A reminder to self: fundamentalism is a disease, an addiction

[Ladyhawk]

My family and friends are too afraid to think for themselves. Forgiveness and tolerance must be renewed every day if I'm to get along with them. At the same time I try to forgive, I will continue to fight for what is good and right.

I'm saying this because today was especially hard. I don't feel very forgiving. I feel angry at their rigidity and stupidity.

What kinds of positive things do you do to keep your sanity around such people? How do you keep loving them?

[pagerbear]

1. Love the sinner but hate the sin

<smirk>

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. maybe I take the cowardly way out sometimes but

there are certain subjects I do not discuss with certain members of my family --period

[Ladyhawk]

5. It's still beneath, regardless

My mother came for a visit and I walked into my living room to see Faux News on the TV. I felt that my set had been defiled.

[Ladyhawk]

4. Love the Christian; hate the Christ?

:)

It's been a hard day.

[xfundy]

3. Here's my solution.

My fundie family lives in the Southeast.

I live in Sin Francisco.

I see them two-three a year, and on the plane home my tongue hurts from all the biting. We've all learned not to discuss religion or politics at dinner lest we ruin the holiday. These days they've learned not to discuss it even on the phone. And, bonus, my idiot brother in law finally stopped sending me email because I answered all his GOP-spams with truth.

[Ladyhawk]

6. My situation is difficult.

I am disabled and must rely on my fundy family for many things including monetary and physical help. It gets really hard sometimes.

[SmileyBoy]

7. I really feel sympathy towards all of you in fundie right-wing families.

I don't think I could ever handle it.

But just remember: NEVER give up the fight and give in to them.

[Ladyhawk]

8. I don't intend to

I couldn't believe that stuff anymore and wonder how I ever could have believed it in the first place. Only years and years of brainwashing got it to stick in the first place.

I was listening to Mike Malloy tonight and he was saying, "I hate those people! I hate those people!" And part of me totally resonated with his words. The fundies are so upset about a few gay couples getting married in San Francisco when so many worse things are being done by the man they believe was appointed by GOD HIMSELF.

I also find I resonate with that song, "I Hate Republicans." My brother is an atheist of the Ayn Rand stripe, believing that greed is a virtue. He worships Rush Limbaugh and gets his news from Drudge and Faux.

I'm just so tired. I don't want to hate anyone. It takes too much energy. But the things my family believes are so CRUEL, so VICIOUS, so DISGUSTING, I want to hang my head in shame.

There have been times when I thought I might be better off living homeless than relying on them, but I think that would be a one-way ticket to my death since I'm very ill. My diabetes is no longer under control. I have severe sleep apnea, extremely painful herniated discs in my neck and severe depression.

Today was a tough day. I feel trapped and don't see an easy way out.

[rucky]

9. Set some boundaries

whatever makes you feel comfortable.

do it in stages. nonreactively (don't wait for another Faux News infraction). be firm.

[Ladyhawk]

10. After my diabetes is under control, I will have to do this.

I need to feel like my place is really my place.