sodas so she will feel more comfortable with the discussion, find out what is going on with her and her life. i wouldnt push her too hard. lets hope it just her getting her feel of her own womanhood.

Then pray that the Holy Spirit will bring her to her spiritual home, and have faith in the Lord.
 
Here:

saintaquinas.com/mortal_sin.html

This is indeed an excellent article on each commandment and the teachings of the Catholic Church responding to each. I use it all the time when evangelising! Pornography is covered, with the section from the Catechism, and then a little more explanation.

Hope that I’ve helped!

In magnam fidem,
Deus, Salus Nostra :gopray2:
 
No offense Deus but how does that help the original poster? The daughter is at a time where she is finding about herself but also doesn’t want to disappoint her mother. Going over commandments and things isn’t going to bring the daughter any closer to her mom’s faith. Again talk to her and be respectful about her thoughts. Look inside as to why you are angry on this issue. Maybe, just maybe, the Catholic faith isn’t for her?
 
I think it is great that she went to please you.

If she is questioning her belief in God, that shows that you raised her to have an open mind to different possibilities and not just take people’s word at face value.

Also, kids at some point have to rebel a little to find out what the parameters of life are. The first place to start this is the home and the first ‘act of rebellion’ is to question what you have been taught.

There are a lot of different views out there on Gods, religions. etc,. etc - sounds like she is learning critical thinking and how to think for herself. Which ever God or religions proves the True one or maybe it’s none of them, sounds like you have a smart kid. You might learn something from her.
 
Hey there, I’m 17 so I think I might be able to relate a bit to your daughter. I experienced a conversion when I was 15 and until then, God was more of an imaginary friend for me, not some real, living entity. What changed my life was a sense of God’s presence in a local community.

I think that two most important things now are to trust God and to trust your daughter. Don’t be angry, don’t be disappointed! Please! Have hope! This means, that your daughter will have a chance to find God now, at the age when she is in the greatest capacity to start a strong relationship with him. Not some childish faith, not a dead tradition, but life!

She needs to know, that you support her on this path, you cannot force her into faith! That would be pointless, it might even draw her further from God. Let her know how important God is for YOU and live as an example. As St. Francis said, “always spread the gospel and when necessary, use words”.

Faith is young and faith is strong, don’t worry! God bless you and your daughter!
 
SeekingKnight said:
No offense Deus but how does that help the original poster? The daughter is at a time where she is finding about herself but also doesn’t want to disappoint her mother. Going over commandments and things isn’t going to bring the daughter any closer to her mom’s faith. Again talk to her and be respectful about her thoughts. Look inside as to why you are angry on this issue. Maybe, just maybe, the Catholic faith isn’t for her?
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ThomasMartin said:
Hey there, I’m 17 so I think I might be able to relate a bit to your daughter. I experienced a conversion when I was 15 and until then, God was more of an imaginary friend for me, not some real, living entity. What changed my life was a sense of God’s presence in a local community.

I think that two most important things now are to trust God and to trust your daughter. Don’t be angry, don’t be disappointed! Please! Have hope! This means, that your daughter will have a chance to find God now, at the age when she is in the greatest capacity to start a strong relationship with him. Not some childish faith, not a dead tradition, but life!

She needs to know, that you support her on this path, you cannot force her into faith! That would be pointless, it might even draw her further from God. Let her know how important God is for YOU and live as an example. As St. Francis said, “always spread the gospel and when necessary, use words”.

Faith is young and faith is strong, don’t worry! God bless you and your daughter!
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Wise beyond your years, ThomasMartin. Excellent.
 
Ms. April has a wonderful point. The OP’s daughter is showing intelligence and independant thought. That is cause for joy because the daughter…I want to say will have many avenues open up because she isn’t someone whom follows the crowd. Nurture the independant thinking and love her always. 🙂
 
aemcpa said:
It is the only true religion.
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I understand your bias, but there is no proof of that or that one religion is more ‘true’ than another - they are all belief systems, not ‘truth systems’
 
aprilfloyd said:
I understand your bias, but there is no proof of that or that one religion is more ‘true’ than another - they are all belief systems, not ‘truth systems’
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The proof is in the form of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, by which he demonstrated that his claims of divinity are true.
 
aemcpa said:
The proof is in the form of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, by which he demonstrated that his claims of divinity are true.
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I accept that it is your opinion or interpretation, but no religion can claim to be more important or more ‘true’ than another. Religion is by definition not about facts, but beliefs.
 
aprilfloyd said:
I understand your bias, but there is no proof of that or that one religion is more ‘true’ than another - they are all belief systems, not ‘truth systems’
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I’m confused, they’re biased and you’re, right? And because they see proof and you can’t or won’t, they’re, wrong. Right?
 
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