What happens when people in the same family believe different things?

What happens when you believe something that your children don’t?

Alternatively, how do you feel when your parents don’t believe what you do?

That was the subject of a recent article in the Wall Street Journal – which found that an increasing number of American teenagers raised in secular families had become Christians.

The article pointed out this was a source of tension within some families.

The example of Kevin Ellstrand was a case in point. The 16 year old’s parents are self described secular humanists – but their son Kevin says he ‘started following Christ’ with all his heart two years ago.

While Kevin’s parents are mostly supportive of his Christian beliefs, Kevin’s mother said she found it appalling that her son does not believe in evolution.

In a more extreme case, the mother of 34 year old Tom Lin, threatened to kill herself when she found out her son chose to go into low-paying Christian ministry, instead of corporate law.

Maybe you’ve had a first hand experience of a ‘generation gap’ when it comes to religion and belief. Have you had a change of belief, and how have those around you responded?

Let me know your experience.