I am 17 and my parents are...?

Well, you are living under their roof, so it would be polite to attend church with them.

I'm an atheist as well, but going to church isn't going to melt your flesh off or brainwash you. Plus, you can learn a lot of good moral values from religion, not to mention the historical context. Think of it like a story with a good moral.

I believe in the U.S, you are considered an adult at 21.

Of course, you are old enough to know what you believe in (or don't believe in), and no one of any age should be forced to go to church if they don't want to.

Tell your parents how you feel. Explain that you are not religious but as a family, you accept people's differences.

School is a legal requirement and they can't stop you from going. But if you live under their roof and they are financially responsible for you, then they can take your things away. They shouldn't, but if they wanted to, they could as you are technically not an adult yet.

Your options are:

1. Move out and live your own life where they can't enforce their ideals on you.

2. Stick to your principles, refuse to go and accept whatever consequences there may be.

3. Suck it up and go to church to appease them.

Of course a 4th option is to do what my ex did when his mum forced him to go to church. Get drunk beforehand, scream out the hymns in a top volume drunken slur, amid uncontrollable bouts of hysterical laughter.

Hey, she never made him go again...

You can choose to believe in whatever you want, but they can make you go to church until you are 18.

Since you are a minor, you cannot own property. Your parents own everything that is yours. Yes they can take your phone, it's not even in your name anyway.

Why would they ground you from school? The answer on this can vary by state, some states you are required to attend school until 18.

Edit: I am also adopted and constantly in touch with my birth mother.. is there anyway I could live with her?

You are a minor child, you have no rights. You also do not own things either.

/: