I completely understand. There are probably times where you just want to openly express how you feel about your non belief to others (just like you see believers having openly casual conversations about their beliefs), but you know your views will be easily frowned upon and perceived as an attack by believers. It really is sad and can definitely make you feel isolated, uncomfortable, and lonely. I'm in north Florida so I definitely understand the bible beltway issues.

Wow. It's surreal to me. If I went there I would feel like those missionaries from old......visiting the colonies with my moral high ground, and need to spread the truth. If you can learn to laugh at them, it might take the sting out of what they say. But frankly I can't help you. It must be awful. Where I live , it is much harder to come out as religious. I hope you find some allies.

I hate it when this happens as I cannot stand to listen to a loud argument that makes absolutely no sense at all.

And that is all that matters. Love for each other.

It is, but if one party has to hide who they are to keep the peace, I don't believe respect is a part of the mix.

@MusicManDre ever heard of "change the subject"?????

@AnneWimsey It's not always as simple as changing the subject. It's about someone not respecting you on a fundamental level. Kind of like asking a white supremacist to just change the subject about their dislike of black people...while talking to a black person. Believe it or not, some people with religious beliefs still have an issue with non-believers even when they are not discussing anything about their non belief. All I'm saying is, if it's acceptable for someone to casually allude to their belief in a god in a conversation, it should be equally okay for someone to casually allude to their disbelief as well. That would be considered fair. What I was saying earlier is simply that one side should not be suppressed if the other side is not under the same suppression. Simply expressing a non belief in a god is not an attack on someone's beliefs and should not be treated as such.

@MusicManDre try confronting these xian bigots with this line: why r u a Nazi to Atheists but never a hell threat to a Jew ?

I hear you. Unfortunately, religion is one of those topics that is complicated, because it's widely accepted and respected by a large part of society. Whereas, an openly atheist/agnostic person may be criticized and disrespected just for identifying as a regular human being. Simply saying I don't believe in a god should not be an automatic strike against me as a human being. That just shows how messed up our society is...disrespectful to people who don't believe in something that has not been proven to exist. Some people are showing more respect to an invisible entity than to tangible human beings that they can unquestionably interact with. Very sad.

@MusicManDre Full agreement. Unfortunately religion (pick your flavor) by its very nature claims to have moral, ethical, and even intellectual superiority, and we all know what it's like to deal with persons afflicted with a superiority complex.

"Growing up" is what the real issue is

We aren't just talking about any old opinion, we are talking about rejecting their god and everything they believe. I am sure that there are plenty of families who would make an atheist family member feel like they had betrayed not only their god, but them personally.

I guess it is easy to "grow up" when one's family of origin is not being emotionally, psychologically and verbally abusive to try and guilt or coerce or shame you back into being a believer. Good for you all? slow clap

@demifeministgal I think that there are very few families that are not emotional. All the people I know do have at least one family member who is emotionally unstable and wrecks havoc for the rest.

Right on.

@FrankA Two different things. I did not suggest such a thing. A visit to the link may clarify.

That is a very rare achievement, selling through facts. From my experience, family dislike facts and treat it with suspicion. People want to believe, because of their investment in it. But like you, because I have sold my position through facts, I've lost most family.

@Vpatel I take comfort in the fact that I have my integrity intact, and I'm not faking belief in the BS that is religion. Those of my family who abandoned me did it of their own choice, not mine. I hope you have found your happiness, Vpatel.

@BestWithoutGods i'll be honest, those who believe in God delusions appear happy. When they pray, they appear to get some kind of placebo-driven benefit. They don't want to be woken from the belief.

So what about me, a man of hard facts and science. I do take comfort in the fact that I understand how the world works.

But in the end, with no grand objective, I do ask myself at times, am I really better off? And when theists get pleasure from believing in their god, then is that really worse than watching a fiction movie, as both the movie and the religion are fake, but both provide pleasure?

If I was deluded, and believed in a creator, at least perhaps I would be happier with the company?

I would love a world in which other people took pleasure in the wonders of the natural world, and just the fact that we are here and alive, though not for long in the grand scheme of things. But as others don't want to be on that journey, it is lonely where I am. So I'm not sure I'm better off.

Nevertheless, I do think the world is on a painfully slow but sure transition process to observing reality as it is.

Tact and diplomacy won’t persuade people who need a delusion.

@yvilletom neither will the opposite. The original post doesn't even use the word persuade.You can't persuade stupid.

@Mofo1953 Speak for yourself. YOU can’t persuade stupid; I may find a way to do it.

@yvilletom i always do same as you (speak for myself). Go ahead then, who's stopping you? But saying "you may" means you aren't even sure of your way. At least I am sure that one can't convince stupid, they have had a lifetime of stupidity and as the saying goes, if you try, they will definitely win the argument because of their expertise at being stupid. So go knock yourself out!

@Mofo1953 I’m tall and can talk loud; bullying can open minds.

@yvilletom tough guy, huh? As I said, knock yourself out, literally. Bring a gun too, just in case the stupid is taller than you or tougher than you. Violence always works, right? Now who is being stupid?

@Mofo1953 You are being stupid. I will walk away. For an imaginary tall or tough stupid I have imaginary pepper spray.

Consider this comment my walking away. Respond with that kind of aggression and I will block you.

@yvilletom fuck you asshole, now block me you fucking coward bitch!!!

There were 7 of us and we were raised Catholic and went to parochial school during elementary. My dad was a convert but my mom just went along. He was not strict and life was good. However, out of 7, 6 are atheists. One sister is JW converted from 7th day Adventists. One sister-in-law is fundamentalists (all the other spouses are also atheists) but she and my brother don't talk about religion. I think my dad would be upset but he died over 40 years ago.

Absolutely!

Yep. The irony in how (for me) that scripture is so true for the exact opposite of what the scripture intended...lol

Perhaps the speaker of those words has largely been taken out of context.

@beenthere Are you suggesting that John wasn't a loving and forgiving Xstian, oh perish the thought. LOL

@Surfpirate I don't think so. Not sure what you mean.

@beenthere Perhaps I took you out of context?

@maturin1919
Not my term!

If you do not like what I write do not read my posts!

You must something better to do than be such a critical troll!!!

What exactly is a false fact? Sounds like an oxymoron.

I'm just not into playing games.

@MusicManDre playing games?

@Agnosticpoor you mentioned giving answers like a politician. To me, that's just playing games. I just prefer to be honest and straight forward so there is no walking on eggshells. I have no problem with being polite, but I'm at a point in my life where honesty on this topic is not something I'm going to dance around anymore if I can avoid it.