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Anyone out there with a sibling that is very religious?
My brother and I went in completely different directions. He is orthodox and I obviously, being on this site, am not. We have a good relationship, but not as it was before he became more religious.
I find it difficult to be around him during the holidays.
How do you deal with it?

jab60 6 Apr 22
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11 comments

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Hell almost everyone in my family is somewhat religious, wife, sister, daughter, son and 4 grandchildren included. We’ve agreed not to discuss religion as they consider me to be somewhat radical and I don’t care for their religion. It very disturbing to me when my 7 year old grandson expresses concern that I may go to hell if I don’t believe in god. Maybe someday they will see the light.

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Yep. My sister. She's a "God of the gaps" type. I just ignore it. If she presses, I just tell her I have no interest in enlightening her.

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All of my siblings (yeah, I am the black sheep or whatever the expression).... We get along fairly decent, I just don't give them the tiniest opportunity to push their agenda on me and they know I can be really blunt about it

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Yes. Both my younger brother and younger sister are religious. My older sister is atheist like me. I get along really well with my brother, and his beliefs and my lack of religiousness never really come into play. Every once in a while he'll talk about it - he recently complained to me about a decision that was made at the church he attends. I just listened to him but couldn't really offer any input. I guess he just wanted to vent to me. During holiday meals at his house, he and his wife and kids pray before we eat, which doesn't bother me. I just sit silently while they say their prayers. Sometimes, he'll tease me and say something before the prayer like, "We're going to say grace now. Anyone who has a problem with that can get the f$%k out of my house!" Then, it's hard for me to be quiet while they pray because I'm busy laughing. We're both fairly sarcastic, so I know he's kidding. I think we handle it pretty well. 🙂

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My brother married a minister's daughter. He and I don't discuss religion at all, and I think it's better that way.

Kat Level 5 Apr 23, 2018
1

ALL my living relatives, two sisters and a brother, as well as my wife and all HER family are uber religious. I was once but I woke up and I am an atheist. I get along with all of them (except my little bitchy sister) and they "feel sorry" for me and "pray" for me. Drives me nuts. But what can I do? Sheep are sheep.

I feel you. Recently, a religious relative said to me, "I'm sorry you feel that way" during a short yet (mostly) polite discussion on religion. I think that's so condescending! I'm not the one who started the debate, I didn't want to have it in the first place, and this person whilst knowing the way I feel about religion, still chooses to bring it up and shove it down my throat, insults me even further. Absolutely maddening.?

1

My family has shunned me for decades.I wasn't even contacted when my father died. Some days it's really hard, especially around family-oriented holidays.

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Currently living with my devout Christian sister and her family. They tolerate me. ? They do try to get me to go to church with them from time to time. Recently Easter was a big unsuccessful guilt push. ? Now she’s trying to set me up with a guy from her church. I tried to explain that I can’t hang with religious types but she thinks we can just avoid the subject. All they listen to is Christian radio and the guy is in the church band. ? no, just no

2

Yes. My youngest sister post on Facebook is mostly all about being blessed by god and Jesus.

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My sister is ultra-conservative and ultra-religious. Once in a while, she will try to instigate a debate, but for the most part we avoid talking about politics and religion.

The last time we had a "debate" was when she posted a picture of Obama (whom she hates because he's black) carrying the book "The Post-American World" by Fareed Zakarian and said it showed Obama was Muslim and trying to hurt America.

Of course, she loves Trump--who is doing what she accused Obama of.

marga Level 7 Apr 22, 2018
1

Yes, and we no longer speak. In my view she has died and I have adjusted to the loss. The accepted values of the religious right don't fit my values.

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