[[Mainly to atheists, but everyone's welcome]] Why won't some people, usually it's Christians, UNDERSTAND me?

Question

I'm becoming agitated by a problem I'm having.

Many Christians tell me that I should be willing to hear whatever they have to say. And in most cases, I am--I'll listen to their words of God.

But VERY FEW are willing to accept that, quite frankly, I don't feel I am obligated to listen to certain people.

Once, a 52 year old woman took me on as her charity case. But she wasn't as nice as most--she harassed me daily, about my atheism. Each time I blocked her, she made a new account. At one point, she even began to send my friends messages, telling them complete and total LIES about me, in an attempt to make them hate me for my lack of belief in "God." She said she was "saving" them from my non-God-fearing ways.

When she attempted to hack my account, I felt I had every right to make her GO AWAY. Leave me alone.

And yet, just a few minutes ago, I was informed that I was "obligated" to give this woman my time.

Why won't some people UNDERSTAND!?

It's not the preaching that bothers me, so much.

Anyone who wants to can feel free to email or IM me, and tell me why they believe in God. Not only will I read/listen, I'll be HAPPY to read it and listen. I enjoy talking about religion.

BUT, when they harass me, and stalk me to the point at which I dread opening my email because of what I'll find, THEN I DO have a MAJOR problem with it.

My attempts to report her failed, because she simply kept making new accounts.

Answer 1

I understand what you're saying. I love how some people are more than happy to tell us all about their beliefs and why I should believe them as well, but they don't want to hear anything I have to say. I'm more than happy to have a religious discussion with someone, but a discussion goes two ways. It's not just one person preaching to the other. That's when I have a problem. I also have a problem with people who continue to bother me with their thoughts on my beliefs (or lack thereof) after I've already listened to what they have to say and have asked them to leave me alone.

Answer 2

It's because some people are NUT JOBS! Some people only understand their own point of view; they may mean well, but if someone doesn't understand the word "no," then there's not a lot you can do about them.

I don't REMOTELY think you are obligated to give her your time, or any of your attention. Nobody has the right to monopolize your life or to attempt to force you to believe as they do.

You DO have to be willing to have enough of a backbone to tell the person in so many words that their teachings are unwelcome; I don't know if you have done that, so I'll leave that part up to you, of course. As a general rule, no one can take advantage of you without at least SOME cooperation on your part.

Continue to block her; sooner or later, she'll get tired and move on. Good luck!

Answer 3

You are not obligated to this woman in the least. You have your own work cut out for you, and how you choose to do this is your business. If you make a mistake, this will be revealed to you. If you believe you are an atheist right now, then that is exactly what you are. Your beliefs govern you in this age, whether they be based in truth or not, and that is one important thing to be aware of, and so you must be careful with what you entertain. Some do understand others just fine.

Answer 4

Sometimes we go about it in the wrong way.

You are right. You are under no obligation to listen to, nor accept anything anyone says to you. Whether it's the truth or not.

Mainly the reason most people (Christians/Non-christians/Agnostics/Atheists/Etc.) do not (or refuse) to understand is because they are wrapped up in defining themselves - sometimes to the point of being antagonistic. We're all so busy trying to make sure that everyone understand US and OUR opinion/perspective that we miss the mark a lot of times.

Sometimes, we just have to let the knowledge that we are "right" be enough. (Whether it's belief in Christ or knowing that harrassing someone in the name of God is wrong.) You know you're right about her behavior. So - maybe you just need some affirmation that it isn't right to treat people the way she's treated you. It doesn't matter whether or not she believes in God - the fact remains that irresponsible and antagonistic behavior is wrong.

Answer 5

I'm no Christian as I think it's 100% ignorant for them to run around getting others to listen when they, themselves, won't give 2 seconds of thought to anyone else - hence the definition of closed minded that they'll never see.


The people are actually obsessive and have issues - they think they're spreading the word of the lord, but really, they have psychological issues, almost delusional, in regards to it.

They will deny it but they know little about how the mind works

Answer 6

These people don't know how to actually think for themselves. They have been taught to fear life and they find it most frustrating when others are not burdened by the thoughts of hell fire and eternal punishment. They have washed their own minds thoroughly and willingly except the dictations of a spiritually misleading text and a fallible religion. I have found it's best to actually speak to these people instead of running from them. I have educated myself enough so that I can actually rebuttal anything they want to present to me. When they realize that your actually thinking on a level they have never been obligated to think on, they usually tuck their tails and go after somebody else that is more susceptible to their distorted lies and misguided perspectives.

Answer 7

I'm a Christian but I don't condone this lady's actions. I think she may be well meaning (fearing for your eternity obviously) but not respecting you. And lying is never God's way. I apologize for whatever hurt she has caused you in the name of evangelism. I admire your willingness to listen and not hold the actions of the few against the many.

Answer 8

That 52 year old is not a christian if she cannot accept that you will listen but do not have to accept what you hear. I am a christian and I accept what you are doing. Tell her to go away and stop harrassing you. Or go to the police with her Yahoo ID to see if they can track her down to make her stop.

Answer 9

I think this case is no longer about religion or spreading the word of god, I think its more along the lines of obsessive insanity.
Put her homeless on the street with a bottle of Jack in her hand and she'd fit right in.

Otherwise, you have to understand something. The population of Atheists since 1972 has risen by more than 250%, while the Christian belief has only increased by 3%. Christians feel VERY threatened by this, so they are becoming more extreme in their efforts to convert people.

Answer 10

you are not obligated to listen to anyone...especially after you have already told her no.

you must be more polite than i am. i have no patience for people who persist in trying to talk to me about something i've already said no to.

my daughter has told me that i can be very rude. i don't consider it rude. telemarketers, for example, will call me and i'll tell them no thank you...they will continue talking, and i say thanks for calling but no. and still they persist...at this point i am no longer nice.

you have every right to be around, or talk to only those you wish to. it is your time and your life...spend it with those who make you happy, not people who make you nuts.

just my thoughts.

edit
a couple of things that you can do (you've probably already done this)...mark her email as spam. actually mark any email that you don't recognize as spam.

block her and anyone that you're not sure of. as soon as you get the so and so has connected to you check their profile. if you can't see it block it. sounds kind of harsh, but how else can we stop the trolls from targeting us one by one?

good luck to you.