Dear abby: easter and apostasy

[lemonsharks]

DEAR ABBY: Easter is a day to be thankful for Christ that our sins are forgiven. Opinionated atheists at the dinner table distract from the meaning of the celebration. Is it wrong on Easter Sunday to exclude relatives who no longer practice the Christian faith? — SAVED IN MINNESOTA

DEAR SAVED: Before making up your mind, ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

Comments

[edenfalling]

I am about 90% sure that the "atheists" in question (who may even be Christian! this letter reeks of the kind of Christianity that disowns most fellow Christians for somehow Doing Religion Wrong) would LOVE to be disinvited.

The 10% is because I have no idea why they're attending in the first place. Misplaced family loyalty? They actively enjoy starting arguments? Only chance to eat Annoying Relative's frustratingly delicious specialty food item?

Possibly they are teens forced to come by their parents, in which case this sounds like a much bigger family problem than just a religious argument at a dinner gathering.

[likeaduck]

One of few chances to see other relatives who live pretty far and come in for the family gathering?

[edenfalling]

Could well be! Although I'd think one might take the opportunity to say, "Hey, while you're in town for Horrible Relative's Easter dinner, which I will not be attending this year, what say we meet up separately and do lunch?" instead of suffering through internal family warfare. *wry*

[likeaduck]

A very reasonable suggestion, but not one that would have occurred to me as a teen/young adult, and not one that would work if either the LW or the other relatives in question were dependent on others for transportation.