It may seem strange at first but a lot of people will rejecting others,not because they hate them,but because they love them.
Coming out as an atheist to your familly/friends/comunity etc. can have two possible outcomes:they will agree to your decision or they will reject you.Being stranded away from the ones you know&love can be difficult and might make you feel they don't love you anymore,but here is a thing:that rejection could be a sign of love.Most of the religios people belive in the existence of a soul and an afterlife so they might use that punishment just because they panic that you will rotten in hell for your non belief.Of course for them is a big deal so they see it as an ultimate solution to get you back on the "right path".
As a conclusion plecase keep this in mind and if this happens to you just remind them that if they do love you they must accept you for who you are and not for what your beliefs are.
Plecase comment if similar stuff has happend to you and If you managed to make things right!
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I am 57 years old. My parents are pentecostal preachers. I came out as an atheist in my early teens. Our relationship has always been solid. Mind you this , I consider my parents nearly fanatical in their beliefs. There does not need to be strife at home.
"a lot of people will rejecting others,not because they hate them,but because they love them."
Rejecting someone out of love makes no sense at all. I've known families who rejected a son for being gay, and a daughter for wanting to marry a man who was the wrong color. That path leads only to broken hearts and sometimes even suicide. Nothing is more important than family ties, least of all something as stupid as religion. If you keep the lines of communication open, you can at least guide and assist the other person, and perhaps even learn to see the world through their eyes.
What I originally meant is that 'some' people may act in that certain way.Yes it is a really good point that you made Algebe because that is a problem:some people don't want to see the world trough someone elses eyes and it might caise them to make such an irrational decision like that.To set an example:70% of Jehova's witnesses claim that they broke any ties with a familly member that has come out as an atheist.
I don't doubt it, since they are required to sever ties with anyone who leaves the faith.
"they are required to sever ties with anyone who leaves the faith."
This would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Yet another clue that the creator of this particular fantasy was a con-man. What a great way to keep your flock from challenging what is so clearly a goddamn joke of a story line. The constant threat of being ex-communicated.
It's almost as if Joseph Smith just went home to his harem every day and said "You're never going to guess what I got these idiots to believe today!".
Blueridge: ..There is nothing wrong to be honest with yourselves and have nothing to do with parents or anyone whose beliefs are destructive and hurtful. "YOU" are better people than I am as I have contempt for those who think I am going to hell if I don't know Jesus.... Unquote.
I can understand rejecting someone who is hurting you or destructive, but I see it as pointlessly hurtful if it is simply disagreement over religion. It may also be counter-productive as they might perceive your atheism as having caused the rejection rather than the hurtfulness.
Rather than seeing oneself as a better person or a worse one, the question should be if rejection is helpful or constructive. If it isn't there's no need for it. Nobody has to be less than honest to agree or disagree.
Parents mostly teach our children not to call people stupid. I find that if I call someone stupid I am more likely to think of them as such, or even treat them that way.