I’ve always been the black sheep of my family, especially my mom’s side of the family, due to my lack of religiosity. They often ignore or dismiss whatever I have to say, even regarding topics I am knowledgeable about, if I disagree with them. When my brother says the same thing, they actually listen. Some of that is related to gender. They think that men are more logical, more intelligent. I’m the highest educated person in the family, but they are against higher education so that actually works against me.
I often get blamed for stuff too. Black sheep make convenient scapegoats.
My brother has been a closeted atheist for years. He doesn’t believe, talks to me in secret, and still has attended church/engaged in church activities. Recently, my 14 year old nephew quit believing and became an atheist. They have decided to quit the religion entirely, and my brother was going to tell my family about his disbelief. That was the plan. Instead of doing that, he said that his son stopped believing, not him. (My bro was worried about being shunned since he’s baptized.) Now family blames me and my son for being bad influences even though this is something that both my nephew and brother investigated on their own. Instead of feeling vindicated, I am blamed again and my son is too. It’s almost like bullying. I’ve lived a pretty blameless life by normal people’s standards. I’m quiet and timid which heightens the absurdity in my opinion.
My family is weird like that. For example, I remember several of the adults disliking my cousin and thinking she was a bad person when she was as young as five. As a nine year old, I came to the conclusion that she was not the problem nor was I… Anyway, maybe this stuff is related to black and and white thinking. Cults certainly encourage it.
Disturbing content:
When my brother told my mom about his son’s lack of belief yesterday, my mom said that without the hope of Paradise she would kill herself AND her family. She was very upset at the time but still…that’s batshit crazy and extremely concerning.