Well I need Advice on coming out, but different

[fredv3b]

I believe that religion ought to be a private matter of spirituality, and that, therefore Nobody ought to care about what your religion is.

Sorry to disagree PA, although I appreciate your sentiments, but religion is more than mere private spirituality.

[peterinmalaga]

I love churches and I love singing hymns and Christmas carols. It's all part of our history and culture. I would have no problem going to anyone's church, mosque, synagogue or temple and singing along to the best of my ability, as long as they're not sacrificing live animals or people and as long as the message propagated is one of love and not one of oppression. I would bow my head when they are all praying, remaining silent during the prayers and other stuff. I have jewish friends and was once invited to a jewish wedding – a fascinating incite into their culture. I choose what significance the experience has for me but it is certainly something to do with showing solidarity with the people I love. Christmas is all happy bunny stuff – oh no, that's Easter, isn't it? Whatever, I do not take the content of the ritual seriously. I do not expect people to agree with my atheism and do not normally defend my views unless I am seriously challenged. Can you not be (or pretend to be) a happy bunny/puppy for Mummy? I am not mocking you or anyone else. I am absolutely serious and I think it is the best course of action. I believe in choosing my battles and would never engage the enemy in a battle I cannot win. I think if you appear to go along with the Catholic Christmas, you will have much more success in gaining acceptance as a gay man in your parents' minds. And you don't want to miss out on all that good food, do you?

[marshlander]

I believe that religion ought to be a private matter of spirituality, and that, therefore Nobody ought to care about what your religion is...

Belief may fall under this definition, but isn't religion more a matter of allegiance to a group? Groups are formed to manipulate the distribution of power and people join groups voluntarily when they feel able to surrender to the aims of the organisation. Surely it is the dynamic nature of group interactions that mean people are going to be interested in which gangs we join?

[YoungPup]

Oh yes, this will be the church with the Priest who said I am going to hell for being gay. I kinda wish the 3fold law did not exist otherwise I'd screw with him so bad.

[marshlander]

I've met one or two Catholic Priests who would happily take you up on your offer ... oh, sorry, you said "with", didn't you.

[YoungPup]

lolz at first I had no idea what you meant until I reread my own post lol

[michi-s78]

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they give good advices to all themes.. may be this could help you!

[Rychard the Lionheart]

Why do you need to justify your actions, you are now twenty and mature enough to decide how you want to live. Parents can be very selfish and think only of themselves, not worrying how it will affect you. Scared of questions from family and friends, like why you have no girlfriend, marriage and kids etc. If you are the only child its even worse, then your parents will feel angry at you for stopping the bloodline and no grandchildren.
Both you and your parents need to keep talking to each other so you can hopefully get them to understand your decision to the way you want to live.

By changing to Paganism seems like you are rebelling against your parent's religion, an act of defiance maybe. Are you really happy with the religion you have chosen?

Live the way you want to and enjoy it.

[libertylove4]

[COLOR="Navy"]I agree with Rychard, your religion is your business and there is no need to justify your actions. As much as parents like to meddle in their child's life, they cannot change what you believe. If you want to be pagan, then be pagan. No one can tell you what to do with your own spirituality.

As for me I'm still Catholic, although recent developments by the church have made me less than pleased. It is the only church that has ever made sense to me but I still like attending other churches and experience their services, so if I were to leave the church I would probably become agnostic. But like I said everyone is different when it comes to matters of faith, don't let you parents bully you into a church you don't want to be in.[/COLOR]

[princealbertofb]

Sorry to disagree PA, although I appreciate your sentiments, but religion is more than mere private spirituality.

I think you are probably right there, Fred. What I meant was that your own spirituality has nothing to do with anyone else's. Religion is indeed something that's organised for a group (and to take power in that group, as Marshlander explained it, I adhere to that). But again, I still think it's such a private matter that no one ought to be able to tell you whether you are thinking the right thought or believing the right belief. I'm sure that my idea of God and deity is probably different from other people's who went to the same church or churches as I've been to. Just because each person's experience of life is different. And since we're talking mainly about the unknown and the unseen... how can our beliefs possibly coincide?