So I was talking to my fundamentalist sister last night,

[JAbuchan08]

she's apparently bought the whole Bush administration line hook, line and sinker, although we didn't get into that (I found this out from my mother later).

It's really frustrating every time I talk about any of my own difficulties she starts "spreading the good news" to me. I don't find anything "wrong" with Jesus' message, but I don't buy into the whole christian mythology and the free-floating "logic" that supports it.

This is really just a rant, but it was like all her life consists of is indoctrinating other young mothers into this cult-like church she's involved with. No other interests, no other pursuits, no life outside the church.

I'm kind of divided on the whole thing. Should I be happy that she's learned responsibility and is happy in her life and has a community to support her? Or should I give credence to my feelings that she has sacrificed her sense of self for a feeling of belonging?
What will happen when her husband leaves for Afghanistan and the stability of her life is challenged?

The worst feeling is that since my own life is at a crossroads as a result of my own bad decision she can't or won't take my arguments seriously. Please post your comments as you feel neccessary, especially those who've dealt with similar situations.

Thanks just felt like getting that out there

On edit: her husband is being deployed to Afghanistan. His brother is already in Iraq.

[blm]

1. There is NOTHING "responsible" about letting any religion make all your

decisions for you, and that is exactly what this new Christo-fascism preaches.

They consume so much of your week that almost all your human contacts are the people in your church community. They BECOME your community.

The right wing evangelical Christian leaders like LaHaye and Falwell learned this from RevMoon's methods of controlling his followers.

[rocktivity]

4. CHRISTO-FASCISM? I'M LOVING IT!

A meme is born...

:bounce:
rocknation

[kaitykaity]

2. Arguing with her is about as productive

as pissing up a rope. Sorry, don't mean to be blunt.

There's no logic here. The only thing you can do is politely
request that she not proslytize to you. Set up that boundary
and stick to it and she how she responds. If that means
you can't argue politics with her, then that's a fair trade.

I have a friend like that, who is God this, God that. We've
been friends for 25 years, and during most of that time she
has respected my feelings about "don't do that." That's the
only way I could have stayed friends with her.

Oh, and when her stability crumbles and the hypocrites at
her church turn on her -- and they will because a single woman
is a challenge to the pack -- then watch her turn on them.
If you can resist the "I told you so," then maybe you can
put your relationship on a better footing.

[JAbuchan08]

5. It's not like I want to talk politics and religion with her

it just kind of always devolves into that (at least on the phone) because she has no other life to speak of. She told me about her dancing classes and I wanted to hear about that, but just as quickly as she mentioned it she dropped it and got back on to the subject of religion.

[kaitykaity]

8. You have to set the boundary.

"If you talk about that, I'm hanging up." And if she talks
about it, hang up.

Make it excruciatingly clear to her that this is not acceptable
and you're done with it. Don't explain why, any of that.

Make up a list of things you both like, like cooking or kids
or whatever, and have it ready when you talk.

[NoSheep]

3. I can only add that I have the same issues with my own family and I have

decided that I can talk to the ones that agree with me and I can't talk to those who don't. That is, if I want to continue to have a relationship with them. I know that means those relationships are riddled with vacant holes of understanding! Every now and then I make a comment that reflects my feelings...and I try to have that comment be something that might make them reconsider their allegiance to this administration, and I try to make it something that will not insult them personally. And I try to live what I believe.
Now there was a day when I'd have fought them tooth and nail. But we are older...finding common ground... and it feels nice to be a little closer to my family...even though we disagree about many things.
I have made a conscious decision not to get into arguments with them about politics or religion in order to preserve the peace for the relationship we may have left to share in life.
It is painful. But the total alienation I have had in the past is more painful.
I don't spend a WHOLE lot of time with them.
Perhaps if I were not so emotional about my feelings..I would try to reason with them. But who am I kidding? I think they are unreasonable from the start. Damn, it's just a shame.:-(

[Felix Mala]

6. Not many Christians I know benefit from the religion

in the sense that they get a lot of relief from worry. My mother and my sisters worry constantly about things. If an elderly member of the family is sick, they get themselves in such a torturous bind that there is no consoling them. They worry a lot about the future and they don't seem to feel better when I ask them why Jesus isn't doing their worrying for them. These folks seem to be the most torn up when people die, too. I'd think they'd be pleased that so and so had gone to their "reward" at least for older people who've lived long happy lives. I never see them experiencing any of the peace they're supposed to have. Instead, they're constantly after Jesus to give them this or that or make such and such occur... I want to scream at them, "Hey, Jesus ain't Santa Claus, or a Genie in a lamp, or an ATM machine or an instrument of revenge."

[JAbuchan08]

10. She didn't seem to think that "accepting Jesus" neccessarily made people

happier. I wouldn't say she is neccessarily happier herself except that her financial situation is improved, but she will soon be alone with three children and her husband gone.
Part of the frustration is I don't have any authority to speak to her. I am still her younger brother and stuck in a dead end job to boot, but I have a strong personality and it hurts to see her sucked into group-think by her husband and this church.

[Beer Snob-50]

7. as long as she doesn't try to convert you

i would not try to convert her. she has a right to what can be considered her own bad desicions just as you do to your own. when and if she falls on her face, just try to be there and not rub it in her face.

[Bellamia]

11. "as long as she doesn't try to convert you".

Ah, there's the hitch..........

[peacebird]

9. heard a sermon on radio this am: "xtians must support govt, because

God allows govt to rule. A devout xtian must therefore submit to govt rules and not rise up against govt for that would be an affront to God.
It helpfully pointed out that paying taxes was supporting the govt and all good xtians must pay and not try to get out of taxes for God would know they were not fully supporting the govt.

quoted scriptures to support the idea that all rule comes from God and God allows govts to rule.

:wtf:

i kept it on just to see what type programming these people are getting. pretty frightening. and this on a radio station broadcasting in northern virginia and DC.

[alcuno]

13. Another failure of my Catholic School upbringing - the support government

theme. I can't believe that the brothers and the sisters were spending all that time on world religions, family living, and bible study and totally skipped over the teaching of obedience to government.

Apparently fundamentalists believe that they need government to "help" them be good Christians. What a weak bunch. They'd never survive with Sister Bernice.

[thecrow]

12. What upsets me about the religion

is all this "drinking of the blood" business.