What do you say to people who try to push their religious beliefs on you?

Question

I have all the respect in the world for other peoples beliefs but I'm offended when people imply or outright tell me that I'm not complete or even a bad person for not believing what they do. What are some poignant things you have said or heard said to people like this? I'm tired of letting it slide.

Answer 1

I politely change the subject. Once. If the person persists, I gently but firmly say "I don't care to discuss matters of faith." If they still persist, I leave the room.

As you know, some of them can be remarkably persistent. Those who, after I've left a conversation as described above, attempt to bring up the topic in the future, do not recieve a kind response. I will tell them "I've told you I don't care to discuss matters of faith. My opinions on the subject are nobody else's concern. Please refrain from bringing it up ever again." I've had several who persisted after that, and I simply told those knotheads to go to - well, you can imagine where I told them to go, eh? Because at that point I no longer consider the person worth my time and certainly not worthy of my friendship.

Answer 2

I live in the bible belt, and everyone knows that they can save my soul if they just push a little harder. I've just gotten to the point that, if it's a casual acquaintance or a stranger, I just tell them they need help and walk away.

If it's a friend, I start sharing the gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster with them. I ask them why are their beliefs so much more believable than mine? Do they have concrete proof that their god is real? No more than I have proof of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. If they agree not to push their beliefs on me, I'll agree not to push my beliefs on them. It works. We're friends and appreciate each other for our differences. Of course, my friends are fundamentalist freaks, so they're willing to listen.

Answer 3

In general, I have learned enough about the major religions, especially christianity, to be able to start questioning them back. You generally don't have to go through too many requests for explanations about crusades and witch burnings and scientist imprisoning to shut them up. I think the trick is to not argue theology but instead talk about the millenia long history of horrible atrocities, Simply let them know that you judge a thing, not by what it says, but by what it does.

Answer 4

I've never had people say I was a bad person for what I believe, but I've had people (Witnesses) try to push their beliefs on me. I just told them I'm happy with my church and didn't want to talk to them. It may come across as rude, but around here that's all that gets through to them.

Answer 5

I just smile at them and let them think what they want. After all your beliefs are your own choice and nobody else has to get in the way of them. If they feel they need to change you, I think that is more of their problem than yours. Just chill.

Answer 6

I say thank you for being concerned about my well being however I am very happy and fulfilled with the spiritual path my life has taken.

I always am polite with that because it is not what people expect and usually that works very well.

Answer 7

Quran 2:256

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

The BIBLE:

(2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB/WEY).

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for that day cannot come without the coming of the apostasy first, and the appearing of the man of sin, the son of perdition."

Deuteronomy 13:6-10:

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which [is] as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; [Namely], of the gods of the people which [are] round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the [one] end of the earth even unto the [other] end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: BUT THOU SHALT SURELY KILL HIM; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt STONE HIM WITH stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Answer 8

tell them to screw off and tell them to put their ****** up god in their viral asshole