re: a few days ago.

[jirris_midvale]

So, you guys remember a few days ago when I posted about my facebook jousting with my family. I received a letter via facebook from my Aunt Mary about it.

Here it is in it's entirety:

Comments

[halfelf]

"The rantings of your girlfriend"? Wow, that starts bad, and gets worse. And honestly, it sounds like they are the ones trying to tell people that their experiences are 'invalid' and wrong.

And in the end, many people adopt the 'if you're not with me you're against me' in the mindset of religion. If you aren't a member of their religion, you might as well not exist, as you're going to hell/are a terrorist/both. Sad, sad world. :(

[jirris_midvale]

As the faggy liberal artist heathen of the family (both sides, even!) I get varying degrees of this. On my mom's side, they've given up and just refer to me as the 'prodigal son' - as backhanded as a complement as there ever was. But, we tollerate eachother's differences. I don't treat my mom and stepfather like backwards cavemen, and they don't treat me like a souless monster.

In most cases, I tend to be polite and never bring the differences up unless I think that it's pressing to say something like "teaching intelligent design in public schools is foolish and offensive on every level possible."

I've found that confronting people's faith is one of the outright most taboo and offensive things you can do, but they have no problem giving me tracts at the bus stop once a week.

[prickvixen]

If you're the 'prodigal son,' doesn't that mean they're supposed to hand you every scrap of money they have and send you on your way? Press them about this. Hire an attorney.

[jirris_midvale]

Ahahah. It's a parable, silly! These are supposed to be 'spiritual gifts and lessons' that I'm squandering and someday I'll come crawlning back going "oh noes, I needs me some jesus!"

I seriously doubt I'll come knocking.

Besides, my mom and stepdad are fuggin' poor.

[shatterstripes]

So is your aunt (and possibly uncle) bowing out of your lives due to this a good thing or a bad thing?

[jirris_midvale]

I would say that it is mostly negative. I still love and care about these people, but it doesn't make this sort of behavior acceptable. I would be content to have the set up that I have with a good portion of my family, and that is 'we just don't talk about it.' After the initital "omg athiest wtf", things calmed down - but my mom and stepdad are used to compromise.

I know mary, phil, megan, and amanda aren't.

[bravo]

I never see religion bringing people together as advertised, only breaking people apart.

Most the people that call themselves religious anymore that aren't uptight dickwads simply live by the rule of 'being a good person' ... which Heck, if they want to call that religion, I'm not gonna piss in their Cheerios over semantics. Being a good person is awesome and I'm not gonna lift a finger to stop them. Let's hope they rub off on to the rest of their religion. :3

[hitchkitty]

I don't get it. How does my talking (even if I was a jerk about the invisible sky magician) alienate me, but her refusual to acknowlege a celebration of family come as a moral standing?

Your aunt is playing a dangerous game. She's used to running unopposed, from what you say, and thus hasn't lost in awhile. She assumed you would kow-tow and beg forgiveness, and whip "your girlfriend" into line.
(The fact that Jenn is referred to as a girlfriend, and not a fiance, is telling.)

Beginning your response with "we", I think, has shown her where your loyalties will be if she decides to push this nonsense. And good for you.

[ladyringo]

*waves* it's all my fault. :D

[ladyringo]

Luckily, it's only his aunt. His mother and stepdad and his bio dad all like me. :) But, they have actually MET me.

Refusing to go to a family member's wedding over something as petty as a Facebook conversation is insane to me...