Atheists - how do you deal with Christians who constanly try to "spread the word of the lord" to u?

Question

Ok, so I am almost always respectful of everyone else's beliefs. That's the beauty of living in a free nation. We are all free to believe what we want. But I get REALLY tired of born-again Christians such as my sister who are constantly sending me these prayer chains and bible verses and what not when she KNOWS that I'm an atheist. I do not send her information on why there is no god and why I believe that Jesus was a carpenter who knew a few magic tricks.

She sent me this one thing that talked about "86% of Americans believe in God. So why don't we just tell the other 14% to sit down and shut up?"

How do you other Atheists deal with friends/family who have other beliefs and always try to thump their bible around you?

Why can't theists just be respectful of those who do not believe?

Such wonderful answers. It will be very hard to pick the best one, and I am reading each one carefully. Thank you so much to those who took time to write so many thought-induced responses as opposed to garble...

And please keep in mind that the question is geared to atheists only with serious comments to make only.

Answer 1

I am very open to having logical, intelligent conversations, and even debates, with people that respect MY belief as well.

I respect people's right to believe what they want, and have no problems with it until they begin condemning, name-calling, or just being outright rude (the whole sit down and shut up comment from my brother/sister would get a good ************...).

It is sad and disturbing that SOME Christians find it easier to just hate everyone who is different from themselves then to actually LEARN something new. Ask questions, discuss thoughts...etc. It's not hard, but I think that they are intolerant of difference.

On top of that, I feel that they fear challenges. They may not be secure enough in their faith to understand others, as well as defend theirs when the going gets tough. Again, this is not all Christians, just the ones who feel we are attacking them by our very existance.

I think it will be a cold day in their hell before they ALL respect us COMPLETELY. All we can do is continue smiling and be the better person. We are strong enough in our non-beliefs to continue on with our lives without hating people for their choices. They are the ones that, according to them, have to live with their choices in the "afterlife".

Answer 2

I am fortunate in that I am not in a deeply religious family, in fact most of my family is agnostic, atheist, or culturally religious versus fundamentally religious. I tend to brush off the people outside my family who try to preach or convert me while remaining polite. If they are persistent I will engage them in the reasons why I think their reasoning is faulty and I find that is usually a very good way to get rid of them although sometimes it can turn ugly. I am not an uninformed person on religion and I know why I don't believe and have good reasons from both Biblical scholarship and science to back it up. Some people whether they call themselves Christian or not get very sensitive and even aggressive and hostile when their beliefs are threatened in anyway so be forewarned if you decide to go that direction. Most are okay though.

My advice with family members would be to have an honest discussion about respect and ground rules. I do have a set of grandparents who are Christian and we go to their house for Thanksgiving. We have to be respectful of our differences in order for us to continue as a loving family. We have worked out that there is a prayer where those who aren't believers will respectfully bow their heads for the prayer. Then we honor the rest of us by the tradition of going around the table and each sharing something positive in their life they are grateful for which is a more meaningful expression of thanks for us than prayer. We arrived at this by being able to talk it out and realize that we would all need to compromise without expecting the other to change. Its hard but saying that the other 14% should just shut up is just so wrong no matter how you look at it. How un-American can you get!

Answer 3

If they were so secure in their beliefs, they wouldn't pick on us. They wouldn't seek validation for their faith. If they want to attempt to shove it down our throats, I don't have to use my beliefs to retaliate... I can make them burn themselves with their own fire. Logic, science, and common sense work in wonderful ways against irrationality and blind faith.

As for the 86% of Americans believing in God, there's 2 reasons why that argument is ineffective.
1. It's an Argumentum ad Populum, "appeal to the public", as well as an Appeal to Numbers. Centuries ago, perhaps 86% of people believed that the Earth was flat. Popular does not mean right.
2. Our Constitution has established the Bill of Rights to protect the minority from the rule of the majority. Not everyone believes in God, so therefore, there is separation of church and state. Freedom of religion is freedom from religion: people are allowed to believe in God because they are not forced by law to believe in Zeus.

People know better (well, other than the JW's that still come to my house despite being warned not to... I've invited them back so that I can get rid of them for good) than to proselytize around me... because they know I can hold my own in a theological argument.

Answer 4

Well, whenever I come acrossed somebody who is trying "thump their bible in my face", I can usually find some "hole" in the story of the bible, such as some unmentioned things, like dinosuars. We all know that they were here, but why aren't they mentioned in Genisis? I can't really think of too many right now, but that's one exampled that has stumped a Jehova's Witness at my house. Pretty funny to see their facial expression...Hope it helps!

Answer 5

Pardon me for answering you, but as a Christian, one of those whom you seem to dislike and unable to take care of your issues with them, I thought to let you know how it feels on the other side of the debate.

Ever wonder why it bothers you so much when your sister send you those e-mails when you can easily hit the delete button, and poof they are gone! Atheist want to have hard facts, hard proofs that what is written in the Bible are only facts. When in fact religion, any religion as a matter of fact, is not hard core fact, that can be completely proven as science 100%. That is why they're called believers, faithful, etc. What harm would it do to you to let others have the hope that their faith is bringing them. If the believing in God, and the Bible is bringing them inner peace, why not let them be, and be happy for them. You chose not to believe, but what if you are wrong, and there is a God, and what is written in the Bible is true!! what will you do then, when it is too late! It is not like a movie, and you get the chance to play your part in life over again. I Rather believe in God when I am alive, a later find there is none, than believe there is no God, and later find out there is one waiting for me to be judge. think about it please.

Now, I must ask you why is it the atheist accuse the Christians and put down the bible so much when you don't believe in either, but you never ever, as far as I know, direct your questions to the Muslims nor the Quran. When in fact the Muslims are the one who say it loud and clear that they want to convert the whole world into Islam, and that inculdes you my dear. Then, what do you do when the Muslims preach to you, and tell you their number and how many people are converting to Islam! that doesn't bother you at all. What say you to those Quran thumbers!

I personally use to have much more respect to the Atheist, untill I came here, and saw how some of you disrespect others, insult the Bible and disrespect Jesus Christ himself, eventhu they don't believe in him. I am not accussing you, but many other Atheist do not respect those who believe in a God, and most the Christians, even thu the Christians are not the only people who believe in God, and they are not the one who want to convert the whole world to their religion, but Muslims do. To show respect to other doesn't mean you have to believe in them, simply respect. As you wish to be respect so does everyone else inculding the Christians.

If it bothers you so much, you have to either tell your sister you don't like those kind of mail, you can delete them, or you can block your sister e-mails all together. It is up to you. From what I know, those kind of mail are meant to be in loving thoughts, not to disrespect you for being an Atheist. You can take the good from it, and disregard what you dislike, it is that easy. She is your sister, and you know the best how to reach her, as very likely she does know you as well.

I wish you well, Merry Christmas to your sister, and may you have many Merry Days as well.

Answer 6

I say be open with your feelings.

If your sister is being a b**** (really, 'sit down and shut up' is just sad), tell her you feel hurt and you wish she would respect your beliefs as much as you respect hers. Many Christians seem to percieve Atheists as arrogant simply because they assume we think Christians are stupid for believing (that WOULD be arrogant). Maybe she needs to know you don't feel that way.

If she persists even though she knows you feel hurt, she's 1.) a bad sister, 2.) arrogant and last but not least 3.) a bad christian.

Answer 7

I first try to ignore them but after I've gotten really irritated, I try to remind myself that they really do think what they're preaching will come true and are worried about you-If that doesn't work, I remind myself that all they can do is talk or send junk mail-they can't kill or torture...We may not feel completely equal but we have come a long way. I also read atheist material (usually on the web): americanatheist.com, ffrf.org

Answer 8

Id disown the you know what, ive disowned friends for the same BS and id do the same to family, its hard at first but its better for you both, religion is a heated subject, Im a Pagan in a christian family, i have had encounters with the fundie part of my family, i basically tell them to back off.

Answer 9

Take it in good humour. It can be nerve-grating to have people of any religion trying to pressure you to change your beliefs, but there's really no use in letting it get to you.

I think people who are part of a religion not because their friends or family told them to, but because it's truly what they believe, are the most respectable kinds of people, regardless of whether they're Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Hindu, Pagan--whatever.

Even if you were to say "Okay, I'll believe in God because you told me to and not because it's what I really think," you'd make a pretty lousy Christian. Why would these people want you to join them without sincere faith? It's silly--so laugh and take it in stride!

Answer 10

You need to sit down with your sister and have a stern talk. Be kind, but firm. "Look, sis, I love you. I respect you and your beliefs. But I don't share them. The religious e-mails you send me are offensive to me, particularly the one that says the 14% of the nation I belong to needs to 'sit down and shut up.'"

If she doesn't stop, just delete her e-mails without reading them. if she brings up religion to you in person, smile, tell her "I don't want to talk about this," and change the subject.