Dear Mom—

I'm reluctant to ask this, but I would appreciate it if you didn't forward religiously themed emails to me anymore. It's probably something I should have asked a long time ago, but it's not material I care to read, and it only makes me feel adversarial. To me, it's the same as if I were sending you anti-Mormon material without your permission. That would make you feel bad, I'm sure. I know you don't mean them to, but those emails make me feel bad—adversarial, even, and often I can't help but respond. Otherwise I feel like I've tacitly agreed with the sentiments they express.

I want you to know that I love you very much, and I certainly wouldn't mind an open discussion of religion. But I hope you'll respect my wishes and not send me religious material unasked. And I promise to do the same.

love,
Bill