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An atheist married to a christian venting

While the fact that I, as an atheist, marrying a christian was a sure fire way to lead to disagreements it went a bit too far today.

She has spending each day at a ongoing church revival for the last two weeks. Today I finally raised a bit of concern for just how much time she was spending there each day (from about 10am to 3pm and then 6pm to 11pm each day). Her response was something that I have never experienced before - She "rebuked me in the name of Jesus", called me a devil and proceeded to follow me around the house talking in tongues. WTF! How is that any different then a small child sticking their fingers in their ears and saying "nanana I can't hear you!"? To me that is just incredibly disrespectful and dismissive as if anything said couldn't possibly be from a spouse but had to be the boogieman.

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on July 8, 2011 at 6:31am

Hmmm, speaking in tongues, eh? Have you, by chance, studied Conversational Klingon?

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Permalink Reply by booklover on July 8, 2011 at 7:33am

WHA??? I'm sorry. I could not handle that.

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Permalink Reply by Pat on July 8, 2011 at 8:47am

Living with a fundie. "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"

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Permalink Reply by roland707 on July 8, 2011 at 9:09am

Dude, sorry.

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Permalink Reply by mojo5501 on July 8, 2011 at 1:52pm

Your feelings are justified. Spending 10 hours away from a spouse and family by choice needs some explaining. You deserve an explanation. If you re-visit this discussion, make sure that she knows that you're bringing it up because you miss spending time with her. It appears to be that she's 'escaping' into this other world for some reason and you deserve to know why. If you would do the same, and escape by playing video games 10 hours a day, or going to the tavern with your buddies 10 hours a day, wouldn't she see her behavior in a similar light? Just because she's 'reviving' her Christianity doesn't mean it's a healthy thing...it sounds destructive to me if she's having these sorts of weird 'outbursts'. Speaking in tongues is pure theater. It seems such an odd response to an honest question and an honest concern about your relationship!

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Permalink Reply by Xanthe Wyse on July 9, 2011 at 4:59am

unfortunately people do choose their religious addiction over their families

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Permalink Reply by ETres on July 8, 2011 at 1:53pm

She's no ordinary Christian - she's a nut (sorry, I'm no help at all...).

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Permalink Reply by Justin Gargala on July 8, 2011 at 2:22pm

Disturbing .... :(

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Permalink Reply by Xanthe Wyse on July 9, 2011 at 4:55am

She sounds like my nutty pentecostal mother. I don't know if she did that do my father. I'm not sure if he ended up going to church just to shut my mother up - he is opposite to her but is supportive. Pentecostal christianity was many wasted years of my life.

My crazy mother told me I needed 'deliverance' (exorcism for those not familiar with the jargon) when I was clinically depressed. I didn't get diagnosed until 3 years later.

Yes, it is disrespectful for her to do that (as well as insane).

BTW, I can still 'speak in tongues' and I no longer believe. Just try it out sometime when she's not at home & give it right back (not sure if that'll work, but might be worth a shot)

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on July 30, 2011 at 8:32pm

Xanthe is right about practicing, but since you have small kids, be sure this happens when they are in the sandbox. Or, just be the bigger person and try to ignore it.

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Permalink Reply by Morgal on July 30, 2011 at 7:47pm

Hello, I am also an atheist marred to a christian.

While my wife is no where near as fundamental some things remain the same.

Main thing is the kids come first. Both should be able to agree to discuss this difference away from the kids.

You don't want her going nuts in front of them and I'm assuming she does not want them to see you responding to her nuttiness...

that settled

She is spending to much time at church and it is not healthy(really who would tell her to talk in tounges at you? and support her in doing that?)

so Simply request less time and church and maybe suggest more time reading the bible. It's the word of her god and may represent a compromise. You may have to offer to read it yourself...bring your observations to her and maybe she will see it's a book...nothing more..

Or if she persists she knows you have read the bible...and for some reason that matters.