Religious debating with my christian sister?

Question

I am 17 and an atheist. My sister is 28 and a christian. She keeps on trying to *convert* me which will never work because I hate everything about christianity and i don't believe in a god. She told me the story of how she was suicidal and she was plotting on killing herself and how she went to church and how god helped her. I told her that that is a delusional thinking because god isn't real. She said that she is not crazy and not delusional. We have been fighting over the phone now for 2 days. Who is right here? I am entitled to have my own beliefs, I am not a christian and will never be one. How can I get that through her thick head?

I am her brother, im a guy

Answer 1

You're right. You may not be communicating your position in a particularly tactful way, but you're right, it wasn't God who changed her life, it was her. God is just the placebo she swallowed.

You are entitled to your own belief (or lack thereof), but remember that many Christians believe it's their God-given duty to try to persuade others into "the faith". They believe they're accountable to God, accountable for what they've done and who they've tried to save. They feel that if they stand by and allow people to condemn themselves to Hell, God will disapprove of their, the Christian's, inaction.

Answer 2

You are entitled to your beliefs, but she's entitled to hers as well. I think BOTH of you are in the wrong. SHE is wrong for trying to "convert" you. She should know, as a Christian, that we don't "convert" people. We plant seeds, we share what we know, and then we let it go. We have respect for people, even if we don't agree with what they believe (or don't believe, whichever the case might be).

YOU are wrong for declaring with certainty that God does not exist. How do you know that? You are ALSO wrong for telling her that she is delusional. Christians are no more delusional than atheists or anyone else is. We simply have different interpretations of the world around us.

If you want to end the debate, simply tell her straight out that you love her, you're glad she's found something that helps her, but you don't believe in it, and you don't see yourself believing in it any time soon. Ask her to have enough respect for your beliefs to just drop it. If she doesn't, I would recommend cutting your time conversing with her short.

But please understand, when Christians try to "convert" you, it's out of love. We mean well, even though sometimes we go about it the wrong way.

Answer 3

Remember that she is entitled to her beliefs. Then, talk about everything other than religion. If she continues to bring it up, explain that the two of you disagree and that it shouldn't interfere with your sister relationship. If she insists on trying to convert you at every turn, tell her she must stop or there won't be anything for the two of you to share. The both of you have to agree not to discuss religion if you cannot do so without one of you trying to convert the other. It's all right to disagree. It's not all right to break the sister bond over it.

Edit: Hehe, sorry. Brother/sister bond. My answer still holds. I believe a sibling bond is the most powerful there is.

Answer 4

I like to seek compromise if possible. Each of you is entitled to believe in what you want to -- but neither of you has the right to force the other to think that only their belief is correct.

I also am not Christian, I am Pagan, and I do not believe in one God. However, I respect people that are Christian, or any other religion, because I expect them to respect my personal decision as well.

I hope that you and your sister can put your religious issues aside, find common crowd as to why you love each other and focus on the positive and not the negative.

Answer 5

To me, there is no right and wrong, you have ur own decision of God and so does she, tell her if she respects you as a sister, to just stop trying to convert you since it has not been helping and to respect your decision. Remind her of when you both did not know religion or belief and how happy you were, this might tell her that she has changed and that your different beliefs should not get in the way of loving each other. And yes, you are entitled to having your own beliefs

Answer 6

You two are both wrong. It's not that you are opposite in your beliefs, it's that you are hating and fighting with each other about it. What the heck, she's your SISTER. She just loves you, and for you to insult her beliefs is wrong. For you to call her names is immature. You are entitled to your beliefs but so is she. It was rude for you to put her personal story online, and then insult her for going through a very difficult time and finding her own answers. Why didn't you just tell her you loved her? That she never should have felt suicidal because you were going to be there for her, be her family? Why try to bring her down in her most intimate secret? She is going to talk to you more about what she believes, and that's fine, she wants to share something she considers precious. Don't bruise her pearls. If you don't want to talk about it, that is fine. If you don't want to believe it, that is fine. Just tell her that you are sorry for fighting with her, try to humble yourself and smooth things over. Just tell her, "I know you care about me, but this is something I simply don't agree with. Let's not fight about it, let's move on. " Obviously, you looking for someone to tell you who is right or wrong means that you don't really know if you are right or if she is wrong. You are young and you can learn a lot. It isn't worth seperating your family over. Plus, you should never hate any religion, it is very close minded. If you don't agree, that is different. But for you to consider yourself, at 17, to be so smart and educated that you can hate the religion and culture of millions of people is very arrogant. And being athiest, you not only state that you hate Christianity, but you put down many religions that simply believe that there is a god, or gods. Is every one so foolish to you?

Answer 7

Why do you hate Christianity? You probably have your reasons, and I'm not judging anybody. Your sister is not crazy for believing in God. I am a Christian. The Bible says that you should tell people about God. I'm thinking your sister is right. You can believe what you want though.

Answer 8

You two should leave each other be. Agnosticism is the only logical path, but there's no need to bash each others beliefs. You have every right to get upset if she continues to try and convert you- just tell her off. Suicidal people are weak, and her having to believe in some supernatural entity to get through life isn't your problem.

Answer 9

Why, at 17 years of age, are you so sure you have all the answers that you can dictate to someone 11 years your senior what she should believe? What is your authority? Your proof?

If she says she had a valid, life-changing experience, who are you to negate that? Were you there with her, every minute of each day, as she went through her depressive episodes? Were you there, every step of the way, as she went thru the process of her conversion?

On what basis do you refute what she knows, for a fact, that she experienced? Where is your proof that she did not experience exactly what she says she did?

Answer 10

I suppose you would be equally bothered if your sister talked to others about Christ Jesus and avoided talking about this subject with you. You would be posting a different question in this forum such as "Why are Christians so stuck up" I also think you would feel bad if you thought your sister didn't care enough about you to talk to you about these things. Deep down inside you would feel hurt and rejected. God Bless You.