Mother-in-law

[Whateverist]

That is a point, Godschild. Standing his ground will probably make Thomas and his wife even more miserable, though on the plus side it would probably make the mom-in-law more miserable too.

Thomas, I'm curious what your wife's beliefs may be. God help you if they align with mom's. Does her mom's pushy closemindedness piss your wife off? If so, you might try fanning those flames. Take her mom's side and maybe the mrs. will take yours. "Honey, I'm thinking maybe I really have been unreasonable. Afterall, your mom just wants what she thinks is best for me. Maybe I should give up thinking for myself. What do you think?"

[KichigaiNeko]

I'm sorry DT...you ARE an adult?? And this person is only a mother -in-law trying to inflict power and control over you?? Or did I read that wrong??

I can understand you wife not wanting to upset her parents but then they will be long dead before you will so just where are the wife's priorities??

sorry if this offends but really ..... I will defend to the death what Zen badger believes (or doe not believe) and will do my best not to offend his family but then as he says... he doesn't LIVE with his family. And does not expect me to be anything less than who I am.

Up to you mate.

[Doubting Thomas]

I do understand her concern about hell, but I'm not going to try to change my beliefs to make her feel better. I really think she's the one who needs to talk to the priest about her fear of me being in hell. That's her belief, not mine.

Frankly, there's nothing the priest can do or say to make me believe again, short of having Jesus and God stop by so I can talk to them. But I don't think that's going to happen, so the point of me talking to him is useless. I'm just frustrated with myself that I ever agreed to go talk to him in the first place.

No, I don't know where she got the idea for the rapture. It surprised me when she said it because I'd never heard her talk about it before. But I don't know if she really meant "tribulation" as opposed to the idea of flying up to heaven before all the bad end-of-the-world stuff happens.

My wife is still Catholic and would like for me to be religious again, but she doesn't push the issue. She knows that I've made up my mind, and I told her many times that I would believe in God if I had actual evidence that he exists. I just can't accept things on blind faith. She occasionally asks me to go to church with her, but I politely refuse. I will go on Easter or Christmas, but that's it.

[KichigaiNeko]

She sounds very frightened. Not your fault mate. Her own imagination and the stories she is willing to believe are the problem...

Good luck

[thesummerqueen]

I'm going to make one defense of DT here:

As much as we say he is an adult and shouldn't have to put up with crap like that, I'd like to remind our non-American, non-midwest or southern-living members that things are not always as easy as telling someone to shove it when it comes to religion. Entire communities can turn on and stigmatize one family. Look at what happened to Jessica Alquist. (sp?)

[KichigaiNeko]

Yes we know Summer...still he IS an adult, king of his own castle, master and lord over his own female according to their own doctrine and that should count for something

[Handprint]

ah the joys of having family that disagree with you on such points as politics and religion. I've had to censor my posts on facebook so my conservative fundamentalist aunt doesn't post on my wall.

[thesummerqueen]

I'm not saying it doesn't count, Kichi, as clearly I said "fuck it." I'm just pointing out that sometimes it's not as easy as saying a complete "fuck it."

[KichigaiNeko]

Yeah I know.

Though I find it amusing that the church doctrine espouses the male dominance of a house hold and yet these females are doing everything against their own religion to undermine that... It is rather amusing yes??

[Doubting Thomas]

The Catholic church really doesn't espouse the male dominance, other than only having male priests and telling women they're not allowed to have abortions under any circumstances. Neither men or women are supposed to use contraception. Also, I couldn't even pretend to believe in the idea of a male-dominated household. I've always viewed my marriage as a partnership. And it's not my wife who's the problem.