If it were me, I'd find it hard not to include quotes by Mark Twain.

However, I think your note makes your position clear without creating offense, which is probably beign a much better neighbor and shows a bit more tolerance than I would myself.

It's very nice of you to reply at all.

Every few months, I get unsolicited invitations to join a number of local churches.
I think about responding, but that usually lasts for about as long as it takes me to return from the mail kiosk.
Every "invitation" goes into the trash, where they belong.

I live in a rural area and in fact, am a farmer myself raising livestock. Now that they know you are an Atheist, they will either step up their efforts to convert you, or ostracize you. I applaud your bravery. I myself am not that brave and will remain in the religious closet until I can get myself moved out of this area.

your letter is nice enough in and of itself. I'm not sure if you want to talk them down, or convince them they are mistaken, or discuss the matter, but it extends plenty of opportunities for them to take issue and debate matters. if you simply wish them to stop thier correspondence you might just explain you don't believe and have no interest in subscribing to the follies they have unless your interested in debate. don't be critical, just let them be content. let sleeping dogs lie. it isn't important they get it, just that you don't want it.

I would consider putting in a line about "if you want to donate to the church of the FSM, I am happy to take donations in the provided envelope" or something like that.

Nice letter and they most likely will ignore it but now they know where you stand.

Beautiful letter

Lovely and kind letter. The only change I would make is remove the word soul and use being. “and the night sky touched your being.”

I would limit it to the first second and last paragraphs because you're not going to change anyone's mind.

Long but well written.

I am and have a long time member of FFRF. Every month they put out a very informative and humorous newsletter, 'Freethought Today.' Once I received a flyer from a local 7th Day Adventist group and I took a copy of my newsletter and a note thanking them for their information and I am returning something in kind. I knew where the meeting hall was located and left the items there. Never heard from them again. Sometimes a little reverse information might get some to think twice.

Wonderful. Well articulated. Even one believer understand this logic and let go of social conditioning built over years, it will be great

Serving Jury Duty , I took my lunch at the Greyhound Bus station. Always an interesting people watching experience. I was invaded by a proponent of Sun Yun Moon of the infamous Moonies who own the Washington Journal (beware as a source). I knew more than she did about them I she departed enlightened. I am now receiving a "newspaper" called the Epic Times which is ultra right anti PRC focused. I use it for the cat litter and have thanked them online for providing with such. The paper is so slanted it knocked my house off of its foundation. I like quoting the bible back at them. Then announce my atheism. Love the shock on their faces. And we part in peace.

Awesome Response! Thanks for sharing…

I am not trying to be critical however your letter may make you feel good, but probably has no affect on the person(s) it was sent to.

Great letter, especially for the child who is the only one you may have a hope of reaching.

I like the fact that you have included lots of quotes, since religion is in many ways basically the same thing as the fallacy of "proof by authority", religious people are predisposed to look for authority.

If there was an addition to make then after your, "religion so far, has offered only unsupported speculation" I would add. "Because, if it was supported, then it would cease to be religion, but become science or philosophy, since religion is the name we give to the unsupported." But that would probably be too long winded, so I just include it for your amusement.

I admire your efforts, but I fear my own response would be (and has been) more curt. Something along the lines of:-

"Thank you for your letter.

"While I appreciate your efforts, I am an atheist. This renders your letter a waste of your time and effort in the writing, a waste of mine in the reading, a waste of the paper it was written on, and a waste of the ink it was written with.

"Your time and effort are yours to waste as you choose, but mine are not. I would therefore be grateful if you would not trouble yourself to write again.

"Thanking you in advance for your lack of further communication,

"John Chew"

Love it. You did ever so well, your mother would be proud of you, that is if she is not a believer, anyway she should be proud of you if she is too.

pretty good!

i doubt it will do much good one way or the other but who knows maybe it will. and as you write below it will be good for the theists to see an atheist behaving reasonably on these matters.

it's minor stuff but you have two grammar/style issues. normally i would not bother but you did ask for feedback and even minor stuff may bear on the reader's processing of your points. also words have meaning and relate to the process of arriving at reasoned points of view, and do this increases the usefulness of getting our word usage correct in a piece that extols the use of reason.

"with out" supporting evidence should become "without"

also someone please correct me if i'm wrong but i think
"but are none the less" should be "but are nonetheless"

i also live somewhat rurally. i'm not retired. they do try to convert me sometimes but give up pretty quickly. sorry for the darkness of my humor here but recently i received sone sort of religious mail about good friday. "my favorite theist nonsense holiday" i thought , but did not respond to them.

sorry for my own typos but im on a phone got this one.

"Thank you for your kind letter.

May I return the compliment with a suggestion that we meet to discuss why I am not a believer?

Yours, etc"

They look at me and whisper to each other...... I smile.......

I don't have many instances of the religious approaching. The Mormons haven't sent any one for a while and the JWs have been absent. next door is a retired minister of really fundy church. He does not push it. I get invited to men's breakfasts and BBQs . I belong to a service club and we as a club have to work with the established religious institutions in town. Somewhat symbiotic. Therefore not going to antagonize them. Fair number of my club are Catholic.
I think any explanations of the error of their ways as far as recruiting fall in deaf ears and won't make any difference, they have to change their own belief and realize what a waste of time it is on their own terms.

I like your reply. It is polite without being too overbearing or un-holyier than thou.
You of course go to their church and through conversation gently break their conditioning. I love pointing out that with the King James bible it is a translation of other translations as well as fairly recent (1611).
I could go on for hours, but I've things to do.

Crazy just let it be only if you having a second thought on them converting you probably you enjoy the talking