To me, this seems to be the heart of the matter. These two desires are completely incompatible in a situation such as this. You will not talk your mother out of her deeply held religious beliefs. Telling her how foolish she is (even if it’s true) and the length to which you hold disdain for her beliefs will only cause her a great deal of pain. You have to choose.
I told my brother this past year that I don’t consider myself Christian anymore. Christmas should be really interesting this year. I mean, my mom just recently (mostly) got over the gay thing.
The thing is, it’s so hard to just keep your mouth shut, because your parents certainly don’t and it’s so damned disrespectful. I avoid the subject, but sometimes it comes to a head.
No, you’re just misunderstanding my position.
I am annoyed by my mother’s speech and behavior. Greatly. But that’s it.
I do NOT carry any personal burden for her beliefs or feelings, the way she is burdened for my unbelief (ie, her displaying guilt, remorse, heartache, etc, over it).
If you can’t see the difference between her feelings and those that I express, especially vis-a-vis the differences in rhetoric and manipulative language, I don’t hold out much hope that you can follow the nuances of this topic.
Thanks for chiming in, though. It’s good to practice arguing with the grown-ups.

I told my brother this past year that I don’t consider myself Christian anymore. Christmas should be really interesting this year. I mean, my mom just recently (mostly) got over the gay thing.
See, I knew anyone could just “get over the gay thing” [/kidding!]
But, no jokes, Cyningablod, don’t forget your backup method for coping with Mom… bite your tongue and think** “I have GOT to start a Pit Thread about this!”**
We be here fo’ ya.
.