Atheists, how do you respond to emotional pleads?

Question

"God loves you so much, why can't you just believe in him?"

"You are a sinner, only God can forgive you."

Answer 1

I respond by trying to get a real reason for whatever is being asked of me. As in any debate or conversation, an emotional appeal or argument is going to fall flat.

I can't respond to the emotional argument of "God loves you so much" without actually believing in a god. You might as well say "Sherlock Homes loves you, why won't you believe he is real?".

The best arguments for religion are the logical and scientific ones that I usually hear from Muslims and Buddhists. Christians and Jews could make the same arguments but I usually seem to come in contact with the ones that focus on emotional arguments and the Bible/Torah.

If the discussion goes farther, it almost all ways ends with me wanting them and me to agree to disagree. Mutual respect and all that jazz. Only way you can live in a civilized manner in the U.S.

However, I do like that "I love you.Why don't you worship me?" line someone mentioned. If I was more of a jerk might use it.

Answer 2

I say that that's THEIR beliefs. I don't believe there's a "God" out there that loves me. I don't believe in God, period.

And I believe in good and bad, but I don't think in terms of "sin", because that's a religious word. And I don't believe there is a "God" out there to forgive me. If I hurt someone, then I care about THEM forgiving me.

People can believe whatever they want, but that's THEIR beliefs. They can be as emotional as they want, but it's still THEIR beliefs, not mine. I wish them the best, but I'm not going to magically start believing in THEIR deity just because they make an emotional plea to.

Answer 3

I say something like, I appreciate your concern, and I can tell you are a caring individual. However, any wrongdoing or "sin" on my part I prefer to address to the wronged party directly in the here and now, and not leave it to God in the hereafter. My own spiritual journey has let me the conclusion that there is no God as your religion sees him, and you have to accept any personal conversion at this point is up to me and him, if he does exist.

Answer 4

Well since atheists don't believe in god those pleads are not effective.

Answer 5

For the first one, I respond this way: "My a** is twitching, so I'll talk to you when you're a little less crazy."

For the second, "You're assuming I want forgiveness. Now, I'm assuming you won't press charges after my foot is removed from your a**, right? After all, isn't your god the only one who is really allowed to punish me?"

Answer 6

With as much patience and compassion as I can humanly muster, like so: If your belief in an omnipotent creator being makes sense to you and teaches you wisdom, altruism and compassion, etc., then that's what's best for you, however I disagree.

_()_

Answer 7

The first time I politely ask them not to say that to me again. I will respect their right to believe it if they respect my right not to. If they persist and do it a second time, then I ignore it and them because anyone who will not show me the same respect I show them is not worth my time.

Answer 8

The same way I respond to Scientologists who say I need to remove my body thetans.

Answer 9

Mostly I try to ignore provocative garbage like that and think about real tangible issues.

Answer 10

you know you sure aren't helping any unbeliever to see why following Christ would be any better than following other faiths. if it wasn't for the fact that i know there really are hypocritic christians out there i would say the non believers would put stuff like this up to make us look bad. but unfortunatley there are too many who think they are christians that make us look bad.