I know this is so weird, but I've realized that I've been fooling myself to believe in Christianity so that my mother would accept me. I want her to accept me because she is my only parent. My father ran away when I was young, and it didn't even hit me until four years later. So because of that, I'm constantly trying to get my mother's approval. But every time I always get called a "failure" or "a stupid bitch". So if there was anything I could do to make her happy, it would be to believe in her religion. Is that wrong? Should I tell her that I don't believe in a God?

There's nothing wrong with not believing in something like Christianity. What you belive is something you should decide, not let your mother's cold ignorance guilt-trip you into yearning for her approval. Tell her you don't believe if that's how you feel, and stand behind it. If she's a good mother, she'll accept and respect your veiws unconditionally. ^-^

>>1 I sort of have the same problem. As a child we all want the love and approval of a parent. Some are lucky and have it while others don't. But what you need to realize is that you don't need her approval, it's unhealthy to go out of your way like that. I don't think believing in her religion probably would change anything and it would make you unhappy. Believe in God in your own healthy way. You are not a failure. You're a good person. Live for your own approval, that's how you can become happy. Trust me ^^
Good luck, I wish you well :3

Being a Christian is a decision you have to make and you must not become one just because you're parents are and that's what's acceptable. No one really gets how important religion and figuring out why we are here and what happens after death are. I've been brought up in a very strong Christian family and I'm an Atheist-Agnostic.
Unfortunately the way life is makes situations like this exist. My piece of advice is to live from the perception of free will. In other words things that are out of your hands and are random chance like; who your family is, your race, gender, country born into and even the people you meet who live near you or go to the same school, anything like that you don't have control over you should make sure it doesn't influence who you become. If you were born into a different body with a different family and different environment then will you become the same person?
If you can live outside of this realm of influence then (in theory) you can live life with free will or the way it was meant to be lived.
These are just some things to think about so if someone ends up reading this then I hope it helps and makes sense.
Bye XD

I guess all the fellow Dollars have already said all you needed. Once everything I would say they have already said, I'll just quote them on the periods I would have said.

"Being a Christian is a decision you have to make and you must not become one just because you're parents are and that's what's acceptable.">>4

"But what you need to realize is that you don't need her approval, it's unhealthy to go out of your way like that." "Live for your own approval, that's how you can become happy." >>3

"What you belive is something you should decide, not let your mother's cold ignorance guilt-trip you into yearning for her approval." >>2


I understand that you wanted her approval since she's your only parent. But forcing yourself to be something you're not is too much! We believe in you!