Should I tell my religious parents in my letter that I’m not religious?

[Close_to_freedom]

I was going to include something like "Oblivion is the only afterlife I've ever wanted."

 

[SpottedPanda]

What difference do you feel it'd make?

 

[Lost in a Dream]

If your parents are anything like my grandma, I think it would feel like a punch to the gut for them, so depending on how much you care about them, it could be a bad idea. If you don't have a good relationship with them, then it probably doesn't matter either way. How they interpret the message will depend on what their beliefs are. If they are fire and brimstone Christians, they will likely think that you are going to Hell, so if they care about you a lot, then it would feel like a double whammy. First they will lose you and then will have to deal with the fact that they think you're being tormented forever.

Writing suicide letters to people who don't understand the way we feel in the first place sounds so damn hard. When religion enters the equation, it makes things even more complicated. Good luck.

 

[Aap]

It would depend who the letter is for, you or them. If you want to tell them off, then that is your choice. If you want to give them some peace, then no need to include it. If they are religious, it won't be well received, as hope of seeing you again will give them some form of peace.

 

[Notwinnernotawin]

Well. If you feel like there's a reason you should do it. But you know, some religious people don't view suicide with compassion, so it won't leave a good image of you, if you care about it.

 

[lostangel]

I would recommend no because I don't think they need the extra bad news knowing that their son/daughter is not religious if they are extremely religious themselves.

 

[SSlostallhope]

Unless you don't want a religious funeral then I guess you should just let them keep that memory of you if it would comfort them somewhat . You know them best though

 

[TowerUpright]

Knowing conservative evangelical families, saying that you disbelieve in Jesus might let your family believe Satan was to blame and not the family.

I can't say for sure: you know your parents the best. But it is potentially a way for them not to blame themselves 100%.

 

[Made4TV]

If you want them to have any measure of peace, no. If it's important to you to the point of not caring how they feel, then sure. Don't underestimate how tightly the religious cling to notions of the afterlife and how much hope they have in supposedly seeing you again...is there a reason you'd want them not to have this?

 

[happy?1270]

I remember my best friend telling me he was atheist. We were both raised Catholic. This really shook me for a long time as that's gaurented hell. Suicide is already an ify topic. I wouldn't do that to your parents...