The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Spit in face?

Recently my 15th birthday was upon me,this is about what my grandparents decided to do.And my Rage that followed
So my dad has these weekly phone conversations with my grandparents telling them how me and my siblings are and what not. It was one of these times my dad was telling his parents that their grandson is an Atheist.(Note to readers: My Grandparents are strongly religious,but not practicing Christians.) So when my birthday came by, or a few days after I got a package in the mail. When I opened the package just so happened to be the day my grandparents call,Meh right? Wrong.
Inside that conspicuous box, was the spit in my face.By both my dad and them. A bible, Not a normal one but a teen one which they just so happen to get me for my birthday.Perfect timing may say them. Not only was I steaming mad, I was forced to thank them for it.They said "if you ever have doubt in yourself you can open it up" Yea I have a school consular which I could tell anything to. But this,She has a few crosses in her office which makes me feel uncomfortable with this situation,if it ever came up.My dad shouldn't have done this, Almost betrayal, I've talked openly about my atheism to him and he did this?Feeble mindedness mess...
How should I go about this? They want to sign it when they come for a visit in April.What should I say to them when they ask? I know it sounds disrespectful to them but I need your opinon,My friends were no help.
Thanks for reading and such.
-Andrew

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trappedintheworld on March 24, 2009 at 2:28pm

Well I would read it but where i "put" it has been discovered and,well nobody has confronted me in my house about it.*whistles*So I don't know or really care what that person did with it but i'll look 'round for it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brother Tiegue on April 3, 2009 at 1:07am

My grandfather, an absolutely staunch anti-Catholic, gave me (a catholic lad) a book deriding the Pope -- "The Roman Mischief-Maker". I thanked him kindly, and left it as a prank in the priests' common room at college where they all taught. Nary a word was said -- I guess they got the caretaker to take it out and burn it:-)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeremy on April 17, 2009 at 6:43pm

Its hard at 15, I can understand the last thing you want to do is start a conflict in your house. I think you should get them a copy of "The God Delusion" and and put it away as a christmas gift for them this year. :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean Corey on April 19, 2009 at 1:02am

I know I don't know you or your grandparents, but I come from a large family that was mostly religious, and I had a similar experience to yours when I was seventeen. So I'm going to make some assumptions when I say I doubt very much your grandparents were trying to "spit in your face" by giving you a bible. To them it was probably a "nice" gift for their grandchild. So unless they are forcing you to attend church and read the bible it probably wouldn't be such a bad thing to just thank them, do what ever you want with it and move on with life. Their are bigger and better battles out there than trying to get your granny and grandpa to understand your atheism.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tak G. on April 23, 2009 at 11:58am

Argh! My mom did this to me when she realized I am definitely not a christian (she hasn't been told I'm an atheist yet) so I just flip through it highlighting passages I know she'll find uncomfortable.

The bible can be a useful tool for argumentation so you might thank them by saying, "Thanks for the new material."

As Anne Landers or Miss Manners or one of those ladies says, "If you can't be kind at least be vague."

I want to add that it sounds like you didn't want your dad to share your atheism with your grandparents. Did you tell him not to drop the bomb? It might be helpful for you to ask him not to 'share' and let you do the honors of telling the people you choose to inform - though this method isn't foolproof and people have big mouths.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Allen Uribes on April 23, 2009 at 7:28pm

Just thank them for their generosity but use it as a means to show them that the books is as flawed as their logic was when they decided that should be your birthday gift! ;)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by daniel becker on April 25, 2009 at 11:09pm

my friend, the bible is the most powerful tool that deconverted me and used for deconverting other christians. utilize it to your advantage!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Karl on April 29, 2009 at 11:28am

When we were young, I was 6 and my brother was 4 our maternal grandmother started trying to give me christian themed books and games for christmas and birthdays. It was my father who made it clear to her that if it continued then she would not be welcome in our house and would not be allowed any further contact with her grandchildren.She soon stopped.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Allen Uribes on May 4, 2009 at 12:18pm

Wish I was that lucky. ;)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by muhammad amer on April 29, 2009 at 12:11pm

Listen good guay when there are aggression or ill-logical arguments to deal with, we must deal them strongly. But when comes the question of loving relations, one must be a little more careful. Thier reactions are usually based upon loved based fears. your grandparents might be worried about your going to hell, which is quite natural according to their belief. And no one wants their beloved child going to hell or getting into undesired ways of life. You are perfectly right at your place. A person living in this age of science and technology cannot belive in myths of thousands years ago. But your elders might also be right in their own place. so just try to solace their worries in some way. Best of wishes.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Meddlesome on April 30, 2009 at 7:44am

If you want to find the good / bad bits :

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

:)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by AcesLucky on May 5, 2009 at 8:18am

Thank them, as you would anyone who gives a gift meant to help you. They are not trying to harm you, but in their minds trying to protect you! So be kind and attentive.

You might also find a good book such as Dan Barker's, Losing Faith in Faith, or Sam Harris', The End of Faith, or John Armstrong's, God vs. the Bible. (John is a Deist but takes the bible to task at being outright wrong on many levels and is a very good read). Get one of these (read your own copy) but DO send them a copy!

And as they ask how you're coming along with the bible you can also make sure they too are doing the requisite reading of what you sent them. They'd have no right to ask you to read the bible if they are not reading what you sent them. It levels the playing field.

Also be sure to give your Dad a copy! You might be surprised how willingly a Dad will stick up for his son once he figures out what's up.