Do you think it's bad that i'm only 13 with all of my family being basically full on Catholic and I'm atheist?I always hate it whenever I see people mentioning Christ and my view on him is that he was one of the very first DOCTORS.
by 
Zladdy
ANSWERS: 18
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No I don't think it's bad. Everyone is welcome to his or her own beliefs and opinions. You shouldn't hate it whenever you hear people mention Christ, these people are just expressing their own beliefs, nor should you force your own beliefs on them. Just like it would be wrong for someone to force his or her own beliefs on you. I will ask you to keep your mind open to ideas about Christ and not keep your mind fixed with what idea you have of him now. Although not necessarily wrong, I hate to see people unwelcoming and dismissive of new ideas, to hate someone because they mention Christ makes me feel like you are missing out.
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The way I see this is that you have no obligation to belong to any religion. You'rre family are catholic, but if you don't believe in God that's OK too. You have to be true to yourself. If you believe Jesus was a doctor, that's OK, and in a sense quite a reasonable opinion (I think it likely that he may have used a technique similar to Reiki or faith healing using direction of energy and positive thought certainly). But- you DO have an obligation to respect the beliefs of others and to give them an equal hearing to that which you expect yourself. You may feel uncomfortable about your family mentioning Christ, but unless you have a desire to live in a dictatorship where all beliefs are filtered through what you personally see as reasonable, you have to respect their beliefs and even listen to them. In fact if anything, if your tendency is towards atheism, its incredibly important for you to understand and listen to religious viewpoints. You need to be aware of what it is you are so against.
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It is a very good thing for a person to be an individual and not a "sheep" following the flock. That shows strength and intelligence. Make sure, however, that you are not just going againt the grain of your family as a rebellion type of thing instead of having your own different beliefs.
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You cannot be ordered to believe something, and you are certainly not bad if you don't believe the same as your family. You owe it to your parents to give them a fair hearing to see if they can persuade you to share their beliefs. But that is not an open ended commitment - once they have had a fair hearing you should make aup your own mind. In fact, you obviously have made up your mind, and all you are wondering about is whether to feel guilty about it. One of the strongest criticisms of Catholicism (as opposed to other branches of Christianity) is that it majors in inducing guilt. If you allow yourself to be made guilty just for using the mind you were given, they are succeeding despite you.
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No, not at all. I'm an atheist, but most people I know are (I live in England, athesim is very strong, probably over 50%). However, even I encouter those who flaunt their religion. My 'policy' is simple- if they keep quiet I keep quiet, but if they challenge me, act prejudiciously, or try to convert me I unleash arguements and engage them in debate. I think I've converted 3 christians that way. Out of interest, why do you describe Jesus as a doctor? It may interest you to know that I have recently become familiar with evidence that makes me doubt Jesus ever existed.
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I believe in God but I respect other's beliefs as we have the free will to choose our religion. I really do not see why people feel the need to debate such a personal issue. We are each accountable for how we live our lives in any manner.. whether lawfully, spiritually etc. What you eat does not make me fat and vice versa. I am more concerned with my beliefs than others.
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No, it's not bad. I lost my religion when I was 6, and asked some questions that I thought were reasonable, but the teachers thought otherwise. I believed that Jesus may have been a time-traveller (probably from watching Dr Who) and wanted to know why he couldn't be this. The answer was to throw me out of Sunday School for being a disruptive influence. In my mind a lack of answer was an admission that the church was perpetuating a lie. I have since discovered, with what we know at this time, why it wouldn't be possible for Jesus to have gone back in time, but the church had already opened my eyes to their blinkered small-mindedness, and converted me away from their path. I know that most people who reach maturity still believing will not be swayed, so I don't try to preach to them, but my reading has led me to believe that Jesus was nobody really special, but became a figurehead for the Roman sponsored religion we call Christianity, as a way to keep control of the underclasses. It has been the most successful scheme in history.
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Maybe "atheist" is too strong a term. Try "agnostic." An atheist is someone who thinks that he can be sure that God isn't--which you can't be sure of until you know every fact in the universe, and for that matter every fact outside of it. An agnostic is someone who says "I don't know, but I sure haven't seen any proof that convinces me up to this point." Of course, someone may have painted you a completely false picture of God. Saying "I don't believe in your God" isn't atheism. Mark Twain was an atheist, but I don't believe in the god that Twain didn't believe in, either. He was nasty. (Twain's god, I mean.) Mine isn't. But that is not a bad attitude, that Jesus was a doctor. It shows you're thinking & considering the evidence. Some of his recorded healings give evidence that they really happened, were really recorded by eyewitnesses and can't be explained by the placebo effect.
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I will give you a Christian's point of view and you can take it or leave it. It may not be what you expect though: Every person must find their own faith in and relationship with God. I'd advise you not to lock yourself into any labels or close the door on any possibilities. I actually do believe in God and part of that belief is that God is capable of making Himself known to anyone who seeks after truth. As long as you keep your mind and heart open, don't worry about what to call yourself or what other people call you. At 13, it is not your doubts that make you bad. You will be going through many changes as you grow. Enjoy the discoveries and keep seeking.
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No i don't think it's bad at all. You have every right to believe in whatever you choose to believe in, regardless of age, race or family expectations. Your views are based upon your thoughts, experiences and opinions and as such they are yours and yours alone and you are well entitled to them. No-one has the right to insist you deny yourself that basic human right.
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NO he was not one of the very first doctors there were thousands before him even caveman days they had people who were fluent in how to heal.
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Bad thing? No. Not at all. I think its great that you are developing your own views at age 13. Good for you! One note on the "very first doctors", my vote (as a student of Naturopathy) is for Hippocrates, born 460 B.C. (well before Christ)... ever hear of the "Hippocratic Oath"? see the link at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocrates... keep rock'in zladdy!!!
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A bigger question is do you hate free expression and should christians hate you for expressing your view?
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It's fine, You don't have to love apple although all of your family member do Just remember, just because you don't like apples, it doesn't mean you have to go against people who do Just go and eat oranges (or any fruit you like), if someone against it, its THEIR problem, not yours
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Personally I think that you are 13 years old, and chances are that you have not been faced with a strong argument for the existence of Christ, because most people never ask for one. If you can read Thomas Aquinas and his arguments for the existence of God in the Summa Theologica, and understand them, that would give you an argument that you could try to refute. If you are a normal 13 year old, then you have not yet developed the ability to understand and contemplate Thomas's arguments. I would also wonder why you would hate to see people mentioning Christ? Most people don't get angry when people mention things they don't believe in. I am not convinced of man made global warming, but I am annoyed when people talk about it, not angry.
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It's not bad. It's quite normal for someone your age to question the environment you live in. When you get older you may change your mind about atheism, or not. Just believe in what makes you feel most comfortable.
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You are entitled to your own beliefs. You have a lot of life left to live and your views on most things will change and modify over time as you experience more of life and hear new information and ideas. Believe whatever you can, but try not to carry your beliefs like banners, irritating and provoking your family who will not understand, and will be frightened by your 'strange'(to them) ideas.
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my fam's catholic too. i'm not. but i don't think that gives you any right to hate on something they love. respect your family even if you think their religion is BS because they're your family. doctor christ most certainly was not, son of god i don't think so either. atheist, that's fine. not me but i'm not going to hate on you. don't hate on your family either, no point in turning your soul black for a belief you don't think is worth it
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