Mom,
It has been brought to my attention a few times over the past couple of months that you are extremely misguided where my beliefs, personality, and intent are concerned. I have let it slide because it is easier to not make an issue out of things, but it's gotten to the point where I really have to speak my mind or I am going to harbor unhealthy amounts of resentment.
Firstly, I would never in my lifetime, try to change someone's beliefs. It is the furthest thing from my mind or desires. I absolutely respect everyone's individual beliefs and their right to hold them. I may completely disagree with those beliefs, and I will not hold back from voicing my opinion and beliefs if the conversation arises, but doing so does not mean I am on a mission to destroy every Christian that I can. If someone holds beliefs that I do not, and we have a discussion about said differing beliefs, then I would hope the person would be secure enough in those beliefs that someone coming from an alternative view would not be a threat to them, and would only present a chance for discourse. It is extremely offensive to me that you feel the need to even warn or plead with my brother that he not let me make him not believe in god, as if that is something I even have on my mind. It just seems like you have this view of me as some malicious individual that I most definitely am not. When I am with people that do not share my beliefs, we 99% of the time, do not discuss those things because it allows us to remain friends without wanting to strangle each other to death over our differences.
Secondly, it slightly boggles my mind that you warn such things and are so worried about them when you yourself do that exact thing nearly every time I see you. I guess it's ok for you to disregard and question my beliefs, because you are a Christian and I am an Atheist, and the bible tells you so. Please realize that my belief in god ended when I was 14, and before that I was skeptical. It has only strengthened as I have grown older and learned more, experienced more. While you see me as a fallen Christian who has lost her way and will eventually find it once again, I have to emphasize that I am an adult with intelligence enough to form a belief, learn and realize things that only strengthen that belief, and I will never suddenly drop them because the great god in the sky suddenly makes inexplicable sense to me. If your god chooses to banish all people who do not follow him, to an eternity of torturous hell, no matter how wonderful they were, how they lived their lives, what they did, what was in their hearts, then I truly want no part of such a petty and infantile creator. Being that I do not believe in this, I am not worried about my afterlife, and you really should not be either. If asking a man into your heart is the sole ticket to a wondrous afterlife, then congratulations to all the completely evil bastards who had the foresight to do so, and get into heaven while billions of amazing people do not. I want no part in such a ridiculous system, and honestly don't think I would enjoy the overwhelming number of completely worthless people that will be populating heaven. Realize I am not referring to you when I say this. I just want you to understand these things, because right now it seems like you most certainly do not.
I couldn’t have said it better.
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