People Lose Their Temper In These "Am I The Jerk?" Stories

"My step-family is Christian. They believe in one god and that he has control over you. It started when Jane (63F) believed her father sent her a message after she beat cancer. And soon, she got her whole family involved. My mom (42F) doesn’t believe in Christianity. She believes in a place called the Void, where the dead go to be sent to their religious dimension. Christians get sent to heaven, atheists get sent to wherever, and so on. I also believe in this. My side of the family believes in this. So when my parents got married, I was forced into Christianity and I hated it. I soon stopped it and went on with my life. Jane got upset and said I was a child of satan. Like, no. My stepmom didn't care because she hates her family. As I grew up, Jane and her husband, Bruce, always tried to put me back into Christianity and make me “a child of god”. I don’t hate the religion and I respect all, but to be forced into it is another thing. Jane and Bruce now hate me and I feel like I ruined my relationship with my stepfamily. So, AITJ?" Another User Comments: "NTJ. You didn’t ruin anything, they did. They are choosing to insult you. They are choosing to alienate you. They are choosing to be closed-minded & intolerant. Them, not you. I’d double down & start dressing goth just for fun." Holmes221bBSt Another User Comments: "NTJ. You didn't ruin that relationship. They did by not accepting your autonomy. They're trying to force their religion on you and it's not fair or right. And your step-mom isn't bothered by any strain in the relationship with her family it seems, so I'd let it go. In the end, family is what you make of it, and it's dictated by much more than a blood relation or marriage bond. These people don't deserve your energy and guilt. You deserve better than that." Throwaway-2587 Another User Comments: "No. I’m pretty sure your stepfamily has only vague notions of what Christianity is based on old Sunday school lessons from their childhood and what they’ve cobbled together from the backs of old sugar packets they read at the diner while waiting for the waitress to bring their coffee. From what you have written, they have already gone against some of the main tenets of the faith. Please don’t let their horrible example sour the whole faith… especially since they are getting some very important things soooo very wrong. And they can’t force you into the faith. You have to believe it for yourself and have your own relationship with God. That doesn’t happen by following rules, that happens by building a relationship with God. While church is important, going to church makes you a Christian about as much as swimming in a pond makes you a duck. I’m sorry they hurt you this way. Please don’t let it reflect on all of us. NTJ." missaprile