I can't stand my family

First off,

I don't mean for this to sound..."selfish" or "ungrateful". I love my family. I am thankful and grateful for all they have done for me (which is a shitload in fact) but ignorance is just something I CANNOT stand! I'm sorry. While I know we all uphold many different values and opinions, I see no reason as to why I can't have my own. I also see no reason as to why I can't call out certain views and opinions that seem nonsensical (to me).

But I digress. Here is my story.

I am a grown man (early twenties) still living with his parents. Reason? Trying to find a job, earn some money, blah, blah, blah. Not an easy task I know. Here's the deal. My folks are religious...religious FANATICS I should say. They follow the Bible to the point of great memorization; I'm not kidding either! My Mom can recite the Bible as good as a child can recite her favorite lines from SpongeBob! I have nothing agianst this (being a nonreligious Christian myself) but when you look down on others and lack respect for their views whilist hypocritically wanting that same respect, that's when I become angry.

My Mom holds no respect for other people's cultures nor does she hold any for their beliefs. She views any Non-Christian as being Satanic to the point of deeming their God the "wrong God" and going on an honestly unnecessary rant of how they are forever doomed to an eternity suffer in Hell. While many Christians are like this, I still have to ask, WHY? I mean, I'm all for having an opinion and all but...

BY GOD!!!

Referring to someone's culture as satanic and deeming their god the WRONG god is as cruel and insensitive as it can get! The sad (and ironic) part is that she likes to criticize Africans which is quite ironic being that she is of African-American decent. Kid you not, she seriously sees African masks and carvings as something that should immediately meet the fiery depths of an inferno.

How does the above relate to me you ask? Well, aside from the fact that we constantly butt heads in terms of the Bible and what not (I won't be going into too much detail with this otherwise I'd be repeating what many others have said already) her beliefs are getting in the way of my life. You see I am into Chinese culure-or was until I had unfortunately had to give it up-and enjoy learning about their customs and traditions. In addition, I enjoy wearing jewellery related to that culture. A personal favorite of mine would be that of the Taijitu or "Yin-Yang" symbol. A very sacred symbol might I input.

My Mother has, no lie, no joke, no exaggeration, tore, ripped, and cut these necklaces, bracelets, and rings from off of my body in a blind state of rage and fury. She claims that they are idols that the merchants (correct me if this is the incorrect word) have chanted and prayed over in an attempt to cast a spirit of my wanting to buy them; completely disregarding the fact that I have brought them out of my love for what I feel is an awesome culture. Whenever I try to talk to her, be it of my thoughts or feelings, I am made out to be the Joker in her Batgirl crime-fighting world. I realize that she is highly incapable of rational thinking. My feeble attempts at trying to have an intellectual conversation or do something as simple as discuss my feelings are infutile.

She deems me as trying to control and change her when all I desire is to do what makes me happy and that's learning of other's traditions and customs. I don't think I ask for much. Just to be left alone in isolation and be able to partake in my harmless activities. While I can always buy more necklaces, that is not the point.

The point is that she sees me as this controlling, little monster that just wants to ruin her life and start confusion. My Mom has a habit of becoming angry and frustrated when others do not share or submit to her ways. She has a self-entitled attitude that I just can't be down with. It's just one of the many reasons as to why I prefer to be alone.

Now, for my thoughts, feelings, and assumptions on religion.

1) You don't have to be orthodox to believe in a deity. I personally think going to church is a waste of time. Not to mention that it is also incredibly boring and unintriguing to say the least. I'm deeply sorry but I've MUCH better things to do then to listen to an arguably uninteresting sermon that I would forget as soon as it was over and socialize with a bunch of people I've no interest in.

2) The Bible is sexist. It deems women as being subhuman creatures who should submit themselves to their husband's every whim. It also beleives they shouldn't have a say.

3) It promotes slavery. Enough said.

4) The laws were rather harsh. Spanking a spoiled brat for misbehaving I completely understand. B-but STONING HIM TO DEATH?!! A TAD BIT EXTREME EH MATE?!!

5) It disapproves of logical thinking. I may not be the smartest or most logical man in the world, but I sure as hell won't believe everything I say and do to be the work of a spirit! "Hey officer, you can't arrest me for raping that woman! Y'see the Devil then crawled up in meh body and placed a spirit of rape within meh!"

6) Religous Christian African-Americans (especially the women) are incapable of logical thinking and reasoning. Calm down. Or don't. I don't care. I'm a Black man. Or for those of you who are ghetto "a nigga". But this has to be said. Overly religous A.A.s are among the most irrationally batshit insane people I've ever come across. Debunking science and claiming that neurological disorders such as Autism or ADD to name a few are the work of spirits are as insensible as one can get. Don't like it? Don't give a damn.

There are many other reasons but you get the gist of my rant. If it was too long for you I'm not sorry. It was something that I have been holding inside of me for quite a while. I'm just glad I was able to get it out in a calm and cool manner. Anyway, does anyone else share this problem? Anyone else suffer from the displeasure of having to interact with or live with religious zealots?