I’ve noticed every time she send me a text message, she can’t say anything without mentioning her Christian religion or needing to remind me how Jesus loves me. She knows I don’t believe in Jesus Christ and she still sends messages like that. What should I do? I’ve mostly been ignoring her text messages cause I don’t want her to think she’s getting the best of me, but telling me something like that is like saying Edward Cullens love you. I’m convinced these are all acts of attempted manipulation, but I could be wrong. Tell me what you guys think. Leave your thoughts below.
Tell her about the 33,000,000 Hindu gods and their little helpers that love her to bits...very small bits
I normally ignore those particularly to religion and appreciate those devoid of religion example motivational messages. Something that can make one thinks. When it happens so, they become happy for applauding them on that. Now, they don't send me religious messages anymore but inspirational messages, Love messages etc. I think they have realized it by themselves that my taste for religion is lacking in their perspective.
I had an auto body shop guy who is a leader of some yahoo sect. Once he fixed my car, and when I got it back, there were fliers everywhere. In the console, under the seats, between the seats, under the floor mats... I pulled down my visor and got a flier shower. I just laughed, and then burned them. People expect you to respect their beliefs, but they need to respect yours too. If they don't, they're probably not worth it.
Make an appointment to meet her and turn up with a colander on your head and a faraway look in your eye. Waffle on about the Flying Spaghetti Monster and how His touching you with his noodly appendage has changed your life. Offer to take her to meet the local FSM group and have spaghetti etc. etc.
See how she likes it.
Alternatively, tell her to fuck off!
Call her out. Say something like....
You - "Do I treat you with respect?"
Her - "Yes. Always why?"
You - "I feel disrespected when you give me of your faith, especially when you know I'm an atheist"
Her - "I'm sorry. I never thought of that"
You - "That's OK. Please respect my atheism the way I respect your faith".
This might not work thought
If you have asked her not to do that then It is a form of mild abuse. Trying to guilt you into questioning your non belief. It is at the very least annoying and disrespectful.
I had a couple friends continue to try to talk Jesus to me after I came out as atheist. I told them I like them and would like to continue being friends and talking with them but they would need to stop with the Jesus tal and the guilting because it was not going to work, that it has the opposite effect on me. They got the message and we still talk so that is what worked for me.
If I had a friend who suddenly started texting me with god stuff I'd be worried about their sanity but all you can do is ignore it, it's all meaningless if well intended (I hope) If your friend really cares then cool, if there's a god component to that care I would suggest that you're not leaving anything behind that you need if you put a bit of distance between yourselves.
I have a couple friends who do the same. They know I don't believe in sky pixies but they send me that stuff anyway. It might be best to respond by telling them how special they are, then leave it at that.
Not seeing the texts themselves (I am, not asking to see them), I can't really say what her intent might be... other than agreeing with other comments that say she doesn't respect you in the same way that she expects others to respect her.
There was a comedian, I forget who, sho said that behind every "bless your heart" is a little "fuck you!", and I kind of agree with that.
If it were me, and I am glad it isn't, I'd think up snaky replies.
"Jesus loves me?",
Then why doesn't he ever text me himself?
I took out a restraining order, so tell Jesus to leave me alone.
He can't even cut my lawn right.
Funny, he's never even sent me a card on my birthday...
In the end she needs to understand that if she wants you to respect her beliefs, then she needs to respect your non-beliefs.
If nothing else, I’d gradually put more and more distance between the friend and me.
I have had family that have done that to me and I just nipped it in the bud. I've told them if they continue trying to prostilize, convert, or preach to me in any way that I would cut all ties with them. It works like a charm.
I will respect the fact that they believe in unicorns and I won't try to convince them that unicorns don't exist, since I don't know that for a fact. In turn, I don't want them to try and convince me that they do exist. If they don't respect that mutual agreement then I just terminate my association with them.