I never bring it up. If it's brought up, my reaction depends entirely on the person I'm speaking with. If it's obvious that they are blind believers and will not acknowledge even the most obvious evidence then I simply refuse to engage in the conversation. If the person seems intelligent and open I can have a spirited chat with them, not expecting to change their mind, but at least to get them to understand my point of view.

Honest... I am more frustrated when an atheist brings religion as a topic that when a religious bring religion as a topic. Lucky for me I am tolerant, very tolerant and not bothered by the little stuff.

I can pretty much tolerate it, except for when someone gets on their soap box (literally) in public and has a megaphone, or microphone with portable amp. That shit gets under my skin. It's annoying as fuck!!!

I think you want to be more tolerant....
Keep and open mind and don't take shit personally.

No need to be less intolerant.

Thank you for asking this. I have the same issues.

I know. It’s very frustrating. It’s like trying to convince a toddler that the tooth fairy and Santa doesn’t exist. I don’t have time for children in adults bodies, who want to behave like small children with their irrational view with faith and toys. If you can’t reason with reality, I can’t reason with faith. End of discussion.

I hurt someone I cared about very much, because I couldn't control myself. It ruined our relationship, and it took 5 years for us to communicate again. I remember how shitty I felt every time the urge to open my big mouth, without considering the other person's feelings, arrives. This has worked wonders for me.

Yes, I have the same issue. I hate having made up fairytales thrown at me while the same people dismiss scientific facts. It makes me feel like I'm F**king crazy!

The old "fight or flight' mechanism us humans have was useful, even necessary, when we were in a daily battle to stay alive. In dealing with modern day human interactions, it is usually harmful. I'm pretty sure over 99 percent of us have been there, wanting to calmly make our case, but that uncomfortable surge of anxiety gets in our way. The more I live the more I believe meditation and practicing mindfulness is the most helpful way to work on overcoming it.

I don't think that you will ever be able to change a religious person's mind because no matter how logical your argument because, generally, religious people believe in changing the facts to fit their beliefs instead of changing their belief to fit the facts. If you are able to learn to tune others out it might make life a little less frustrating for you.

Sounds to me like you are on the right track, or the same one I am. I just listen and try not to react. I DO have conversations with folks about faith but only with folks who can have a rational conversation. That might be because I have no issue with folks using faith as a crutch to help them through life. We all need help at times, I don't think it's rational but if it helps, what, really, is wrong with that?

If they are seriously bad and I just can't handle it, I exit stage left... or is it right? Whichever way is most convenient.

let em have it . both barrels. metaphorically of course

I agree with everyone here but might add one thing. You might run into someone who is questioning his faith and if you are subtle you might have a decent conversation that would be productive for both of you. Otherwise religion is best discussed among nonbelievers.

my best defense in any situation that seems stranger than truth is to make believe I am Margaret Mead just landing on a newly found island in the Pacific with a culture to be observed.

I usually just let it go. I don't argue well and if we get into it they end up feeling like they won.

Not anymore. After a study of logical fallacies, it became kind of fun to watch them try to spin subjects/facts to fit. Most interactions end up with their side loosing their collective kewl

I just went through this last night and the conversation of course didn't go well at all...looking for that same advice.

I used to feel passionately about "serving the truth": if someone made an erroneous statement in earshot, I'd correct them. I was treating "the truth" as if it were a person with rights and an agenda, and deserving of respect--capable of being insulted.

I learned (painfully, awkwardly, slowly; over many years) that not only do others not appreciate having their ignorance or error highlighted, more importantly, no one's feelings get hurt when the truth is not served.. The truth is not a person--it doesn't get mad when people say Lake Michigan is the largest of the Great Lakes. I'm the one who gets insulted--and there's no reason for it.

Let them be morons. It doesn't have to be your problem.

well, you can't change stupid especially when it's religious based, these people generally just won't budge why get upset about them. just rise above it as you are above them.

It's not worth a discussion with them... trust me on that, although, I guess nothing is 100%

when you have settled on the idea that you ain't gotta prove nor explain jack**** to nobody it feels more confident, less contentious. unless you choose to, then if their head ain't flexible enough to get around it, you're done.

Stop trying. It's like advising you're relatives to not smoke. I tried years and years ago to convince my brothers to stop smoking. They just got defensive, "we're all going to die of something!". Sure thats true, but my father died at 68 and died of several things and each one was directly linked to his 25 per day smoking habit.

They are too far gone, and have to find their own journey out of that deep misty dark forest like many on this site have had to do.

You simply cannot have a rational argument with religious people. Their whole premise is irrational!

Give some thought to the rest of the equation. Why would anyone making emotion-based decisions have any interest in facts?
Before you castigate emotion as a reasonable solution, give some thought to how effective emotion is in keeping the human species alive and thriving. We need emotion, we really do. You have to honor that in your thinking. You're bright, you know how to think things through. Try it again, and factor in emotion as a good thing and see where that takes you.

It depends on who brings it up. There are people that want to either debate, fight over or avoid the topic. I only engage with people who are open to the first type. I abstain from quarreling with people over religion. I also don't want to push a topic that someone doesn't want to discuss. I find that reduces the likely hood of me calling someone something regrettable. Failing that I tend to ask more questions and if I feel like I need to make a point, I do. I try to do so calmly and on occasion a bit toothy. I try to keep insults impersonal if I make them at all. Never attack a person's character first, avoid it if you can. Usually the one to resort to such tactics first loses the debate.