How Do I Talk To My Parents About Losing My Faith?

It’s not unusual for people to question their faith at different times in their lives.  It’s a very small world when you are young, and typically kids grow up in the faith that their parents practice, the faith that has been  modeled in their home or sometimes even taught in their school.  As you get older, your world becomes a little bigger and you meet friends with different beliefs, learn of different religions, and sometimes question certain aspects of a temple, church, mosque – wherever you go.

A curious mind is a smart mind.  Questions can educate you.  As you get older you learn what values, beliefs, and characteristics are important to you as you grow in your faith and in your own relationships with friends, girlfriends and such.  Sometimes something traumatic happens that makes you pause and wonder how any God could allow such a thing to happen.  Sometimes there is something in your specific faith that you may not agree with or simply don’t understand, that makes you unsure.

This is something only you can make the ultimate decision on. You are still quite young and forming your own beliefs in a sense.  If you feel this is something you have to reveal to your parents now, you could approach them, but you will not have control over their reactions.  Right?  Maybe ask yourself if this is something they would support you on, or want to help you by talking to someone about your faith, or even something that would anger them.  Give thought to why you feel it would be important to discuss this with them now.  You can even ask yourself will this be helpful or hurtful to me or my parents right now.

Hopefully this gives you a few things to consider. 

Laura, Crisis Counselor