If they are important people to you, say thank you, and accept that they can’t function in their life without their pretend invisible friend. If they are of no importance to you, tell them god never did one single paper of your homework, never babysat your kids when you had a class, never paid for one of your classes. You are responsible for everything that happens in your life, good or bad. If they have such low self esteem as to believe some magic force provides for them, feel sad for them. Unlike you, they can never fully appreciate their own strength and accomplishments.

Justified! It's the rose colored glasses for those ppl. NFL guy points to the sky on a TD but for some reason not on a fumble. For rainbows but not tsunamis. They're brainwashed to be passive aggressive.

Welcome to the site.

I would agree with everyone here - justified.

Justified. It's disturbing how they will claim all the credit for God, but when bad things happen suddenly it's not God's fault.

Hi and welcome. I'm new too. I don’t think so at all. You worked for your BA degrees and did it while taking care of your family. It’s like when a person recovers from a serious injury or illness and people thank “god”. How about you thank the doctors and staff for making you or your family member better? So, I say, congratulation, and very well done to YOU for what you have done and not a god not any other imaginary person. (Well unless it’s Odin, The All Father, of course. I mean we all know that HE is real. LOL)

Thanks everybody! One lingering tendency left from growing up the way I did is a strong urge not to hurt anyone's feelings (though I'm way better than I used to be). But the way some of those comments were worded just made me MAD.

You are justified - you worked your ass off to do this. God didn’t magically start parenting teenagers or paying your bills while you were going to school!

Clearly justified! You did the work, and deserved the credit. For them to diminish that in any way is just shitty

Welcome...justified! Those people will most likely will never understand...stay happy!

Justified... And welcome!

No. Enjoy your success. You deserve it.

You have answer your question... You worked your ass off and the achievement is yours. That's all there is to know.

Few other things religios say make me angrier.

One that does make me angrier is if a child dies and someone says --

"God wanted another little angel."

They need punched in the face.

Welcome to the asylum. Enjoy your stay.
Your achievements had nothing to do with anything but yourself and your own hard work and determination.
You wouldn't be rude to point that out, you'd be 100% justified.
By all means, toot your own horn. You've earned the right to do that.

I was JUSTIFIED when I was five
Raisin' Cain, I spit in your eye
Times are changin' now the poor get fat
But the fever's gonna catch you when the bitch gets back, oh, oh, oh

Eat meat on a Friday, that's all right
Even like steak on a Saturday night
I can bitch the best at your social do's
I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue, oh, oh, oh

I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch 'cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move, the things that I do oh oh oh

Elton John

You are 100% justified. Those who criticise are insecure people who need a crutch in life. What an achievement, well done and move away from those morons

CONGRATULATIONS! You go Girl! You earned it, you take the bows. You are justified in not acknowledging the religiously motivated comments of others, regardless of how well-intentioned they might be. Welcome to the site. You have friends here, you know, the nonjudgmental kind. =]

definitely justified. You don't have to like those comments and depending on how much you want to remain friends with them I would respond with the message you put up here if you don't mind starting fires.

Definitely justified....you put in long hours to get your degree, how dare they give some non existent being the credit for you effort.

You are totally right to be upset about it. I had similar experiance in 2015 when I graduated as a Deans List Award Recipient with a graphic arts degree (I also somehow managed to do so as a mom with little help as my husband had issues with his service related PTSD and was physically here but not mentally) I had no choice but to bust my ass to keep up my grades to get academic achievement scholorships to pay tuition once the cost exceeded finacial aid limits! I would always get annoyed whenever anyone would tell me to thank god for my work and to give credit god for my success in school...then again a few years later and I still haven't found a job working on graphic design (the market here is bad for it) and have had to fall back on painting murals and selling portraits. Its nice to hear that you worked hard and it paid off for you, and congrats on the job! My step dad was raised Pentecostal as well, and I think because of that he raised us secular.

Welcome fellow Hoosier!

Let them have their delusion of a sky friend. You know better! To cite Protagoras, "man is the measure in all things."

You are absolutely NOT being rude. You are recognizing your own accomplishments and your family and friends should be doing the same. I would simply acknowledge their comments in a Courteous manner, say thank you and leave it at that and move on. By the way, congratulations on your accomplishments and a job well done. I am proud of you and I admire you so much. I wish you well and success in finding what you are searching for here and in your life.