Parents were round for dinner today. We discussed some recent losses and how people were coping. I cried a little over the decline of a friend who has been dear to me since I was an infant. Concerned over how he was doing and how long it has been since I had seen him.

My mum sees tears and she brings up Jesus and Heaven. How the faithful cope better in the face of death/decline as they have the privileged reassurance of an after life. Thanks mum. Am sure a lot of other people who handle mourning in their own way would be insulted to.

I don’t really see why I’m expected to respect her faith when she doesn’t respect mine. I’m a Secular Humanist Atheist. It’s a great source of comfort for me to believe that we can effect our own changes through social and intellectual development. Support and reassurance is actually much more valuable in this life than a conversion attempt.

I love my Christian friends, not particularly their faith, but I’m not out to convert them when they’re upset, vulnerable and have stated their lack of desire to hear what I have to say time and time again. If they decide one day they’re interested in Atheism and want me to loan them a copy of ‘The God Delusion’ sure, then we’ll talk.

I do express how I feel, I state my opinions.. not when they’re vulnerable or don’t want to know. I don’t stop them praying or offer them pitying concern about the state of their soul. I do interrupt things I see as bigotted and/or avoidance behaviour. I don’t like seeing people in this life neglected and treated poorly.

I know that my parents would just like me to socialise with them at their church as much as anything else, but it’s simply not my scene. Sorry folks. I’m happy that they enjoy it there. I’m happy that they get comfort there. I don’t need it intruding into my relationship with them as it’s not true to me. They are my parents and I love them, but I don’t need their doctrine. I’ll mourn in my own way and feel in my own way. They’re my emotions, deal with it.