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Debate Score:36
Arguments:29
Total Votes:38
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 Im 15 am i old enough to think for myself? (28)

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vandebater(444) pic



Im 15 am i old enough to think for myself?

my christian parents dont want me to be atheist and they wont let me talk about atheism openly and say i must tell people im christian until im old enough to think for myself.

i didnt take this lightly as this strikes me as a tad bit cult-like.  

are they allowed to do this or should i keep up my crusade!?

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4 points

Your parents should let you make your own decision and not force you to say your a Christian when your aren't. They should let you choose what you believe in and stick to it.

1 point

Ironic... coming from you.

2 points

Your parents probably just want they think is best for you and no matter how old you are they will always think they know what's best and it's hard for a parent to accept that their Kids have their own views, especially when those views differ from theirs but they cant change how you think, it might be easier for you living at home to just go along with your parents for now, if you find this is not possible try not to row with them and just give them your reasons for thinking how you think and respect their beliefs and hopefully they will accept that you are following a different path to them.

Good luck

Your old enough to start thinking, but if your in a christian family and your giving them the whole "I'm an atheist/agnostic" speech, word of advice, be calm and don't turn it into a hate speech about how God is evil and you don't want one.

2 points

Yes, you are old enough to think for yourself. It's fairly tyrannical for your parents to try and force dogma on you. The sign of a good parent is one that protects a child from themselves, but allows them to make minor mistakes on their own so they can learn.

If you wish to keep relations good with your parents, though, you may want to discontinue your rebellion. But if you value your freedom for the next 3 years more, then continuing to fight to show your ideology is just fine.

2 points

Maybe your parents area crazy.They probably want you to believe in their beliefs so you don't question their beliefs.

well at least they told you to wait until youre old enough... i think they just want you to realize theres more to life than science and hard facts, theres some unexplainable things out there, i dont believe in a god or gods and im not atheist, im apparently a taoist

Dremorius(861) Clarified
3 points

im apparently a taoist

So, you have decided to conform from what a test had told you, and consider yourself a member of an eastern religion rooted deeply into Chinese philosophy? Are you even Asian?

i think they just want you to realize theres more to life than science and hard facts

Woah... this is sounding completely opposite to what society should be supporting. Dismissing the truth given by science is one step closer to making this society a chaotic jumble of irrationality, illogicality, and a general diversion on what society should be really focusing on fixing and exploring, instead of wasting time praying and crap, and losing all need to search for answers in this world, since all the answers are apparently found in a crappy little book filled with child-abuse, and talking donkeys.

(I find you quite the credulous individual.)

vandebater(444) Disputed
1 point

thats what i told them .

1 point

i said apparently, ive never looked at taoism, it was one of the top three, it resembles shamanism very closely, and was most likely derived out of shamanism, so no i did not conform to a test, i just had my beliefs named. and yes, there is way more to life than science and hard facts, its called fun, because you know we wouldnt wantt to take life TOO seriously, a good sense of humor is always good bud. And i said they want you to realize theres more life than crunching numbers and looking at statistics, which there is, and if you dont believe it, im sorry that you dont have fun in your life

1 point

oh and "and consider yourself a member of an eastern religion rooted deeply into Chinese philosophy? Are you even Asian?" that was the stupidest most ignorant thing ive ever read

anachronist(889) Disputed
1 point

The only thing that characterises reality is hard facts and science, are you saying that some facts aren't true? because then they wouldn't be facts. And you realise science is just knowledge right? So how can you know what is outside your knowledge?

nummi(1432) Disputed
1 point

i dont believe in a god or gods and im not atheist

Contradicting itself.

You've said you do believe in god/gods or have you changed your opinions since then? Hope you have. (I've noticed you meandering from one to another all the time, never one solid stance... it's like you say and believe whatever comes to your mind.)

Atheism means disbelief in a god or gods, that's all. I don't really call myself an atheist either, although I know I fall under the definition.

1 point

no, i said i believe WE are all gods, i dont believe in a single creator god, but i do believe there are beings in different realms of existence, what some would call "gods" but they are just the same as us just in a different dimension.

1 point

Yes! Yes! Yes! Open your wings and fly young man! Wait, well don't REALLY try to fly because we all know you can't.

1 point

no dont listen to him, hitler said the same thing, DONT DO IT ITS A TRAP

Dremorius(861) Disputed
2 points

Hitler was in favor of Christianity...

As mentioned in many of his writings.

ricedaragh(2494) Disputed
0 points

Godwin's law. Try again mate.

1 point

Truth be told, I am 14, and I say stand up for what is logical and verifiable. Do not follow a book full of talking snakes and donkeys- it is but a failed attempt for man to understand God.

If you're an theist you're an atheist. Your parents aren't in control of what you believe, you are. Keep it that way. And if they don't want you to think for yourself, they aren't doing their job as a parent right.

Just tell them that their actions are actually pushing you further away from religion and that the only way you'll ever be religious is by your own means, which means openly being yourself, if the christian community considers you less of a person or your parents less than ideal parents, then the christian community isn't very good at conversion and is a waste of your time.

You could also tell them that no matter who is doing your thinking, it isn't them.

1 point

They should let you think how you want. No human can make you think this or that way.

1 point

my christian parents dont want me to be atheist and they wont let me talk about atheism openly and say i must tell people im christian until im old enough to think for myself.

If you can see or feel that there is something wrong with what your parents said then that is an indication you are old enough to think for yourself.

Don't take stupid advice, ever, from anyone. Think first.

They have no say in what your opinions and views must be. You must develop them yourself, not follow what you were told simply because you were told so. It is your life, you decide and no one else.

didnt take this lightly as this strikes me as a tad bit cult-like.

All religions are cults, some are just very big ones. And all of them should not be taken seriously, other than they are a problem.

are they allowed to do this or should i keep up my crusade!?

Everyone can say whatever they want. But if they begin taking actions then that is what they are not allowed to do.

You are right, they are wrong. If they cannot understand this then keep it up, as long as there is opposition.

1 point

It shows you are old enough to think for yourself if you are questioning your original beliefs. You definitely are.

1 point

also i thought id mention my parents aren't even that christian, i haven't been to church in like 3 years. They just don't want me to be an atheist because they don't think atheists are happy people. They also think atheists are cold hearted. Well i told them atheists aren't the ones who don't accept homosexuality, atheists aren't the ones who condemn others to hell, and atheists do just as much "mission work" as christians. Basically the main point of this debate is I want to be able to express to people that I'm atheist and my parents won't let me. Thank you all for for help

I'm totally on your side, personally. But I think that if your parents won't change their minds, then just keep quiet about it for the next few years. In other words, you can go to church without believing every word that's being said, you know?

Many 15 year olds make better since than their parents. Once you reach a certain age, you think you know everything and you keep making your decisions based upon all your prior mistakes. Seriously. They keep doing the same thing over and over and wonder why the never get anywhere.

you should wait. Patience is silver. So wait silently until you are 18. that's good enough

p.s. I'm younger than you