Religion: irritation or soul endangering?

I know, I know - what a great title for engendering controversy and argument. It's really a post about how Stuart's family is great at pushing my buttons, but I want to make things clear. I do make a distinction between religion and (a) church; one can cover the gambit from sublime to ridiculous, the other is a specialized dating service for the power-hungry and dharmanoids. (I also distinguish somewhat between religion and say, philosophy, but that's a whole other blog.)

Moving on, we spent two nights and two days with Stuart's family over the Remembrance Day holidays in the mountains. I can't complain about their treatment of me specifically, they are always pleasant, obliging and kind. (Almost cloyingly so, but that's not just me.) However, they are all... earnestly Lutheran and it sneaks out in the most petty, annoying, drive-me-to-extreme ways. The "when are you getting married and having babies" side sneaks I can deal with. They're almost funny.

It's the stupid things that get to me. Like driving passed some idiots out of their cars, taking pictures of an elk from about 10m away, which prompted Stuart to say, "What f****ng morons." Which they were, in spades. And which got a response, in unison that would shame a troop of dance hall girls, from his mom, dad and sister of "Stuart, that wasn't called for, they can't hear you anyway." Fortunately, Stuart and I are pretty much practiced up these days, so we got to say "Then roll down the window and we'll shout it out to them" pretty much in step.

The other thing that gets my goat is praying before meals. I'll go along with it if we're at their house, or if they're paying, but no one ever asked me if I wanted to participate. There was just this merry assumption that since they do it, everyone must. They actually got away with sucking everyone into grace at the first meal at OUR house, because I was so appalled at their nerve that I was speechless. Just let 'em try next time! If only I could figure out how to prepay for my share when we eat out...

I find it endlessly amazing how church people can be so rude, self-absorbed and intolerant, but maintain their feeling of righteousness because they do it in the name of some god or other. We all (myself definitely included!) have the capacity for those and a whole host of other bad habits, but at least I take responsibility for mine.