Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
Just got back from spending reading week back at the rentals place. I love spending time with the family, they're the most amazing people ever in my life.. but it's such a chore having to pretend I'm something that I'm not when I am there. All my friends and family back home are Christian, and I haven't got the heart to tell them I'm not. It's just the thought of all those people I care about thinking and worrying about my soul burning in a lake of sulfur...just doesn't seem fair to do that to them.....
But on the other hand.. it's not fair of me to lie to them either. Well, I haven't exactly lied.. I just.. dodge the question as best I can. I think that most of them have at least an inkling that I've gone "astray" but luckily, up to this point, none of them have had the balls to actually straight up ask. They've asked if I still go to church, to which I have replied with an honest no..... but I'm in University, so they may just assume that I'm just too lazy to bother getting up for church Sunday mornings.
I really don't know what to do.. this has been bothering me for years.... to tell or not to tell... that is the question....
hmmm.... family and friends worrying about my soul vs. lying to family and friends..... beautiful freaking options.............
But on the other hand.. it's not fair of me to lie to them either. Well, I haven't exactly lied.. I just.. dodge the question as best I can. I think that most of them have at least an inkling that I've gone "astray" but luckily, up to this point, none of them have had the balls to actually straight up ask. They've asked if I still go to church, to which I have replied with an honest no..... but I'm in University, so they may just assume that I'm just too lazy to bother getting up for church Sunday mornings.
I really don't know what to do.. this has been bothering me for years.... to tell or not to tell... that is the question....
hmmm.... family and friends worrying about my soul vs. lying to family and friends..... beautiful freaking options.............
I personally come from a religious family. I strayed during and after my college years; went back after getting married, and when my second child was about 4 or 5 years old. I had my reasons, and I expect you have yours.
If it helps, here is how I worked out the "good people can go to hell" thing.
I took all the "rules" I was told about going to heaven that were outside the "good person" list. I asked myself what about the good people who, for no fault of their own, did not know about the "rules".
Consider the rule "must believe in Jesus" to get to heven. What about all the good people who died before Jesus was born? How about the good people who were never told about Jesus?
From that I have come to believe that God welcomes people into heaven based on teh quality of life they led, not who or what they prayed to.
You are young, with a lot of life ahead of you. I would let this issue "sit" for a few years before having a big family meeting to announce your position!
Sorry, not trying to convert you or pass judgment!
Yes, it may hurt them to know that you've turned elsewhere for your spiritual needs, but that's something that they'll have to deal with. It's your right as an individual to seek Deity as you will. Being truthful to yourself is more important.
There are worse things to be than not of the same faith, right?
I probably will end up just sitting on the issue for a while... but it's gunna come up eventually... and if it so happens to come up despite my effort to dodge it... I'm not going to lie. I can't bring myself to lie to them anymore.. I've had enough of lying to them.
--- Yupp!!