Family asked about my religious beliefs, finally

[taekwondave]

They've been scared of what I would say. I guess they were right to be scared, they cried a bit. Oh well.

Here's the main beef: The Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Mom (paraphrasing): "Dave, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?"

Me: "Well, do you believe that you are the Daughter of God?"

Mom: "Well... I believe that I am A daughter of God, yes."

Me: "Oh. But in name only, I guess?"

Mom: "No. I'm a literal daughter of God."

Me: "Then why the distinction?"

This is what really gets her and she thinks I'm going to hell for it. I actually asked her, "Mom. Do you think that if I believe this, I will go to hell?"

Mom: "Since we're being candid....yes, I do."

Me: "Hm. Do you believe the temple ordinances are necessary?"

Mom: "Yes, of course."

Me: "Do they have power in themselves as saving ordinances or are they just symbolic mediums to turn our hearts and minds to the Atonement?"

Mom: "Well, both."

Me: "Okay. What if someone gets baptized ignorantly or unworthily or while believing something that isn't true; what happens? If found out do they have to do the ordinance over again?"

Mom: "No."

Me: "And do you suppose God will judge us purely on what we've understood by the time we die and return to meet him, or do you think he'll consider the desire of our hearts to know the truth of all things?"

Mom: "The latter."

Me: "So...I've received the ordinances that you believe are necessary for salvation, I sincerely believe the things I told you a few moments ago, and I'm eternally open to the possibility of being wrong and yet... you still think this will send me to hell?"

Mom: "I know it doesn't really add up, but since we're being candid... yes, for some reason I do."

Me: "Hm. So...how was your day!"

[Commando]

Moms are judgmental like that. Whatcha gonna do?

[Sullyute]

So you have been married for a month and are already calling her Mom? I have been married ten years and I still can't get it to roll off the tongue. I call my in-laws by their first name.

It sounds like you have an open candid relationship with your mother-in-law and that as long as you respect her opinion and take care of her daughter she will eventually come around to your way of thinking or at least bump you up to the telestial kingdom.

[pellegrino]

so, remind me again why you are having this conversation? Because it seems to me that there really won't be any benefit, either in the short, or the long term from it.

[BigFatMeanie]

So you have been married for a month and are already calling her Mom? I have been married ten years and I still can't get it to roll off the tongue. I call my in-laws by their first name.

It sounds like you have an open candid relationship with your mother-in-law and that as long as you respect her opinion and take care of her daughter she will eventually come around to your way of thinking or at least bump you up to the telestial kingdom.

Agreed. Calling ones inlaws "mom" and "dad" just seems creepy to me.

[jay santos]

tkd: I think it's a bummer your mom would tell you she thinks you're going to hell, but I don't see anything about your conversation where she is necessarily being illogical. Mormons believe you have to accept Jesus Christ as the Savior and express faith in him in order to gain exaltation. If you don't, you don't.

[SteelBlue]

Why are so many assuming it's his mother in law? I don't get that from the reading.

[Maximus]

So I have no idea...what actually are your religious beliefs that prompted this?

[UtahDan]

Good for you for being willing to be open. You don't have anything to be ashamed of. The more open you can be (when asked that is, I don't think volunteering when people aren't ready is a good idea) and the less defensive you can be about the questions and even negative comments the better. It is hard, but I think just being matter of fact about it is best. You don't get defensive, it makes it less likely they will feel defensive or threatened.

Good luck.

[jay santos]

Good for you for being willing to be open. You don't have anything to be ashamed of. The more open you can be (when asked that is, I don't think volunteering when people aren't ready is a good idea) and the less defensive you can be about the questions and even negative comments the better. It is hard, but I think just being matter of fact about it is best. You don't get defensive, it makes it less likely they will feel defensive or threatened.

Good luck.

Agree.

TDK: I think a better approach than trying to logic with your Mom about why she's wrong about you going to Hell is to simply tell her it hurts your feelings that she would say that about you, and you're sorry she feels that way, but you're sincerely seeking the truth.

[TripletDaddy]

Sexual tension between son in law and MIL.

[Moliere]

Me: "So...I've received the ordinances that you believe are necessary for salvation, I sincerely believe the things I told you a few moments ago, and I'm eternally open to the possibility of being wrong and yet... you still think this will send me to hell?"

This is where I get lost. You never told her anything in the conversation. You only asked questions. So where in the conversation did you tell her you didn't believe this or that?

Also, I have no idea if this is your MIL or your mom but I have never called my MIL by the name "mom" and I have a great relationship with her.

[Jacob]

This is where I get lost. You never told her anything in the conversation. You only asked questions. So where in the conversation did you tell her you didn't believe this or that?

Also, I have no idea if this is your MIL or your mom but I have never called my MIL by the name "mom" and I have a great relationship with her.

In my experience, people love it when you go full Socrates on them </sarcasm>

[smokymountainrain]

This is where I get lost. You never told her anything in the conversation. You only asked questions. So where in the conversation did you tell her you didn't believe this or that?

Also, I have no idea if this is your MIL or your mom but I have never called my MIL by the name "mom" and I have a great relationship with her.

Based on your own experience and the content of his post, why do you even entertain the possibility that it is his MIL? I'm asking you because I thought this was an interesting comment, but the question is the same for the multiple people in this thread who have assumed he's talking about his MIL.

I too have a great relationship with my MIL (crazy though she may be), but I have never and will never call her mom - hence the reason I never would have guessed he's talking about his MIL. I'm surprised so many are assuming such a thing. Is it common for people to call their MILs mom?

[Moliere]

In my experience, people love it when you go full Socrates on them </sarcasm>

Is that like the Full Monty? If so, then I disagree.

But seriously, if his issue is the divinity of Christ he's not alone, but it's tough to tell from the conversation where the issue really lies.

Sunday night I was having a discussion with my 9 year old about Greek mythology (this story is starting out SUesque). We discussed Hercules and his demi-god status. I mentioned the parallel to the Mormon belief in Christ (half man from Mary and half God from....well....God) and called him a demi-god. I think MJ was taken back by me calling him that but it's really what we believe. However there are other religions that believe Christ was born fully mortal and became begotten as the son of God at his resurrection (see Heb 1:5).