Tell your relative that, as God, you have no need for religion.
At face value it is a silly question. How does mr x defend him not being a scientologist?
These kind of questions are based on cultural pressure and a huge amount of ignorance
If someone really wants to know, I see nothing rude about really giving them an answer. “Because I see neither evidence nor necessity for sky gods” is a good answer. I don’t see anything impolite about that. They wanted to know.
Since this is someone you care about, and who apparently cares about you, some version of this is what I’d suggest. Let her know you appreciate her concern, but at this point she can leave it to God. Your loved ones who have gone on before won’t hold it against her that you made this choice. If you don’t feel uncomfortable with it, tell her you don’t mind if she prays for you, but that it will probably just frustrate both of you to talk more about it. Results are not her department, all she’s called to do is spread the word, which she has done. Let God take care of it from here.
Does this seriously happen so frequently that it prompts you to respond, “I usually say…”
Because honestly, I’ve never been asked that in my life. And I’m no youngster.
mmm
It actually does come up quite a bit. You’d think it wouldn’t, since I don’t live in the Bible belt, but rather in an area that is seen as quite diverse and open-minded, but it does. Especially since I have it right there on my Facebook info page- ATHEIST. And, I do work in a field with a lot of women, where we have a lot of time together to chat, and things inevitably veer towards the personal.
“My faith tells me Christianity is not the proper road to follow.”
It might not be “faith” as they call it, but it sums up the situation rather concisely.
I agree with this sentiment – I’m an atheist, but I’ve had good, meaningful conversations about faith and Religion with folks of all stripes, ranging from close friends and family to complete strangers. If approached with respect and honesty, it’s a captivating topic.
Show her this photo and then ask her how a compassionate, omnipotent, omnipresent god could exist?
http://files.myopera.com/arne9/blog/1African%20children’s%20lives.jpg
I should have put a warning on my post above. Missed the edit window.
The linked photo is very confronting. Do not look at it if you are easily upset.
“I don’t believe in God for the same reason I don’t believe in the Tooth Fairy. Now, are you *appalled *that I don’t believe in the Tooth Fairy?”
You could always quote Woody Allen: “To you I’m an atheist; to God, I’m the loyal opposition.”
Can you describe it a little? “Confronting” tells me very little about the content. Is it attacking god, or is it dead babies?
Starving children.
Very interesting with good ideas for me, but to clear up – I brought it all on myself. I had tired of the many religious ‘forwards’ she’s sent me, all in good faith, and thanked her for a latest document which was educational and not religious, saying I prefer those but not anything prostelizing since I’m, “well, let’s call it agnostic for now.” I’m sure she was blind-sided and had always assumed I was a fervent “believer”. I finally figured that since I’d been hearing her side of it all these years, she should hear mine. I don’t want to fight, but it’s certainly tempting to try to show her what I consider the error of her beliefs.
If I’m in a situation in which the defense of my belief system is in order, I assume it is not a polite discussion. As such, I’m much more likely to be as rude and intrusive to them as they are to me.
Were this in a civil discussion, this would not be my response at all.
Please, feel free to start your defending being a christian thread, it wouldn’t bother me at all. in fact I might stop by, wondering who needs to defend their belief system. And why.
The Stephen Roberts argument - ie., what Rand Rover suggests in post 2.
Tell them that Jesus Christ appeared before you and told you that He doesn’t exist and that He wants you to become an atheist. So, you’re just carrying out His will.
Oh, please don’t proselytize back. She’s not going to convert either, and you invalidate your own position. What’s good for the goose and all that.
Oh I agree, and I won’t do that.
I just didn’t say that right.