Telling my atheist parents I'm converting

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I’ve been in a similar situation. My parents didn’t agree with my decision to join the Church two years ago. I didn’t tell them immediately - I made sure I was secure and confident in my decision and had people to lean on before I disclosed it to them. Even now, I sometimes have to lean on those people.

I’ll echo those who advised you to talk to your pastor. He can guide you better than strangers on the internet, and he can help you build a network of support within your parish. That is important as you move forward, especially if you don’t ahve one within your family. When I was baptised, none of my family came, but I had a huge contingent of support from among the parish community who knew that I would otherwise be alone. And it made such a significant difference.

Don’t feel like you’re doing something wrong or dishonest by keeping it to yourself for now. You aren’t. And follow your pastor’s guidance.

And welcome home. This is a beautiful journey!
 
psalm90 said:
like previous posts, I wonder what your age is (maybe I missed your response). In general, I’d say take the class and join the church, w/ or w/o their permission. They may kick you out of the house, etc.

DON’T argue with them under any circumstances.

I am in an extended family where people’s beliefs go across the spectrum.

It seems somebody should be able to be atheist and still be nice to people. If that’s not the case, it speaks for itself, but keep that to yourself.
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What? Am I misreading, or are you suggesting she should convert now instead of waiting, even if she gets kicked out of the house? OP, don’t do anything that will get you kicked out or disowned if you are still dependent. The Church will still be there in a few years.
 
Congrats on choosing the Catholic Church. So many replies include opinions, but I’d like to simply congratulate you on a fine selection. Warning: there is more history than most can imagine! From Saints to Guy Fawkes… and some!
 
stellabelle said:
Hi everyone!

After much soul-searching, prayer, and opening up to my faith, I’m going to convert to Catholicism, and I will start RCIA through the church I was guided to.
My parents are atheists. They both left the Christian faith (my mother was a Roman Catholic). I am ok w this and love them, but I’m nervous about telling them that I’m converting because they will most likely react negatively or ask analytical questions about my faith and respond to my answers with their own negative answers toward me and my faith. The only way they talked about religion to me was telling me how it was evil and a negative force in the world. They have a lot of unhealed wounds about their own relationships with their faith and experiences.
They don’t ask me about my faith, and they really never have. They speak to me frequently about their own faiths and spiritualities (they are Zen Buddhists, but still harbor deep hate of Christianity, but they never ask me about my own faith.
Is it ok to simply love my faith, since they don’t inquire about it? I don’t have a problem with telling them about my conversion if they ask. But they never do, so I’m wondering - should I tell them, or just go about my business and keep practicing my faith in my own life? Thanks!!
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Your parents love you no matter what. Just be open with them. If I was your parent I would ask what got you to convert and why you feel that way. After I would hug you and say I will always love you.
 
Hoosier_Daddy said:
1 how old are you?
2. They are atheists and buhddists? That doesn’t sound right?
Do you want to modify one of those?
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Some forms of Buddhism are non-theistic (though not always atheist), it’s possible. Anyway, to the OP, I wish I could help you. Even my Baptist grandmother was happy when I became Catholic. I wish I could give you some more advice. Have a chat at them about it, and gage their reaction. DON’T use that reaction to make a decision, but DO use it to think about how you’re gonna talk about it.
 
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