What the fuck, Oakminster? Because you have a disagreement about something with your parents, you’re an ungrateful little shit? Parents should treat their own children’s opinions with the same amount of respect and dignity that is expected vice-versa. Providing for your children—which you do out of self interest as much as anything else—doesn’t give you license to intellectually browbeat growing children.
It’s OK, Oakminister’s family is gonna put him in one of those homes featured on 60 Minutes. That’ll learn the little shit.
Let me see if I’ve got this straight- your parents are not forcing you to attend a Catholic high school, as they allowed you to transfer out about two years ago. You have not been attending Mass for a year, they’ve known about it and it apparently hasn’t been a problem until now. They “kicked you out while they were at church” and asked you to thank the Lord for the Chinese food they got you. Here I was thinking that your evil parents threw you out of the house until you agreed to go to daily Mass or that they wouldn’t allow you to eat until you said grace in front of them. In truth, I have to wonder why exactly you answered their question with “yes , I am an atheist” or why your brother even knew it to say anything to them. Not that I’m suggesting you lie , exactly, but I suspect “I’m not sure what I believe” would have gotten a very different reaction and wonder if you may have meant to be provocative.
BTW not attending Mass has about zero to do with atheism. Just about every Catholic kid I knew stopped attending somewhere around the beginning of high school. Most returned somewhat later (marriage or kids).It wasn’t about a lack of belief, it was about not wanting to spend an hour at Mass. Your parents probably had a similar experience with their contemporaries
And yes, if you actually said or even hinted at any of that stuff about kissing the ass of a fake entity or living in ignorance , apologize to your parents- not because you believe differently from them, but for being such an ungrateful wretch that you don't respect *their* right to believe differently from you , even while they provide food and clothing and shelter.Going to have to count me in the camp that says you need to be more tolerant of your parents foibles while under their roof.
Kid, you got about 8 months before you graduate, and then you’re done. Move out, go full time in the army, whatever. After that you don’t need to make any pretense of following your parents beliefs. But that being said, there is a value to honoring them and having peace with them while they’re supporting and feeding you. And well, along the way you might just decide that you don’t need to napalm the bridge before you even move out.
makes first post on straightdope
four comments in gets called a little shit
Yep what a warm and welcoming community straightdope has.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are you starting to feel sorry for Oakie and want to make him look less like a moron by showing that you are, in fact a petulant little whiner?
Dude, your first post was in the pit and of a questionable nature liable to be argued with. You should consider yourself lucky it wasn’t the FIRST response.
You little shit. 
According to your profile, you posted in another thread before starting this one, you little shit.
You will, because of that post, from hereon be known as “Little Shit”.
Why do you ask, Two Dogs Fucking?
The musical references on this thread were very appropriate, because none of us are obligated to respect anyone’s taste in music, or food, or fashion, or architecture. If Person A has bad taste, and Person B can articulate why, Person B can actually gain respect by doing so. More importantly, if one’s political (or related) stances are not supported by facts and empirical evidence, there’s absolutely no reason to respect them, because delusions are harmful.
So why does religion get a free pass? We are all born as atheists, but when adults make the decision to adhere to a particular religion, that’s not like their skin color or language or sexual orientation. It should be fair game, especially because of the enormous effects religious belief has on the well-being of the adherent and, more importantly, others.
Sean’s situation is colored by the financial realities that he is in, however, that’s no reason for somebody without such obstacles to pull their punches, so to speak. Religions contradict one another, and atheism (and similar stances) contradicts all of those. Having the courage of one’s convictions is not “being a dick.” Being a religious moderate makes no sense. You only “sort of” believe it?
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It’s ignorant, it’s condescending, it comes up all the bloody time, it’s Pit worthy, and if it’s not strictly applicable to Sean’s current situation, it will be soon.
Sean, ignore Oak, he’s old and he can’t learn any new tricks
Don’t let people tell you that because you live with your parents, you have to do everything they say, especially a deeply personal choice such as religion. You are your own person and whether you became an atheist through thoughtful introspection or as a rebellious move, you have the right, yes the RIGHT to keep your religion without others bitching about it.
You’re still a minor, so whether your parents like it or not, they have to support you. Don’t take that for granted, I don’t know your parents, but there are those who would kick out their kids for something like this. But be firm, be calm, and be mature when denying their religion. You don’t have to listen to any bible bullshit or go to any church you don’t want to. If they stop feeding you and toss you out, you can call the police on them.
For the time being though, you can’t go anywhere. The best thing to do is to make it easier on yourself. Refuse to engage your parents over the religion thing. Toss out their stupid notes and ignore their suggestions to go or read anything. If by some reason you can’t ignore them any more, there are lots of websites that give perfectly clear rebuttals to what they might say. Debate them, but be respectful about it. They’re not your enemies, they’re simply ignorant and fearful. Treat them as if you’d treat a scared child who’s lost and alone, you’re an atheist and that automatically makes you smarter than them on the subject of religion. Good luck! 
Gosh, that whole chain would end well, Yog…
I’m not going anywhere near Oakminster’s lawn, I’ll tell you that much.
A few months ago my 16-year-old nephew came out to his parents,one of whom is my younger brother, a guy who for most of his life has repeatedly, and without prompting, gone on record as thinking gay folk are defective in some way. Wonder if my nephew would be considered an “ungrateful little shit” as well.
I appreciate that. Replacing the claymores and resetting the trip wires is a pain in the ass at my age.
being an atheist does not mean being an asshole. The’re your parents and of course they will be concerned if you have turned atheist, that’s what Christians do.
Don’t get stressed about the whole atheist vs Catholic thing, most Catholics I know are border line agnostics at best.
Just hang in there for the year. If you need to leave at that point, it won’t be easy financially. But doable.
Sounds like the OP touched a nerve, huh? A nerve related to the asshole.
Did flipping out like a bitch work in whatever situation you’re having flashbacks to?
Have you always been an unctuous pissant?
Yes, your parents should let you come to a decision on religion all by yourself. It’s not their place to make such a deeply personal decision for you. However, they’re your parents. Presumably you’re not ready to cut them out of your life even if you did move out tomorrow; sometimes maintaining relationships with people you love means smiling and nodding. Especially when you’re talking about people who’ve had more than 17 years to imagine the person you’d become, including your values. They’re not going to be able to let that go overnight just because you decided to tell them you don’t think god exists.
What does the “As my family and I do everyday” mean? I would take it to mean that the recipient of the note is not part of the family?
That’s a douchbag move.
People learn to behave like adults from observing the actual adults around them behaving like adults. That appears to be problematic in this case. I don’t think the OP has any reason to be honest about his beliefs if he has reason to think his parents will crack a tanty over them (which…they did). Not saying anything one way or another is the best compromise, and it looks like the one which the OP was trying to follow until it got blown wide open, not his fault.
Bitching, under the circumstances, is normal and natural.
I’m as Christian as they come, but if I saw anyone in my church try to strong-arm their kids’ religious belief like that I’d die of shame. It’s stupid, it’s counterproductive, and it’s disrespectful