Religion is a sore point in this family. It’s gotten worse now that us kids are actually fighting back and saying our piece. Jules is agnostic and will tell anyone that he is one, and beware evangelists who want to try to convert him: he will demand scientific, empirical and physical evidence. When I say physical evidence, I don’t mean you singing praises about the beauty of the world that was created, bla bla bla. He demands the findings be published in a noted science journal with reviews from external parties.
A discussion about the census (ehem, banci) was recently brought up, where Jules and I really, like really, wanted to state our religion as Jedi, even though it is common knowledge that it is a futile exercise. 
For some bizarre, extremely fucked up reason, every time we mention this, the old lady gets pissy. She makes it sound like we are hurting her. For fuck’s sake, it’s a cheeky comment that really wouldn’t hurt us or anyone else. So if Jules and I listed our religions down as Jedi, the powers-that-are will just dismiss it as a bunch of geeks pulling off another stupid stunt.
Yet, any mention of Jedi as a religion causes tension, like it’s wrong for us to believe anything but what we were raised to believe. I don’t know where the fuck the old lady has been the last 10 years, but the moment I was able to quit Buddhist Sunday School, I did. I was so much happier on Sunday mornings with ballet and tap classes than I ever was dealing with yet another stupid social situation. My ballet and tap classmates were actually nice.
The only reason why the old lady handles Jules’ outright agnosticism so well is because it’s not like he’s embraced another ‘actual’ religion. Another issue is the double standards with regards to Papa – he’ll wave a joss stick around when coerced, but that’s about it, then he’s left alone. I’ve never quite figured out exactly what Papa believes in, but I think he walks that fine line between common sense and thanking god you closed that two billion dollar tender today, with a very healthy dose of cynicism. Jules and I get shoved the incense and ordered to say prayers in thanks for being able to go to the toilet. Welcome to the ugly side of Buddhism.
My beliefs are my own, however different they may be from what I was raised with, and others need to accept and respect that decision, as I would for them. As it is, I’m only 24, I’m still learning and growing and I have no doubt my belief systems will keep changing as life does its number on me.
