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Any atheists within this group

22K views 346 replies 69 participants last post by  squirrelfood 
#1 ·
I'd be most interested in hearing your take on dealing with religious folks who rudely try to push their beliefs on others.
 
#3 ·
depends how rude they are.

I am not a believer but I respect the religious beliefs of others.

To some people I've met, no matter how morally I live my life, Im an evil Jezebel on a path straight to the fiery pits of hell. To those people, like my mom, for example, I poke holes in their shoddy, pot calling kettle black, not practicing what they preach, hypocritical "beliefs".

There are many, many good people in this world of various religions. Just because my beliefs arent the same as theirs does not mean that I dont deserve the same respect and dignity
 
#5 ·
Joe, I choked on my soda. I was gonna say something along those lines, but you beat me to it!

In my personal life then...lol

I often just avoid the subject, change it if possible, an bite my tongue to stay composed. If someone is being totally uncalled for rude, I politely tell them that it is not their place to judge. If they truly believe I am a sinner, they should leave me to my judgement after my death.

I had one person tell me I was going to hell because I was wearing a short dress and had my hair dyed red on Halloween. I was working at a restaurant at the time and serving her food. I told her that if she wanted to judge me on my looks, she could find somewhere else to eat her chicken strips and fries. She huffed, said a word to my manager (Who burst out laughing at her complaint) and left.
 
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#6 ·
It depends. I've had people come into my WORK and hand out pamphlets. I told them I wasn't interested and they asked me to take them, said they were an 'interesting read anyway'. They were polite, but they were still forceful and in a place of work... My boss was absolutely livid. The same people have come to my house countless times, one of the women tried to 'covert' my sister in her kindergarten class. That's too far, we were never polite to them after that.

I've also been told to 'repent or spend eternity in the lake of fire' at the train station. That one was funny.

And then there's the time someone on this forum sent me a PM begging me to accept Jesus or ill go to hell. The message was pages long, and I had half a mind to reem them out and report the message.

The point is- I have never pushed my views on others and haven't known many other people who aren't religious who demand everyone else a abandon their religion because it 'isn't right' and I hate hate hate that people think that because they are 'good -insert whatever religion here-' that they have the right to get in my face about it.
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#8 ·
When I lived in NM hardly a weekend went by that someone didn't come to my house to try and convert me. I ended by putting up a gate and chaining it shut on the weekends, luckily they respected that as a sign not to bother me. I moved back to Oregon 9 years ago and haven't had a single person show up at my door to convert me.
 
#11 ·
i wouldnt say im necessarily an atheist, but i just avoid the subject of religion and my eyes tend to get this glazed effect when someone tries talking to me regarding religion.

we've had people come to out house...thats back in the woods 300 yards...and hand out papers. if i accidently answer the door, usually i hide, then i have 3 big, loud dogs, and ill crack the door, make it quick, and then throw whatever they give me away.

if someone starts chatting with me at work or somewhere im at, ill change the subject or be polite for a few, then dismiss myself.

my mom believes but knows i am just kinda 'blah' about it like my dad, ill make a smart *** comment and she gets offended or blows me off and says 'im naughty' :-p
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#13 ·
Even as a believer I don't press. If anyone wants to know about my faith, they will ask at which time I give them the basics. IF they want to debate I can do that to as long as it remains respectful and intreresting. I am not going ot make an enemy of someone over religion/faith or lack thereof. I also fully understand the frustration as I have encountered those who want me to convert to heir faith. I've had them tell me what I believe is totally wrong and blasphemous etc. To me faith is also mutual respect; OK, I admit some faiths give me the proverbial road rage with some of their policies but since it doesn't affect me, unless they are bugging me to convert, to each their own. Now, as a caveat, if their faith was causing child abuse/hurt or other things I would intervene appropriately and within the law. As for the pamphlets, I may glance at them as learning about other faiths is actually pretty interesting but then they get added to the shred and recycle pile. Haven't seen one yet that would make me want to convert.
 
#18 ·
I wouldn't call myself an atheist but I don't know what I am. I believe in something greater than us but what that is I don't know and have a hard time accepting what a book (any book) tells me to believe. I am respectful of others and their religious choices and expect the same in return. DH was raised methodist, he & DD do attend a non denominational church when time allows. I don't go and he doesn't expect me to.

That being said, this is horribly awful and I probably shouldn't admit it but what the heck right? It was the third day in a row that the same group of Jehovah's witnesses had stopped at my house and they were pretty darn pushy & rude about it. The 2nd time I asked them to leave and the woman tried to push her way into my house. Needless to say it irked me. The third time when she tried to invite herself in I couldn't help myself and said "Well, we were just about to sacrifice a goat, come on in and join me!" They never came back after that.
 
#21 ·
That being said, this is horribly awful and I probably shouldn't admit it but what the heck right? It was the third day in a row that the same group of Jehovah's witnesses had stopped at my house and they were pretty darn pushy & rude about it. The 2nd time I asked them to leave and the woman tried to push her way into my house. Needless to say it irked me. The third time when she tried to invite herself in I couldn't help myself and said "Well, we were just about to sacrifice a goat, come on in and join me!" They never came back after that.
Jehovah Witnesses aren't generally that obnoxious. Entering your home uninvited is classified as breaking and entering...I would have had no issue with calling the police, although, she wouldn't have gotten past my two dogs in the first place. "Sure..c'mon in..the girls haven't had their dinner yet....."
 
#24 ·
No, Im pretty sure they mean people barging into your house in the name of "their" god, or people that claim all Jews/muslims/Buddhists. ..any flavor but their own is going to hell for believing something different. Actually.

Or the whole anti choice, sinners feel free to die by coathanger lobby, just because you have a different opinion. so many examples!

Ps. my hubby is a Christian and DD has expressed interest in Wicca. I could care less. I think everyone is entitled to their beliefs as long as their beliefs arent infringing on the rights of others. Would be nice if zealots would extend the rest of us the same courtesy...
 
#20 ·
Ohhhh.....I would went beserk on that woman. My shotgun woulda met them at the door.
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#22 ·
I'm an atheist. A few months back some Mormons biked up my 1/4 mile gravel drive way and asked if my parents were home. I told them it was posted no trespassing (we've got 4 signs In a 20 foot stretch a fence) and they lied and said they hadn't seen them. I told them that lying is a sin. They pedaled back like they were in the Tour De France.

Anyone who comes on my property is met with my WORST attitude.
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#74 ·
A few months back some Mormons biked up my 1/4 mile gravel drive way and asked if my parents were home. I told them it was posted no trespassing (we've got 4 signs In a 20 foot stretch a fence) and they lied and said they hadn't seen them. I told them that lying is a sin. They pedaled back like they were in the Tour De France.
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Well, being LDS (or a Mormon, same thing), I feel obligated to explain. When a baptized (Male) Mormon turns 18, he is urged to go on a mission, although women can also serve, as well as older people of either gender. Anyway, if he chooses to go, he is assigned a location, which could be anywhere on this planet, and he will be there for the next 2 years of his life. Part of his job as a missionary is to go door-to-door. So, really, it is not their fault; they were doing what they were supposed to be doing. However, instead of lying, they should have explained their purpose. I'm sorry they lied to you, it is not permitted.

On another note, I agree that nobody can make you believe anything. That is up to you and only you. It does get rather annoying when people are constantly handing you flyers and trying to convert you, but at the same time, there is a recycle bin and, again, you are not converted until you truly believe whatever it is that they are dumping on you. In the end, I think it's more of a "turn the other cheek" type of thing. Believe what you want, and know that we are lucky to have that freedom. :)
 
#25 ·
Well this is what I do......but then again why wouldn't I do this, I am an insufferable annoyance am I not? :rofl:

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#27 ·
I don't think I've ever had anyone try to foist their beliefs on me, or convert me. Except for the JW's at the door of course and all they really want to do is give me a leaflet which goes straight in the recycling.

Son's school in England before we came to Canada was a church school, but most Church of England schools don't evangelise so much as occasionally refer to god at Christmas and Easter. However, one day he came home from school (kindergarten) with some Creationism leaflets from some visiting Church folk. I had words with the teacher and I went out and bought a whole pile of 'how the universe was formed in a big bang' and 'the story of evolution' books. He's now a committed atheist and sometimes gets into heated debates with friends at school who are not. He's seven.....

So I try to teach him to a) respect their beliefs and b) not get into theological debates.
 
#33 ·
However, one day he came home from school (kindergarten) with some Creationism leaflets from some visiting Church folk.
This always irritates me and as a Lutheran I went to a Catholic HS and the nuns were flummoxed when I said what I am about to say.

Creation, or in this case the idea of creationism, is NOT the same as evolution. To evolve something must first exist even in its simplest elements. Create, or creationism, means bringing those elements into existence. Creationism and evolution are two different concepts even if creationism on its own can't be proven scientifically.

Those that keep pushing creationism as the only way "we" came in to existence and evolution is all a lie (even though we HAVE scientific proof there that evolution exists and existed) must have missed a lot of basic science classes in their day. :)
 
#29 ·
My biggest thing is that I can't wrap my head around the idea of God. I don't believe in heaven and hell, I'm not sure what happens after we die as I do believe in ghosts / spirits (I'm half convinced my barn is haunted, but it might just be creepy). I believe in good and evil, etcetc. I don't KNOW that there isn't a God, but I choose not to accept any religion and I don't live my life to please something that may or may not exist (especially because I don't believe in heaven or hell...). I can't fathom any religion based around a supposedly 'all good' and 'all powerful' being that created the universe, because I don't believe that any God that created OUR universe and has control of our universe could be all good, due to the crazy amount of unnecessary suffering you see day to day. I also could never accept the idea of living my life for anyone or anything but myself- I see people who give the credit for all the good in their lives to God and it makes me sick to my stomach, or I see someone who can only value themselves because 'God' loves them. To me that isn't the type of life I would like to live, it's not a very good way to live, and I don't like being told that it's how I SHOULD be living and while that might be extreme (or not, depending) at the heart of it all the values are there and I don't agree with them. I don't think that makes me any less of a good person, but I've been told on a couple occasions that it does, in fact, hurt my level of 'good'. :lol:
 
#30 ·
Do the same thing I do when atheists tell me I'm stupid for believing in fairy tales and/or magic.

I put on my serious, 'why would you talk to me face,' and say, "Thank you for your concern." If they persist, and they rarely do, I say, "Go away."

People who criticize the beliefs of others and belittle people for their beliefs aren't interested in communication and understanding.
 
#31 ·
I'm not an atheist, so maybe I'm unwelcome in this discussion. But I use to be an atheist until fairly recently. When I was an atheist, nobody messed with me. I never had anyone "shoving their beliefs down my throat." I had people tell me about their religion. I told them about mine (or lack there of.)

They thought I was wrong. I thought they were wrong. I told them they were wrong. They told me I was wrong. One of us was wrong. Because that's how reality works. My disbelief can't kill God, just as their belief can't create God. Disagreements happen. What constitutes "shoving religion/atheism down someone's throat" versus "I'm not afraid to say what I think because you asked"?

Tolerance. That's the word everyone likes to use nowadays. "Tolerance" of others beliefs. Tolerance doesn't mean agreement or approval. I believe tolerance means agree to disagree.

It seems like every time someone states their religious beliefs someone has to get offended. When I was an atheist, I told people straight up I didn't believe in God. I'm a Christian now, and I tell people straight up that I do believe in God and Jesus and the whole Bible shebang. Using the same words and the same tone and the same almost everything. And guess what? People got a lot more ****** off when I spoke about Christianity. It's like they want to get offended. Or don't know what it means to be properly offended. Or what "shove in the face" actually means!

To have a belief shoved in your face means that you're constantly annoyed and the subject is brought up when the conversation isn't even about religion. If you can't escape it by shutting the door, changing the subject, or walking away, that's shoving. Shoving is bullying, basically.

I've been properly shoved only once. Ironically, by an atheist shortly after I converted. She messaged me on facebook, texted me daily, and brought it up everyone she saw me. She insulted my intelligence, because Christians are obviously "close minded idiots." *eyeroll* Unless you're dealing with this sort of crap... You aren't having religion shoved in your faces. Your Christian friend who invites you to church and openly says she believes in God isn't shoving anything. Being given a pamphlet in a public place isn't shoving. You can throw that crap away and not even read it. I've been given so many pamphlets I never read I could create a forest. Someone preaching in a public place. Practice with me: put your hands over your eyes and go "la la la la la!" Because we're all adults here, and we have brain filters to shift through the crap we hear.

Remember: Promote what you love. Don't bash what you hate. :wink:


Ignore my disjointed ranty thingy. :D I re-read it, and it sounds a little yell-y. The internet poorly translates tone. I'm not mad or yelling.
 
#35 ·
I'm not an atheist, so maybe I'm unwelcome in this discussion. But I use to be an atheist until fairly recently. When I was an atheist, nobody messed with me. I never had anyone "shoving their beliefs down my throat." I had people tell me about their religion. I told them about mine (or lack there of.)

They thought I was wrong. I thought they were wrong. I told them they were wrong. They told me I was wrong. One of us was wrong. Because that's how reality works. My disbelief can't kill God, just as their belief can't create God. Disagreements happen. What constitutes "shoving religion/atheism down someone's throat" versus "I'm not afraid to say what I think because you asked"?

Tolerance. That's the word everyone likes to use nowadays. "Tolerance" of others beliefs. Tolerance doesn't mean agreement or approval. I believe tolerance means agree to disagree.

It seems like every time someone states their religious beliefs someone has to get offended. When I was an atheist, I told people straight up I didn't believe in God. I'm a Christian now, and I tell people straight up that I do believe in God and Jesus and the whole Bible shebang. Using the same words and the same tone and the same almost everything. And guess what? People got a lot more ****** off when I spoke about Christianity. It's like they want to get offended. Or don't know what it means to be properly offended. Or what "shove in the face" actually means!

To have a belief shoved in your face means that you're constantly annoyed and the subject is brought up when the conversation isn't even about religion. If you can't escape it by shutting the door, changing the subject, or walking away, that's shoving. Shoving is bullying, basically.

I've been properly shoved only once. Ironically, by an atheist shortly after I converted. She messaged me on facebook, texted me daily, and brought it up everyone she saw me. She insulted my intelligence, because Christians are obviously "close minded idiots." *eyeroll* Unless you're dealing with this sort of crap... You aren't having religion shoved in your faces. Your Christian friend who invites you to church and openly says she believes in God isn't shoving anything. Being given a pamphlet in a public place isn't shoving. You can throw that crap away and not even read it. I've been given so many pamphlets I never read I could create a forest. Someone preaching in a public place. Practice with me: put your hands over your eyes and go "la la la la la!" Because we're all adults here, and we have brain filters to shift through the crap we hear.

Remember: Promote what you love. Don't bash what you hate. :wink:


Ignore my disjointed ranty thingy. :D I re-read it, and it sounds a little yell-y. The internet poorly translates tone. I'm not mad or yelling.

Great post I could not have said it better and won't try. I agree 100% I wish I could like it twice.
 
#32 ·
Southern, the number of Atheits is more like 40%. It seems when census is done, there's no little box for Atheist. Alexi, I agree 100%. I would never tell anyone they are delusional for believing in God, or Santa or Tinkerbell, unless really pushed. I believe in allowing others to live their life as they see fit and not passing my beliefs or disbeliefs on anyone. Same with politics. And I expect the same from them. I think most atheists feel that way.
 
#37 · (Edited)
I agree with Brighteyes too.

Atheists and Religious people are all prone to suffering the same condition which is human nature... Which means that they will twist their beliefs and the content thereof to suit themselves then impose it on others to get their way.

Until that stops the world will remain the same...
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