being a hateful person

[Blam!]

It's surprising how many Christians don't even follow the teachings of Jesus. It's a shame that her "conversion" has split their relationship apart; maybe it's just temporary, but religion is capable of doing this; maybe the shock will wear off.

It's not surprising that Christians can be judgmental pricks then sibling disowned their indoctrination. Sometimes I wish they commit suicide and let their god sort them out.

[Erinome]

Christian values are SO fucked up. The fact that they don't think so is the crux of the problem.

My advice would be for both of you to adjust your privacy settings on facebook.

[Faith No More]

The moral of this story is that intolerance is acceptable when deemed to be coming from the mouth of god, even towards your own children.

[Galileo]

I remember my ex-fiance's family were very much like that, while I was atheist and my partner agnostic.
They could never seperate my views on their religion from my views of them, even though I explained to them that I was once like them. they seemed to find that even worse, for some reason.

I find it incredibly difficult that fundamentalists of any religion can't seem to seperate their person from their faith.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I've never understood understand why a person would argue with anyone on Facebook. Anyone gets unpleasant on my page, they're history. Hasn't happened yet, although I've quietly removed a couple of people who were beginning to give me the shits.

[5thHorseman]

2 things.

1) anyone who puts an unprovable belief above their family, is a dick.

2) Pad, add me to Facebook, we can argue over how my branch of atheism is right and your branch is wrong, and why you're not going to hell because of it.

[Ziploc Surprise]

I just don't get how a person who believes in the bible which condones hate and intolerance can accuse me a person of science and rational thought. Hateful and intolerant (smh)

Your girlfriend' family is fundamentalists mindlessly valued religion over family love. You should remain that family they should love their offspring regardless of religion. 5 given months or so, they'll be tolerant and more respectful - If not, better advise your girlfriend to move to some place away from her family til they're more tolerant.

I understand your girlfriends' position, since I'm only brother of 5 Christian fundamentalists.

Better yet, if you really want to stir the shit have her move in with you. That will quickly bypass all the mucking about and propel you both into full hatred right away...with you at the lead probably. But seriously if she can move out it might be a good idea.

On another note see things from the mother's (fucked up) position. Here are some possibilities:

1)To have a child leave the faith can be seen as a poor reflection on her. She didn't do enough indoctrination. She failed somehow.

2) What is beat into the heads of most Christians is a belief that if everyone in the group isn't following god then the whole group will be punished. A short jaunt through the Old Testament will illustrate this quite nicely. Christians today believe that the horrible things today -aids, drought, hurricanes, crime etc. are just the beginning rumblings of god's impending judgment. They believe that if everyone doesn't repent (obey god and the morals specified by Christian doctrine) we will face judgement soon. Stephen Pinker wrote a book recently explaining that despite the Bible we are becoming better people and the world isn't going to shit after all. This book is not distributed in fundie churches, nor do I think it ever will be. It negates the need for god to save us because we are becoming better people through reason. i digress. Needless to say your girlfriends mom now may have put her in the evil camp. She is part of the "reason" why the world (supposedly) is going to shit.

along with this is a change of hopes and dreams. She can't go as one big happy family to church or churchie things. Can't talk about god and religion. It cuts out a lot of activities.

3) Another belief that is beat in is that atheists are evil and deceptive people. They are bent on destruction of the Christian faith -not quite the Antichrist but close. Your girlfriend is now the evil deceptive betrayer of the faith. Some more wacky churches preach that deceptive spirits/demons etc may be involved (very medieval). If her mom has a brain in her head she will eventually get over this some day. Some don't fully get over this.

This is a problem. Leaving the faith can lead to broken relationships. It really really really really sucks when these are relationships with family and close friends. I have sympathy on her, I'm probably going to break a few relationships myself when they've found out I've left the faith.

[The Grand Nudger]

LOL, I actually had my in-laws living with me for about a year until recently. My wife's father is a serious bible thumper. It didn't propel us into hate, in fact, we had one religious conversation and he never brought it up again. So it can work out. In this case, it worked out mostly because he was willing to keep his fucking mouth shut, and in return I allowed him to say grace at dinner in my home (mostly so my my daughter Lahni could make a joke of the entire thing). Compromise

[Minimalist]

LOL, I actually had my in-laws living with me for about a year until recently.

I'll bet you it only worked out because HE was living with YOU. Want to make a little friendly wager ( sociable, like, $50 or $60 ) that things would have turned out different if YOU were living in HIS house?

[Doubting Thomas]

I have to agree with what Ziploc said about what parents believe when a child leaves their faith. I think that's what my sister & brother-in-law are believing because their son is an atheist. From what he's told me, they've said to him that they don't want to go to hell because they didn't do enough convincing him that God is real. I'm sure in the back of their minds they probably believe that wrathful judgment is headed for the country because people are turning away from God. I know a lot of Christians today believe this.