Does anyone have any family members that refused to have anything to do with their family because they?

Question

Do not have the same strict religious beliefs? I ask this because I have this sister who is older who never has really anything kind to say to us in the family. She is only seems to be happy around her strict religious friends. She can be so cold to us and have the harshest remarks made at us. The thing is it is my personality to be friendly to everyone regardless of their beliefs. My sister had tried to get all of us in the family to follow her line of thinking but we all have our own path in life to follow and we will not follow hers just because she wants us too. Since then she has been so mean and cold. Everyone in the family gets along great with one another and we do not judge each other on who we are because this is a free country and we are free to find our own path. My sister has always been kind of cruel but it has gotten worse the more religious she has gotten. Is it a control issue with her? No I am not cruel to her, it is not in my personality to be mean, to shy.

Answer 1

My brother became a fundie at age 32 and refused to eat the food we eat at the dining table. He'll bring his own food.
That's christianity for you.

Answer 2

Both my parents became Pentecostals when I was about eight. Within five years Mom had become a full fledged schizophrenic and spent half her remaining life in various state mental hospitals. Dad was a cruel sadistic bastard, who grew meaner with every passing year. My sister married a Catholic and converted, so my parents completely disowned her. I became an atheist while still a young child and never felt anything but hostility from my parents after I was about nine. Religion utterly destroyed our childhoods and neither I nor my sister was ever able to forgive my parents for placing their perverted religion above the happiness of their own children.

How much did my sister and I hate our fundamentalist parents? After they died, against their wishes, we had their bodies cremated. A few years later, after selling their house, I ignored their wishes and shared the money equally with my sister. Then we got drunk together and flushed their ashes down the toilet, while laughing our butts off. Our final revenge was very, very sweet!

I'm not sure if that answers your question exactly, but there's no doubt that religious fanaticism can destroy families.

Answer 3

My situation has been the opposite. I have very little contact with any of my 5 siblings because they dislike my religious beliefs. I never pushed them on them. We used to all be the same religion and then one by one, they all decided they weren't religious anymore. That's fine with me. But I guess they feel like I don't want a relationship with them anymore or something. It's a long process to mend those bridges. We're finally starting to make some progress but we'll see what happens.

Answer 4

That is not real Christianity if she cannot love her own family. My husband and I have different religious beliefs from his family but it has never come between us and now some are wanting to join us at church (and some already have) because they see the good change in my husband instead of how he was before he became a Seventh Day Adventist. AND because we would never let our personal beliefs come between us and a family's love.

Answer 5

I haven't been "disowned" outright, but I get a lot of "quiet judgement" for my spiritual exploration and willingness to question. Unfortunately this attitude is backed up by "scripture." I do believe, however, that ultimately blood is thicker than even holy water. I hope things turn around for you. In the meantime, know that we're listening to you here.

Answer 6

Your sister is obviously part of a group that thinks adhering to a certain belief makes them superior. All humans get in moods when they feel superior to someone for one reason or another, but if anything most religions recquire one to be humbled. I need to be more humble myself sometimes. I'm sad that this is how she's choosing to behave, and you should try to communicate your feelings to her, but you have to let her make her own choices also. Hopefully, she will make the right one.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, a lot of folks use their beliefs as a weapon against other people. They don't look at Jesus and how he treated others. He had the most compassion for those who not of the church leadership. His most critical remarks were to the ones who spoke one way, but acted another.
It's obvious from what you say that cruelty has always been a part of your sister.

I see a lot of what you are talking about in here.
Please don't judge Christ by the behavior of people. All people are sinful, but Christians are forgiven.

Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, died on the cross to save us from our sin, rose the third day to conquer death for us, ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us, and is coming back to get all who believe this.
Will you believe this?
Would you like to go with Jesus when He returns?

Answer 8

yeah, i know what you mean. my dad is an atheist, and when we have family gatherings on holidays, my mother tries to make it spiritual for us, and he does his damndest to hoop and holler about "it's just another day", and he makes a lot of noise when we try to say a blessing, he raises pure HELL when nothing is open on christmas, i remember, when i was a senior in high school, i had to ride around the WHOLE MORNING, Christmas morning trying to find SOMETHING that was open to get him some saltine crackers. then, i found a gas station that was open, they happened to have some, i got home with them, then got beat because they were not the kind he liked, having to hear the whole time that if it wasn't for the fairy tales i believed in, that wouldn't be happening.

i am really sorry your sister acts like that. she must belong to one of those denominations that believe you have to seperate yourself from your family if they don't believe like you do.

Answer 9

My wife's family pulled that stunt briefly. The fact that my family never dared to act that way to a family member gave them a clue and they grew up.

If your family treats you WORSE than they'd treat a stranger on the street, they don't deserve the benefits of being your family.

Answer 10

Nope. Not in my mine. But we are old school. Blood is blood and at the end of the day that's what matters. Regardless of the other stuff. I'm really lucky with that.