This is part of a series I'm doing on dealing with difficult relationships, and most specifically dealing with strained relationships with highly religious relatives. Most of what I have to offer here are tips I've learned along the way as I've sought to work through my relationship with my parents. If you'd like to add additional tips you've learned along the way, either in a comment or by emailing me (see my "about" tab for my email address), I may incorporate additional ideas (giving … [Read more...]

I received a lot of grateful comments after the posts I wrote on coming out as an atheist, or, if the situation warrants it, on dealing with life in the closet. One theme that came out again and again was the difficulties of dealing with relationships with religious relatives. And this isn't a problem only atheists face: I've actually met Christians who are either progressive or simply describe themselves as "spiritual" but were raised in evangelical or fundamentalist families and deal with … [Read more...]