My brother is staying with the kids & me for a few months while my husband is away at school. Since he's here to help me juggle two very tiny, needy children and help me keep my sanity, we often get into brief discussions about childrearing.

Today I mentioned to him something that caught my attention recently on TV, on a Dateline sort of show. I wish I could cite the source, but from my memory here are two powerful statements that were made: 1) By and large, the current generation of kids who are now in college and high school were brought up by their parents in a much more deliberate, careful manner than any preceding generation. These parents studied parenting books, took parenting classes, have meaningful relationships with their kids, and have taken full advantage of all the information we have at our disposal in modern times to raise the brightest, most confident, independent children. And 2) Somewhere in the ballpark of 40% of high school students polled across the USA believe firmly in Jesus Christ.

Forty Percent. That's huge, considering all the other choices that are out there these days.

So the focus of that report was to give food for thought over what effect this 40% of well-reared adults-to-be will have on the political climate in upcoming years.

I personally think it's amazing and wonderful. As long as these people who love Jesus Christ stick to the basics and don't get all weird about it and miss the point (like we've all seen many do).

I'd like to open a discussion about that. I find the topic fascinating.

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Now I'll make a separation because this is where the conversation with my brother went awry.

~My brother, who spends every possible minute listening to, composing, and obsessing over techno music and all things techno-related. Techno people. Techno websites. Techno equipment. Raves he plays at to entertain people getting high on binkies. Titles of his songs often include the word, "chaos," and the tone of much of his music is dark and frightening. Not to say that there's anything inherently wrong with techno music, but as his sister I can honestly say that his brain is fried.~

At the mere topic of religion, he got angry. Instantly, flamingly angry.

I felt the anger rush into the room and it tried to consume me.

But I immediately recognized what was happening. Don't you think Satan would love to turn a casual conversation about religion into an angry argument? Yes, I know he loves to do that. It happens all the time, all over the world. But I refuse to be his puppet in such a game.

Unfortunately my brother didn't realize what was happening, so he did not repress his anger.

*Sigh*

He went off on the word "Christian." And as he went off, he sounded just like all the Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, Air America blah blah blah that feeds America's heads (and My brother's head) full of supposed "information." I suppose he felt he was enlightening my mind when he said that "Christian" is a term for "Christian Fundamentalists" who, by the way, are anti-Mormon. And that more tears, anger, and bloodshed have resulted from religion than any good has come of them. Priests molesting children, Muslims forcing their religion by sword (OK, not Christian, but my brother had nothing nice to say about any organized religion). He expressed anger about people who try to impose their religious beliefs on others (perhaps he was afraid I was trying to do that...but I assure you I am NOT.) Man, did my brother go off. He even expressed profound hatred for Jesus Christ because he thinks that religion is the source of everything that has gone wrong with the world.

*Sigh*

I'm taking a breath now as I write...because it hurts to relive what ugliness came out of my brother's mouth. But I WILL revisit my reaction to his anger, and how I responded.

I was able to respond with love and steadiness, having those attitudes as soon as I saw where the conversation was headed. I said in a calm voice how unfortunate it is that religion has been manipulated over time, which is precisely why many people are angry and confused over the matter. But I assured him that anyone who sticks to the basics of what Jesus Christ lived, taught, and died for can find the most profound peace, joy, and humility, forming a desire to do good in the world.

The result was a happier feeling in the room (my testimony chased Satan away ~~ TOUCHÉ!!), and my brother seemed to soften. The anger was gone.

Then I had to tend to my son who was struggling in the bathroom...but after that I told my brother I was about to start some laundry and he was welcome to throw some of his stuff onto my pile.