Arrgghhh...

I didn't really know where else to post this, so, here goes nothing... I more or less need to vent, and someone (or more than one, hah) to remind me that it isn't ALL bad...

So, my husband has this cousin. Tony. Tony is a "converted" Christian. Now, to me, "converted" takes on a different meaning from, say, "born-again" or whatever. "Converted", to me, means that somebody came along and brainwashed a weaker mind into, basically, worshipping THEIR LIFESTYLE rather than giving them a little push in the right direction. So, Tony totally idolizes this older male figure (I'll call him Cory). He works with the guy, their families do things together (camping and whatnot), etc. Nothing wrong with that, except that Tony wants to be just like Cory. And the guy is one of the most fake people I have ever met, he just radiates that "plastic personality".
So, they read the bible, attend church, all that nice stuff... My husband and I don't claim any specified religion or anything, we have our beliefs and we've never needed a bible or church or anything to tell us stories and push us towards "one great truth". But my husband also works with Tony and Cory... now, like I said, Cory is one of the most fake people I have ever met in my life, and Tony wants to be just like him. They preach to us CONSTANTLY... never once stopping to ask what we believe (for all they know, we could be Christian too...) or thinking that something they say might offend us. If we sat and listened to them talk about God for two hours, they wouldn't give us ten minutes to try to explain what we, personally, believe and don't believe, Christian or not...

Now, I have a few friends (actually, a whole family, parents and 5 mids older than me) that are also VERY strong Christians, and I can sit and talk to Judy (the mom) for hours about what we both believe, don't believe, etc. I used to do it (literally, hours) at least once a week, went for lunch and coffee with her when all of her own kids were out of town, etc. We could talk about anything, or NOTHING other than religion, and it didn't matter - I was comfortable having those kinds of conversations with her and her family, and that was a first for me. But all of the kids have left, my husband and I have been busy doing our own thing, and we just haven't had much contact with the family lately, other than two of the girls (who don't talk about it as much, just radiate love and happiness, like the other three kids).

I guess I just need some re-assurance that there are more Christians like Judy's family and less like Tony and Cory. I NEVER talked much about Christianity (as much as I've studied other religions) to anyone until I met Judy's daughters and the rest of the family... and then Tony and Cory came along and basically crushed the idea that Christians are, generally, accepting and not-so-preachy. I want to believe there's more good in the religion, I really do, but it's getting pretty hard these days.

 

There are a lot of both types. Don't let Tony and Cory get to you. Tell them to shove it if they get too preachy.

Peace and love