If it were me, I'd say something along the lines of, "I lack faith because I see no evidence to support the claim for any god, and I haven't come to this position lightly. I live my life with a sincere effort to be a good person — to act with integrity, to help people in need, and to harm no one. You're free to disagree, and I respect your right to have your own views, but when you say you don't understand my position yet refuse to listen to any explanation, I don't feel you're showing me the same respect. You'd rather assume I'm wicked than to accept that I'm a well-intentioned person who merely doesn't see the world through the same lens as you do. If you can't or won't make an effort to understand my perspective, please don't bring this topic up again."

If they stop dragging them to church before they're able to think they might make better choices. If porn is the measure of atheists then according to porn hub there are a whole lot of atheists in the world!

Just posted this on another post but it works here too. Most people are born into a religion, nominally at least, and for most people the reason for leaving it is lack of evidence, but the motivation for leaving it, is usually moral repugnance at the poor moral values of religion. And since leaving it takes effort and thought, plus has often a real price, I have generally found that sceptics tend to be very moral people.

Some people are uncomfortable actually being in control of their lives.

Sounds like you're an intelligent person. Good to know there are people like you spreading the good non-work haha! Though I doubt she'll change her mind, another perspective can change one eventually. It took me 10 years of hearing athiest arguments to finally come around

I was thinking though, it's amazing how one-dimensional christian arguments are. "You're just an athiest so you can do bad things". Ok, so if you think about that a bit further, that means that a person has such little devotion to their religion that they're willing to throw it away so they can cuss or drink or whatever they're wanting to do. If there is ANY reason someone would leave their religion, and a person actually cares, then they would focus on why that person has gotten away from the beliefs. However, this would mean going through some trouble and wouldnt just be a simple "Checkmate bitches" comeback.

My mother gets so pissed and confused when I point out the other dimensions of arguments she poses. It's so contradictory how they sing of being able to see though they were once blind, but the truth is that they are more blind than ever.

You could remind her that Hitler was a Christian (Catholic) and the church has never excommunicated him.

And follow up with the current epidemic of Clergy molesting children.

If they had the gift of reason they would not believe. They don't, so they do.

That's not how belief works. If someone offered me a billion dollars to believe the moon was made of green cheese, I still couldn't do it. It shows an incredible ignorance of human psychology (and therefore self-awareness too) to even entertain the idea that I could.

I have never thought of that one. And here’s me thinking I’m just an arrogant narcissist.

I clearly question doctrine of all sorts because I’m a confrontational egotistical arse.

Well, that’s that cleared up then!

My fall back is a quote all of you have heard or said. I'll paraphrase. "I do the right thing not so I can get into heaven. I do the right thing because it's the right thing to do."

for some non belief is just a scary idea. too scary.

For reasons like this, I prefer to not speak to anyone that has some sort of faith. Whether be extremist or not. I hope you find better people to talk to and hang out with.

There are 8 billion people on earth believing in hundreds of gods, (they ALL say their god is the only true god)...when you understand why you don't believe in any of the other gods, (which makes you an atheist also) you will understand why I don't believe in YOUR god.

This explains a lot about the confusion that exists in the heads of believers that to not have a belief in god makes us immoral. It’s because they are fed a diet of lies about us, and keeping them ignorant of the facts is the modus operandi of our detractors.

It tends to be the reverse.

Becoming an atheist so you can do bad things ?

So sorry to hear that that happened with someone who was a friend. I suspect that a lot of us have been in similar situations, I have, but we argued about another issue.
If your friend is so entrenched in the church and blinkered to the extent that she loses your friendship it’s a shame; but there’s a limit to what you can do isn’t there.

you might ask her what bad things she thinks you're doing, since you're allowed.

you might ask her if she knows any believers who do bad things, even though they're not allowed.

you might ask her whether she has ever seen a video that she didn't believe was real, and what made her think the one she just watched isn't just actors performing from a script. ask her how she can tell.

if you're really industrious you could find a video that shows her a different point of view, but that's tricky; it could backfire.

g

Someone once asked me "If you don't believe in god, what book guides you to be a good person?" and I told him I don't need a book. I have a moral compass.

Sounds like the indoctrination is complete with your daughter. This must be difficult for you.

stupidity cannot be cured.

Sad state of affairs, condolences

Religiously intoxicated person gets angry at logic. Familiar story...

Sounds fun...not.

Many people simply do not 'want' to change their beliefs or even ask questions. It seem she is on a track and you have planted a seed.