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Should I talk with my family?

So, I was wondering if I should express my beliefs outwardly. I usually keep my beliefs to myself. My family knows what I believe, but we do not really discuss religion or anything of the sort. There are not any conflicts either. Do you think it is unhealthy not to discuss religion and beliefs?

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Fosterboyyy 3 May 3
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9 comments

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I think it depends on how much you say and who you say it to. Some members of my family I can say more to, some on only an as-needed basis, and some none at all. That goes with all different topics, from belief to relationships, to money, to goals, to emotional states; some can hear more about one thing and some can hear more about something else. It's about really being able to discern what to share and who to share it with.

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I think that what a person believes is entirely their own business; fortunately we don't have the 'thought police' on our trail. For me Least said soonest mended works but then I have never been anything other than atheist and neither have my relatives.

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I voted both yes and no. The answer is situational. What do you risk to loose by having an open discussion? Do you still need to depend on your parents financially, housing, insurance? Is the risk loss of relationships?

Recovering from Religion [recoveringfromreligion.org] has a phone line or chat line of trained volunteers to help with this question.

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Discussion is for learning and sharing. If your folks are not open to learning or sharing on a particular topic, but they accept you and love you as you are, find your discussion on this issue elsewhere. If the issue comes up and a declaration becomes necessary, state your position with grace and do not leave room for discussion, withdraw without argument. It would be unhealthy to force a discussion when there is already love and acceptance.

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Personally I wouldn't bring it up. If they want to know they'll ask, otherwise you may be seen as pushing an agenda onto them. I think a lot of us know what it's like to be on the other side of that discussion.

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Unless confronted with a situation where discussing it is unavoidable, or unless your rights are being compromised in some manner, I wouldn't stir the coals just to be stirring.

Deb57 Level 8 May 3, 2018
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I would not bring it up the topic just to bring it up, but at the same time, if the topic came up I would be open and honest about my beliefs.

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If I tell you that I have meaningful in-depth conversations with my friends about my feelings and beliefs yet avoid those same topics with my relatives, which relationship does that tell you is real and has true value to me?

I have a few friends and relatives that I deeply value and we can talk about anything but disagree about quite a bit.

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Only you know your family. My grandmother was a person of faith. She knew l was not. We never discussed it and we had a great relationship. She was very influential in my life.

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