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How do you feel when other people discuss God(s) as if they apply to you? How do you respond?

More specifically I'm referring to when people tell you something like "God is punishing you" or "God loves you" when they know you're an atheist? The double standard in this is obvious when you reveal your view towards it and you're immediately labeled as arrogant or close-minded. I think this notion is asinine because the fact that they aren't receptive to your worldview is the very essence of being close-minded.

How do you "win" so to speak in these situations? What do you all do?

P.S. I'm thankful for atheist communities such as this because if I didn't have it to unwind I'd lose my mind.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick F on November 28, 2012 at 9:29pm

I just let it roll off and change the subject. It isn't really worth it to get into it with people whose mindset is such, it just ends in bad feelings all around. If you know the person well enough to have a conversation with them, then do, but if you don't, you are opening a can of worms that isn't really worth it. This is something I learned long ago when dealing with political discussions (being a liberal in a conservative state)

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Permalink Reply by A. R. on November 28, 2012 at 10:22pm

Oh gosh I hate when people do that! This is a pet peeve of mine, so when someone says something like "God is punishing you" I respond something like this: "Which god?"

And sometimes the look in their faces is priceless!

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Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on November 29, 2012 at 10:04am

Many years before an old man, who knew that I am an atheist, said that I seem to be doing fine because of my goodness in my past life!! How could I respond to this if I did not know anything about my own past life?

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Permalink Reply by James Kz on November 29, 2012 at 12:21pm

When I was an atheistic Wiccan, I would simply reply with the equivalent statement: God bless / Goddess bless, Merry Christmas / Joyous Yule, &c.

Here where I live now, and everyone in the county knows me, no one gives me such greetings. (They still greet me of course, but leave out the religious overtones, except for one woman who used to be our neighbour and still thinks she can save us from her idea of the devil.)

In the latter case, she was more comfortable with me as a Wiccan than as an atheist. (I still hear the "you gotta believe in something" remark, but not so much anymore, as I believe in lots of things, just not unsubstantiated stories.)

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Permalink Reply by Travis Hedglin on November 29, 2012 at 6:14pm

There is no "winning" if your goal is to prove any kind of point to these kinds of people. They have a vested interest in deluding themselves into believing that you are the problem, despite any contrary evidence or reason, and without just cause. The best bet is to stay away from such people, and remember that while they may LOOK bright, that it is just because the speed of light is slightly faster than the speed of stupidity.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on November 30, 2012 at 8:19am

LOL Travis, I love "...and remember that while they may LOOK bright, that it is just because the speed of light is slightly faster than the speed of stupidity." :) ~ Melinda

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Permalink Reply by Patrick F on November 30, 2012 at 12:30pm

I guess my viewpoint on any type of personal belief system is that it is personal... if I push back on someone because of something they say and try to refute what they say, I am not any better than they are, if I ignore it, then I am keeping myself sane and still being true to my own personal belief system. I have no problem with someone else having strong religious convictions, as long as they don't try to infringe on other people's rights because of them (unfortunately many evangelicals try to infringe on other people's rights all the time).

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Permalink Reply by Drcrazy on November 30, 2012 at 1:48pm

Well, once I felt really bad.
But little by little I'm getting used.
I am an atheist, I in live Brazil and here in our country to declare atheist is the same thing as being in "hell." (ironically)

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Permalink Reply by Travis Hedglin on November 30, 2012 at 2:28pm

I am sorry to hear of your rough experience. I hope you are able to find friends that are willing to accept you for who you are, rather than who they want you to be.

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Permalink Reply by Park Bierbower on December 3, 2012 at 9:37pm

I just say "no'

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Permalink Reply by Larry Taylor on December 3, 2012 at 10:09pm

If my acquaintances know my views about religion and say something like "god is punishing you," I return by saying, "I know your god is punishing me, because you are here." If they say something similar to "god loves you," I say " I know your god loves me because you are leaving." If they do not know me and make similar comments, I do not give them the time of day.