They're very conservative and have gotten angry at me for even mentioning that I listen to NPR. My wife's brother asked what book I was reading and then got mad when I told him and described what the book was about (There Are No Children Here-it's about life in the inner city).

One of my brother-in-laws angrily described himself as an ardent Bill O'Reilly fan - apparently trying to get a reaction out of me. (This happened a couple of years ago, he hasn't mentioned O'Reilly since O'Reilly was forced out of Fox).

Saying things like "we're all going on a vacation together, but we didn't invite you".

Saying things like "we're all going to heaven- and then looking over at me to gauge my reaction".

Just the fact that they continuously bait me with obviously inflammatory comments.

My wife's brother angrily and loudly told me that he doesn't like the fact that I'm studying philosophy and loudly said that they were Christians- as if philosophy and Christianity are incompatible (they've obviously never heard of Alvin Plantinga).

It's gotten so bad that we've decided not to go to their house for any of the holidays or other get-togethers for the rest of the year. I just need a break from them.

I've tried to convince myself that maybe they aren't consciously doing these things- and that maybe I'm reading too much into it. But it's too much effort. It's like trying to convince myself that water isn't actually wet.