Brother anti-religious comment

[Latinitas]

Hi everyone,

I was out to dinner tonight with my brother, dad and grandmother, and they were talking about the situation in Israel right now (since we have family out there) and after talking about the fighting, my brother sneered “all in the name of religion!”. I had my mouth full, but I didn’t really say anything after, and I think I should have, but was I obliged to? Did I commit a mortal sin? Should I say something now or later?

I’d appreciate the advice,
Thank you,
Benedicat Deus,
Latinitas

 

[JRKH]

You did not commit a mortal sin.

Let ti pass for now. I suspect that another opportunity, in a new conversation, will present itself.

Peace
James

 

[Jerbear]

Well would you argue that most of the fighting in Israel not in the name of religion? I don’t think you’d be obligated to argue otherwise but I think it would be good to engage in a dialogue if you wish to defend Catholicism and Christianity instead of having him lump all religions together.

 

[MarcoPG]

It seems to me you bother too much. You have to correct your brother, but not take your sins upon you. It is not a mortal sin that you committed. But he may have.
If you feel like it, take him apart and ask him whether it was just a joke or something else that he meant (I would ask).
Anyway, I don’t know the reactions of the other members of the family, but I suppose they can understand that if it is a joke, even a bad one, they can let this go.

 

[Auntie_A]

Simply put, not all Jews are Zionists, so how can this be a religious issue?

Also, maybe someday you might explain to him that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao are the top mass murderers of all time; were they religious?

But perhaps your instinct was to avoid a war in your family. Timing is everything when you want to educate someone.

 

[MarcoPG]

Simply put, not all Jews are Zionists, so how can this be a religious issue?

Also, maybe someday you might explain to him that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao are the top mass murderers of all time; were they religious?

But perhaps your instinct was to avoid a war in your family. Timing is everything when you want to educate someone.

1. Very good point. What’s left is use of the religious excuse to serve political agendas.
2. They were, but all these idols were false Religion as we know is a belief that unites. Well, many believed and were united by this political fanatism. Ideologies may be religions sometimes, just without anything spiritual. For sure it was a form of sectarism.
3. Yes, timing is a sign of wisdom . We often forget that we should do so, as God does.