I ve been to a few dinners where people say grace, family obligations etc, and I just look around while everyone else prays. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised by who else is doing the same thing

I never try to convince them because to me it's like them trying to "convert" me to believing. If asked, I'll happily state what I believe but it's not worth my peace to argue it. It all depends in how the asking takes place. I'm alone a lot and like you don't have a ton of friends, but the ones that I do have are solid as a rock. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. But, it may be due to this on my part...

[iflscience.com]

Don't stress about it. Their incantations and utterances are just the babblings of children that we can let pass with a smile on our lips. Some of it is just mindless reflex - even I invoke the name of their Lord and Saviour when I hit my thumb with a hammer or the drain is blocked.

He felt able to say what he felt, now you have. Perhaps you are starting to feel that you need a group of people that are more like yourself. Unfortunately, during a period when a dangerous virus is being spread, is probably not the best time to make new friends.
I should think that this continued battering of religious nonsense made you want to stand up and say how you feel, it sounds quite painful and constant. Hang on in there, not everyone is blinded by faith.

Join the club.... Oh yeah,, you already did.

I don't even go on to Facebook because I cannot stand what friends and family members post.

When it comes to faith, I always think about the bible characters.

In the OT, the Jews supposedly saw first-hand the miracles of their god: the plagues on pharaoh, manna from heaven, the parting of the sea, etc etc. but they would still fall into worshiping other gods.

In some cases they even talked directly to this god. Moses supposedly got a directive from god itself and questioned whether he was the right person for the task, What? He actually questioned the god of the universe? And later he talked this all-knowing god into changing its mind...wtaf?

There was no faith required. They had evidence; yet, they still fucked up and had to be punished.

In the NT, the disciples of Jesus, and huge crowds of people, supposedly saw all his miracles: loaves and fishes; walking on water; water to wine; raising the dead; healing lepers, the blind, the crippled etc etc. Yet, they were not sure exactly who, or what, he was. I have to wonder, just how many other humans were capable of doing such things?

Pretending these miracles actually happened, the people who accepted this Jesus did not need faith--they had evidence, right? Yet, the majority of Jews did not believe he was the messiah and even his disciples were confused. Seriously? You see the dude you are hanging out with doing all these miracles and you are still confused and/or have doubts? Yes, I'm talking to you Thomas. And you, Peter, what a dick thing to do, after all you saw, you denied knowing Jesus three times before the cock crowed. And then there's you, Judas, you also saw all this still and you betrayed him? Just, wow! Well, now that I think about it, it was ordained by this god that you do this, so I guess you get a pass.

Despite all this evidence, only a few were convinced. This is why Jesus' message was taken to the Gentiles. And pagans did not need evidence because they were familiar with virgin birth and god-man etc... stories. The stories fabricated about Jesus fit right in with, and were borrowed from, stories they had heard for generations.

And, after the establishment and rise of the Catholic Church, we all know how Christianity was spread. A sword at the neck was all the evidence that was needed to get people accept this god and his son-self, Jesus.

And here we are, in the age of modern science, and we are supposed to take it on faith that the bible is the revealed word of a god and that these miracles and fabulous stories actually happened (I sure wish I had a talking donkey). We are supposed to suspend our ability to reason, something that this god supposedly created us to have, and accept this nonsense as truth.

I don't think so!

I also live in the bible belt, and, I can't express how I "do not" believe as most of the people here are religious to the extreme. I have an older brother (in his 70's) that has completely disowned me because I told him I was an atheist. I would like to be able to say "You will find out one day" but he won't because his ass is going to rot in the ground along with the rest of us and when your brain dies you don't know shit anymore. I lived in fear and had nightmares as a child because of the damnation to hell I was supposed to be going just for being born. After I got more age on me and became more cognitive of my surrondings I saw these so called "Christians" sneaking around and fucking each other, running "Faith based" businesses and screwing everyone hiding behind their faith. I would rather not hide, here I am and I don't believe in no god, talking snakes, donkeys, parting seas, Noah's ark (and they have one here in Kentucky and that son of a bitch charges $40.00 a person to walk through it. Oh yes and he has a pair of dinosaurs in it too. That shows how much he researched his boat I haven't been in it and won't go in it. He would have to give me $40.00 to walk through laughing at his farce. Seems like a good place to go too when you got a good pot high. I think what infuriates me the most is thinking people will buy all that bull shit. and, a lot of them do. Religion was born the day the first con man met the first fool.

This was probably building up inside of you for a while- and you just couldn't take it anymore!

I never bring up my lack of religion when I among my religious friends. If I did I probably wouldn’t have many friends.

"I am not that popular of a person".

What you are dealing with here, people's claim to religion.....I would venture to guess for most of them it is about popularity. If not personal popularity, then the social kind of Popularity. People like to go where there are no rough edges, everyone agrees, no one thinks too damn hard... smooth sailing. It's a Popular Place !!

Sometimes they choose it, other times it chooses them.
(Most are not likely to think that part of it through)

"It wasn't directed at me, but it was a semi-public proclaimation .... I couldn't let it pass..."
why not, may i ask

Also "Godspeed" in Texas

I can relate to some of your experiences and feelings. What little family I have left - they're all geezus superstar folks. My Sister often posts scripture and nonsense on FB, to accompany photos and things. I ignore the "holy" ones, and only respond to non-god stuff.

We maintain a somewhat friendly, civil connection, but there remains an unseen barrier that I have no desire to cross. I had to kindly read her the riot act a year or so ago, when she got on her "saving" kick. At least that has stopped.

I find my intolerance - like yours - has increased over time. It doesn't help that I'm in the buckle of the damn bi-bull belt ...

It's too bad - but sometimes you just have to find your own tribe. Enjoying your own company (which I do), helps a lot too .

I cannot say why you are doing this. You would need to devote some time for introspection. For me personally, the vast majority of fbook "friends" are christian or religious. And I was not posting anything anti theistic or critical of religion for fear of backlash or people unfriending me. Until my mother died and my emotions were such a whirlwind and I did not give a FCK anymore. And put up some memes critical of religion. It was this moment of enough is enough! and I wanted my authentic self to be free, no more hiding in the closet, so to speak. It did lead to fall outs and people taking the criticisms WAY TOO PERSONALLY and unfriending me. But it did not leave me friendless as my anxiety convinced me it would.

I found a new flock of friends in facebook science debate pages, where the religious would come to flex their limited knowledge of science or archaeology to prove their god. And in correcting or mocking these dunning kruger or deepak chopra types found people like myself, some just regular non believers and others anti theists. Perhaps you can find your new friends by joining such spaces as well. My experience in agnostic/atheist groups was frustrating and disappointing as they always devolved to sexist or misogynistic posts or were a front for nude or porn image swaps. I expected more intellectualism from non believers and was SORELY MISTAKEN.

I just take what people say as a means to understand they want to offer help. I just say thank you and proceed.

I have been an atheist all my life, so I am very comfortable in my non-belief. To me, any religious crap is the equivalent of someone throwing salt over their shoulder, knocking on wood, crossing their fingers or any other superstitious nonsense. I even ended up being godfather to my exes grandchildren.
If you believe its all bollocks, then what difference does it make if grace is said or not? So long as they respect your views enough not to insist that you say it too. Religion is by its very nature sectarian and divisive. It promotes a "them and us" mentality. If it drives you away from your family then it wins.
The big drawback is when they try and convert you back. This can be countered by a myriad of reasonable arguments against their "truth". (You can find lots of them on here). Not least is the zip code lottery of religion. They are what they are simply because they were born into it. But for an accident of birth they could just as well have been born a Muslim, Hindu, Jew or into a yakuza family. Instead of praising Jesus they could be cutting off fingers?
After a while, they will get as tired of what they see as your bs as you are of theirs. Then you can get back to being a family.

I actually thought it was quite well written, how it was received , well that certainly could have gone over better, but then again what would you expect hang in there, we're here.

That's a lot to unpack but know that you are not alone. You are not wrong to be troubled by their lack of tolerance for well written response to a public statement. I think that's the difference. When a cherished person utters something odd in the home we dismiss it out of a sense of privacy. Our love for the relationship is of higher value so we roll our eyes and dismiss it. Written op-eds belong to the public and we feel a greater sense of who we're addressing our reply to. Maybe it saves some from what we consider to be a restrictive or false life without seeming targeted at our loved one. I suspect your loved one's butthurt will soften and your relationships will go on with a greater awareness and respect for your bravery. Even if they don't agree.

I don't communicate with my 2 religious sisters anymore. I love them but can't stand to be around them. Isolation is part of being a minority. Use FB to hang out with the friends you like and screw everyone else.

As for why you felt compelled to do that only you can fully answer the question. I know that I do it partly to keep people away so that no bonding can take root. I've grown harsh on the human species and the disgust I feel for people is genuine. The momentary diversions they offer me are great but I must protect myself from becoming attached again. People tend to die or leave me a lot and I'd rather avoid that pain more than what has already taken residence in my heart. Pain of loss is not a kind pain and it doesn't go away. It softens and fades of memory but is still a sad affair.

I listen to Warren Zevon's song Splendid Isolation when feeling a bit down about preferring solitude. So what if it's self-protection? I'm important to me. If I'm that hurt then I should withdraw and meditate on what's going on inside. That may change and I may regret having done so but that's not my experience so far. I hope that helps.

Chillax dude!

As you I attempt to avoid situations where there will be a formal declaration of superstition, informal however I simply ognore. You need to do what's right for you, and can always expand your circle by being active in Atheist/Humanist groups.

I suspect you are doing it From anger.

Interesting.