I met this person randomly at school one day and she's very nice and polite, but she's also a hardcore Christian and loves to talk about it. I have nothing wrong with people talking about their faith to me, as it is basically what I'm studying at my university, but all this girl will talk about is how great Christ is and how much she loves Jesus.
I am not Christian and I am not converting any time soon. I have mentioned to her before, when she first started this, "I'm actually not Christian." to which she replied, "Well, once you find the Truth, it will set you free."
I don't enjoy being preached to, and this is beginning to feel like, quite a bit. As I said, she's a very nice person and I don't want to hurt her feelings or anything, as there is no call for it whatsoever. But how do I (as nicely as possible) get her to stop?
2007-03-02 10:22:27 · 6 answers · asked by Allo 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I am with you on this one. I have tried every "nice" way I can think of to get someone in my life to stop preaching at me. I have tried silence, reasoninjg, and saying, "I have my own beliefs". Nothing has worked. This girl is trying to convert not just her friends, but is condemning her own mother to Hell on public e-mails. A Unitarian minister friend of mine intervened, and blasted her, and still she persists. She was a good friend, but I am at the point of telling her quite rudely that she is a fanatic, and her ideology scares me. Her fananticism is almost evil in its nature. I do not feel comfortable even opening messages from her any more.
I am of the opinion that the least amount of force necessary to do the job is best. Thus, start by comparing beliefs, and tell the person your beliefs are equally valid. If the person can accept that, then you have found common ground. if not, then understand that sometimes there really is no reasoning with these people- they will see you not as an individual but as a challenge. You are better off closing the door very firmly and assertively, saying, "we'll just have to disagree", and leave it at that. Do not accept invitations any more- just walk away. A person who is secure in his/her own self and spirtual beliefs would never be so arrogant as to assume to judge another's. Set the limits- you have the right to choose what kind of people you want to associate with.
By the way, very "nice" people scare the hell out of me. Give me someone who is real any day! I always wonder what very nice people are hiding. there is a difference between being "nice", and being a genuinely kind person. Enough said.
2007-03-02 13:34:29 · answer #1 · answered by Hauntedfox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you keep trying to change the subject and she keeps on with her preaching, then maybe you should preach your beliefs to her. I do know how you feel. I have a friend who is always asking me when I'm going to church with her. I just tell her that I don't go to church. When she starts to preach and quotes scripture, I either ignore her until she stops or I change the subject - quickly! I do love my friend and I want to keep her as a friend, but she has learned that I am not moving toward her religion. She never stops, but she has slowed down a lot!!
Or ..... tell her that you are a Mormon! Maybe you can have the Missionaries visit her and tell her about the REAL truth! :) :) lol
2007-03-02 18:13:14 · answer #2 · answered by noonecanne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i will admit that I particularly do no longer understand. besides the undeniable fact that, i have studied the mystical very a lot and characteristic...eh...mixed notions about what's genuine or what isn't. i have not in my opinion ever seen something supernatural. the nearest journey i could say i have had became sever years in the past even as, for a era of round a year, I suffered from very irritating and established "evening terrors". That episode became sufficient to make me evaluate the possibility of a real supernatural realm. contained in the years because they stopped, besides the undeniable fact that, i have began to ask your self about what it became that i in my opinion experienced. My thoughts about it determination from familiar. each now and then i have self belief like it became all myth and bull$#!+, yet different days i'm no longer so particular. in case you experience so susceptible, i could like it in case you shared with me a number of your reports. i will not decide or mock you. i'm only very curious. Shoot me a message in case you experience like it. :)
2016-12-05 04:08:30 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just tell her straight out. Being polite is not the same as letting people walk all over you, sometimes you have to be a little blunt. She's the one being impolite and rude, being persistant like this.
2007-03-02 20:29:14 · answer #4 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I'm sorry, I have my own beliefs, thank you." and leave her space. You could add that you are sure she is a nice person, or that you are sure she means well, but...
I've been here, my own best friend keeps trying, but thankfully, she is not pushy about it, she will say something like; my church is very friendly, or are you coming to Easter cantata? She sings, and has solos. I go to see her perform. and she is right, they have been nice to me. But, "I'm sure they are, but I have my own beliefs." See? It works.
2007-03-02 12:36:49 · answer #5 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is blatantly intruding on your personal spiritual place and there is nothing "very nice" about that.
Just tell her you are not interested, if she continues, tell her to stop bothering you.
You don't need this.
2007-03-02 12:18:29 · answer #6 · answered by Pacifica 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋