Breathtaking — so well written and also so surprising. I live in a country where a large proportion of people don’t believe in God and no one minds. If someone believes, fine. If not, also fine. It’s entirely a personal matter and can’t be forced on anyone. Surely your mother’s response would just have made it worse? Here’s a person you depend on for love and support and if her belief can’t sustain her through what she sees as a tricky patch with you, why should that give you any faith in the value of religion?