I think my mom is a fundementalist
I've thought about this before, but only in a joking, jocular sort of way. Ever since my dad was hired for his latest job (~2005) my mom has become increasingly 'fundie' in her belief. My dad's current job schedule precludes my dad's ability to regularly attend church service (there are no blue laws in WA), so he eventually stopped trying to attend. My mother on the other hand, has continued to go to church regularly; I think this is what is causing her 'fundie-ness'. The fact that she and my sister are the only ones attending church in my family probably causes a holier-than-thou mentality. Perhaps my mother thinks the rest of the family is becoming un-godly.
My mother's political leanings, scientific understanding, and position on key issues are hallmarks of Christian fundamentalism (in other words, she fits the bill). To give an idea, whenever she hears anything about evolution, she becomes nervous and defensive; the phrase, "Global Warming" evokes the same response. Creationism is her preference. Politically, my mother is a republican who has fallen deep into the kool-aid of family values, terrorists, evil-baby killers and the belief that Jesus will save us (true christians). She is firm supporter of Bush and the new evangelical poster boy, Rudy Giuliani.
When she discovered that I possessed literature by Hume, Russell, Nietzsche, and other Western philosophers with an atheist bent, she became paranoid and nervous. She told me several times, "...don't get confused!" I would assume that her definition of "confused" is anything that conflicts or opposes her doctrine of belief. I wonder what the reaction would have been like if she had found my copy of the Qur'an. Luckily though, most of the literature I have is in digital form and thus easily hidden.
So it would seem that my mom is an Evangelical 'fundie' with an atheist son. I wonder though, how many are in this same situation? How many atheists have parents that are very religious? I would guess that this situation is actually very common. Perhaps the ultra-piety of parental figures is something that drives many away from religion. It was surely a factor for me, but not the only one of course.
- netsui's blog
- Login to post comments
If you really wanted to
If you really wanted to hide the files and she isn't that into computers you can remove the extensions or make the files "hidden" along with renaming them. With that I person would have first go into the folder settings to make hidden files visible then know what program the data should be opened with just to see what the hell it is.
I'm lucky in that I don't have to deal with my parent being religious, but the extended family...
If you think the church your family is going to might be political in some way you could tag along to see if they are breaking in of the laws for tax exemption. If you see it you could fill out a form for the irs
First of all, I'd have to
First of all, I'd have to agree with Voiderest and his IRS form idea. Churchs should not be using their influence for political purposes, while maintaining exempt status.
But more importantly, I know the exact position you are in, man. A couple years ago I came out "officially" as an atheist, telling my mother I wasn't going to be saying prayer at dinner any more. Somehow, my mother and step-father took that as an attack on the "family unit" (whatever that means). A couple weeks of yelling and threats later, and I was really afraid they were going to kick me out. That didn't happen, luckily, but the shit hits the fan again every once in a while, like when I accidentally left a copy of The God Delusion on the coffee table one morning. THAT didn't go over well at all
. Things have settled down for the most part, but I think the fact that I am out of the house most of the time is responsible for that.
I know it isn't what a lot of people think we should say right now, but the most important thing is just getting through it. Stand up where you can, and NEVER compromise your own integrity, but just try to get through your time with them as quitely as possible. You can give them hell once you are out. That's what I intend to do. Besides, it will feel like you are working behind enemy lines if you are an activist like me!
mothers...
Wow your mom sounds a whole lot like mine. She claims not be be a "biblical literalist" but whenever evolution comes up she gets really defensive and says it's not science. When she first noticed that I'd been looking at The Secular Web (in the browser history of the family computer, which I forgot to wipe) she confronted me with the accusation that I'd joined "the church of the infidels" whatever that means . . .
I'm really glad I've moved out now. Me and mom get along fairly well now, but there is still this major tension between us.
-Mikel
ebooks, political church
I decided to just put all of the ebooks onto a DVD-RW. If I had a larger flash drive, I would put the books on there, but the DVD will have to do.
The IRS form idea is certainly something that I will look into. Thanks for the suggestion.