Atheists: How do you deal with your parents getting increasingly religious as they age?

My mother seems to be getting more religious as she gets older, and after 27 years of her never bringing up religion to me, she's now getting little jabs in here and there. For instance today she said I should read the Bible because if I did I'd know that the Bible predicted stuff like the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Ugh. Seriously? What the hell? I don't know how to deal with her without starting an argument.Atheists: How do you deal with your parents getting increasingly religious as they age?
id rather deal with an increase in religious jabs then a decrease in memory and bladder control. getting old is tuff, shes just searching for something to make her feel better about what comes next, or maybe even looking for something that will make her feel like there's someone or something to watch out for you when she cant. until she starts hanging out with those crazy phelps kids id just be kind.Atheists: How do you deal with your parents getting increasingly religious as they age?
Sorry. I wish I could help you out here, but I'm lucky in this regard. I was the first open atheist in my immediate family (although I have suspicions about my dad who had always been critical of religion), but both of my parents became increasingly less religious as time passed and now both of them are atheists. Unlike myself, my younger brother was never forced to go to church, and he was allowed to just believe whatever came to him naturally. He's been an atheist his whole life. So, my whole immediate family is now made up of atheists.
';27 years of her never bringing up religion to me...';





What is happening is that as your mother ages, her own mortality is becoming more apparent to her, and she doesn't want to think about YOU going to hell, absent from her influence. To her, she is expressing loving concern for you.





I don't know that Haiti or Chile are in the Bible, but earthquakes in divers places is mentioned three times; in Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11. ';Divers places'; is King James speak for various or different places. If you google search earthquakes, you can find out in less than 10 minutes that they are increasing in frequency and magnitude throughout the world.





It is a sign that God is bringing this age to a close.





John the Baptist
My family has all gone crazy recently. Frankly, I've started associating with them less and less because I know that the time is going to come when my sister OD's and my mom and reality just completely part company. I figure it will be easier for me to deal with if I feel like they're half gone anyway. I've done everything I can to help them. I've realized there is nothing you can do about people who aren't you.





My advise: Let it go. You can't change them. You can't do a darn thing about it. Shake your head, be glad you aren't them, live your life. It's not worth it, they won't listen anyway.
It's the complete opposite for me.





The more my parents see how bad the world has gotten, the less they believe in a higher, all-loving, omnipotent being.





You should tell her that you'll read the Bible only if she reads On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin...


It's only fair, right?





Otherwise have one of those mutual agreements where you never discuss it.
Now, I wouldn't exlcusively call myself an atheist (I can't help but think that claiming to know there is no God is just as arrogant as someone claiming to know that there is), I prefer agnostic....with an athiestic lean....





In all seriousness, it's best to just not get into it with her.





My mother is the EXACT same way. Whenever she says something outrageous, as she always does, I just ignore it.





It's stupid, ridiculous, and absolutely insane, but if it's what gets her through her day, I say let her go for it. Most people need delusions of divinity and miracles to keep them from killing themselves. It's sad but it's true.





It's human nature (so it seems) to search for some sort of higher meaning and purpose, so she's not crazy by nature's standards. We humans are just too damn philosophical for our own good.





Treat her the same way as you would a very old, senile grandmother who mutters racist remarks about black people eating in the same restaurant as her: just smile, say ';ohhh grandma';, and brush it off. It's not worth an argument.
Ask her if she really wants to discuss it. Make it clear that an adult conversation includes her having to hear what you think, and you asking her to support her claims with evidence. If she decides she wants to go for it, hold her just as accountable as you would anyone here. If she decides to not go for it, then tell her to drop it.
My dad will turn 83 this year in July. He was raised Protestant - United Church of Canada. The older he has gotten he believes in some sort of non specific deity, but he hates organized religion. And like me, he hated church attendance. He regarded walking into a church for some function more as some sort of social obligation and not because he volunteered to.
Well, that explains why old people are super religious.





My mom is like that and all you can do is ask her to respect you and your beliefs as a true Christian should not be judging others.





There are two separate judgments. Believers are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12).


____________





I'm a Catholic and I know that's BS. The bible DOES NOT predict Haiti and Chile. Earthquakes have been going on ever since the Earth was created.
linz, to be honest, i personally, woudlnt stand for it, no matter who it is


id make it clear, with tact and politeness, at first, that they know who i am, and thats not who i am,


if its who they are, thats ok, i rspect that, but its not who i am, and never wil be,


and if i ever do, it will be my own choice, and in my own time, just liek they did
I approve of the book of mormon.


God does, too; just ask him


if you have the faith and purity to dare


to find out.





Belief and righteousness.


Faith and purity.
I try not to antagonize them and in turn they don't really bug me about it. Usually if I don't start stuff with them they won't bug me. Also I tease them about being old. That usually gets them to stop. :-)
That's rough. My parents have actually gotten less religious with age. For the most part, I avoid the subject of religion with them.
I would just try to ignore it as best as I can. It's strange because I think my parents are getting less religious as they age.
I let them... It was their choice and I had no place in it...





My mom was a Christian and I have no idea what my dad was, they were both great parents...
I'mnot an atheist... but you can choose to ignore her you know.


Maybe she is feeling a little guilty for raising you up the way she did.
Tolerance would take it for what it is worth, even if only respect, which has it's own reward.
Just tell her you think her bible views are nonsense and you will not be responding. And don't respond ever again!
Tell her very clearly what you think and that she should respect that.
I had the same crap at church today with the Chile earthquake.
I don't discus religion with my family. We agree that it's not something we can agree on.
I think its time to put them out to pasture.
Why are you atheists sick of the truth?