Day #25: Be Nice to Jesus

"I want you to lay off Jesus."

This was coming from my brother, David.

The Bible beater of the family.

Okay, that's not entirely fair.

DAVID: I'm the one that's not going to Hell.

As you can see, he still has my razor sharp wit.

I stopped by house today to grab some mail, and that's when David informed me that he had a problem with some of my recent comments regarding Christianity and Catholicism.

ME: Are you talking about when I called all religion mythology?
DAVID: Among other things.
ME: You realize I'm on a very limited lunch break, right?
DAVID: Fine. Alienate your brother. I don't care.

That passive aggressive attitude tinged with sarcasm?

That would be Big Daddy.

ME: Okay. Let's talk.
DAVID: Since when are you a Catholic hater?
ME: Since the Catholics started getting all high and mighty on my ass.
DAVID: I've never been high and mighty with you.
ME: David, do you watch the news? The religious people in this country have declared war on your lovely older brother and all his homo kinfolk.
DAVID: Don't be stupid.
ME: What a Christian sentiment.
DAVID: Nobody's declared war on you. People who get all up in arms about gay marriage aren't true Christians.
ME: So if I go to church on Sunday, I'm going to a sermon telling everyone to love their neighbor even if he's gay?
DAVID: Well, seeing as how you never go to church, I bet you'd be surprised to hear just about anything, wouldn't you?

I admit I've grown a little more disillusioned with religion lately.

It's not like I've given up on faith. I've just given up on the idea that you can organize it.

DAVID: Church gives people a sense of community. It's not just a bunch of people getting together to talk about who they hate.
ME: No, we have Thanksgiving for that.
DAVID: You know what I think this is really about?
ME: No, please enlighten me. Isn't that what you people do?
DAVID: I think you can't be mean to individuals anymore, so you're going after ideals.
ME: Are you kidding me with this?
DAVID: Not at all. I think you can't be bitter and bitchy and gossip about which one of your friends is dating a moron, so instead, you're going to the next level and attacking whole groups of people as if that's somehow better.

In my head, I wondered if he was right.

Maybe my inner demons are grabbing onto whatever they can since I've forbid them from going after any one person specifically.

ME: So you want me to lay off the religious people?
DAVID: Yes.
ME: What about the Mormons?
DAVID: Don't be crazy. That's a cult, not a religion.
ME: Now who's being judgmental?
DAVID: You can stand to benefit from a little Jesus, big brother.
ME: And will Jesus be making an appearance at Aunt Nancy's barbecue, little brother?
DAVID: Remember that little incident at the temple?
ME: Yeah.
DAVID: It'll be a lot like that if you make me go.

Maybe if I can get an order from the pope...