You know, Derek, I used to feel the same way. God doesn't affect everyone in the same manner. Your mother sounds like she puts too much faith in "the church" and not enough faith in God.
You are right in saying that not one of us is worthy of the gift God gave us when He sent His son. But, all we have to do is accept that gift. We don't have to pay for what happened in Eden. God does not hold any man responsible for the sins of his father. We are responsible for the choices we make. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, they lost access to God in the garden. God re-introduced Himself to later generations, but instead of us being where God was, God came to where we were.