Dad,

I suppose that you are right, that mine is a family that would only be described as “non-traditional” by Focus on the Family. I don’t pretend to believe that they have a solid grasp on the traditions of family systems. I think that the danger of allowing the fundamentalist to paint the larger American cultural picture is that the beliefs of the fundamentalist are mistaken as mainstream, a fallacy that I am guilty of subscribing to myself. The folks at Focus on the Family would have us believe that “Father Knows Best“ is an example of functionality in a family that we should all strive for. I do think that it is ok for the fundamentalist and evangelical Christian communities to practice their faith in peace and comfort without any interference from me, but I think it is imperative that the general public understand that tolerance and freedom of religious practice is not always the goal of the fundamentalist and evangelical Christian leadership. I can let them practice their faith, but I cannot allow the misconception that they represent me or that the Jesus that they claim is the same Jesus that I follow.

Bryan.