I had an elderly great-uncle who was a genuine Christian nutcase. About 35 years ago, during a visit my mother and I took to the Spokane area to see relatives (him included), I was subjected to a two-hour diatribe about the Last Days and all the "signs" that pointed to the Anti-Christ's imminent coming: the usual Hal Lindsey shit about Gog (the U.S.S.R.) and the coming climactic battle between God and Satan's minions. This was back in the day when the Christian nutters' talking points included the trope about UPC bar codes being of the devil, etc.
He was the only blood relative who was a religious extremist (and first-rate idiot), but I also had some in-laws from my first marriage who weren't much better.
I've always been so grateful that my parents were never more than lukewarm Christians and never pushed that nonsense on me as a child. When I realized around the age of 14 that it was all bullshit, leaving the faith was no more troublesome or painful than tying shoelaces.
He was the only blood relative who was a religious extremist (and first-rate idiot), but I also had some in-laws from my first marriage who weren't much better.
I've always been so grateful that my parents were never more than lukewarm Christians and never pushed that nonsense on me as a child. When I realized around the age of 14 that it was all bullshit, leaving the faith was no more troublesome or painful than tying shoelaces.
