I have a situation that I would like your objective opinion on. This is long but bear with me, plea

I have a nephew and niece who have two daughters whom I have come to really enjoy and so have over the last few years given this family many gifts of money (some considerable, ie $1200 for a dental bill, etc) and other remembrances. I paid for their 8 cats to be neutered and/or spayed. I bought clothes when I shopped and saw stuff that I thought the girls would like. They visit in my home and we have a cordial relationionship. Or so I thought. Yesterday I received a letter from the Niece, the mother of the girls. In it she asks if I believe in God and goes on to say that since she has heard me use "religious" to describe certain people that she is not sure that I understand about God, etc. She exhorts me to read the Bible daily and reminds me that although the Old Testament is good history that we don't live by it but live by the New Testament. She goes on and on and tells me that she hopes I am not offended by this letter. What would your response be?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. :) Who cares what she thinks?

My sister used to send me letters telling me that I was going to hell - really. That was about ten years ago. Now we get along.... not best friends, but we get along alright. And her son she says likes me a lot.... he's just a tyke - I never know what they like. If you're giving the kids money for the kids' sake, don't worry about their mom, and even if you think she's being disrespectful, remember that it's family....

But just sharing her opinion.

My aunt sent a uber-fundamentalist magazine subscription that I had to cancel and still have to have the talk with my aunt. I need to let her know that not only are we not on the same page, religiously, in fact, I *am* one of the feminists and ultra-left liberals that her group defends itself from and the magazine is really not appropriate in this case. I feel your pain.

You are a generous soul. And she sounds a little "out there".

that Jesus is supposed to have said something about treating others the way I would like to be treated, and caring for the least among us; and that I try to keep these things in mind as I go through my life.

If she thought I was disparaging of the "religious", it would likely be disparagement of those who act more like pharisees than christians, despite what they might label themselves.

:)

and leave it at that. Wow, sounds like my MIL.

alone until it's brought up again, and then politely but firmly insist that you need to agree to disagree and respect each other's differing positions.
:(

It sounds like she means to be respectful ... she's just worried you misunderstand the perils your soul faces if you don't understand God. Or something like that....

Let me put it like this; When christian people (and by this I mean people in our daily lives, friends, family, people we're fond of...) care about you and you don't see religion in the same way they do it makes them sad because they truly believe you will perish in the "lake of fire" and you will not be able to spend the afterlife together. Because of this, they of COURSE want you to understand the "Truth" and they will try to get you to understand. This is something that has never bothered me because I figure they are being true to their beliefs and it's born out of a genuine concern for my well being. As long as they're not fundie assholes of course... but those aren't the people I'm talking about, and it does not sound as if your niece is one of them either.

I figure if I had ESP and knew people I cared about would be hurt if they ... say .... watched Channel 11 news every night I would do my best to make them understand why they shouldn't be watching Channel 11 news. What they're doing is the same thing ... and it's only because they really do care, and the thought of what "will" happen to you for not believing scares them.

Ignore it, and if she brings it up in conversation just tell her ..."I'm sorry, but while I respect your beliefs I do not share them. We will have to respectfully agree to disagree on this subject, but I do appreciate your concern."

Try not to let it destroy your relationships with your family.

I hope it all works out. :hug:

With a little luck, she'll be embarrassed by her behavior, or at least won't mention it again.

I wouldn't want her to become any more afraid than she already is, poor dear.