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What is the best response to "Jesus loves you"?

I live in a very religious town, so I hear this saying about 2 or 3 times every week, whether it be to me or someone near me. I usually don't respond when it is said to me, but what do you think a good response would be?

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Permalink Reply by James Boring on July 18, 2012 at 4:47pm

OK how about replying, "Yes, but does he love me in a Biblical sense?"

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on July 18, 2012 at 8:43pm

Make a movie about the RCC showing its sordid history of wholesale slaughter of Arian bishops, "witches," Gnostics, Muslims, and Jews all to the soundtrack of "Yes, Jesus loves you!/Yes, Jesus loves you!/Yes, Jesus loves you/The Bible tells us so." (Any resemblance to an anti-Romney TV ad from Obama is purely by inspiration.)

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Permalink Reply by Idaho Spud on July 19, 2012 at 8:58am

Everytime I read a post on this topic, I think of that song and am again astounded that anyone with a brain can think "The Bible Tells us so" is a good reason to believe.

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Permalink Reply by Tauheedah Tucker on July 18, 2012 at 10:42pm

If I didn't know them and felt irritated at that time by the statement, just to see their reaction I might say allah or some other personal god loves me and that's who I worship and my bible tells me your god is false. Then if they still try to impose jesus on me i'd tell them im not religious and don't believe in a supernatural god. If they still want to keep on going, i'd say you know you're also an atheist to all other religions and their gods. I know this would be pointless because religious people don't want to hear anything contrary to what they believe in and won't attempt to critically think. But i'd love to see what kind of reaction I would get if I respond that way just one time. I wouldn't waste time on one of them like that every time I hear that statement though. I ordinarily would just say I don't believe in organized religion or im not christian.

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Permalink Reply by Nerdlass on July 18, 2012 at 10:57pm

"I know you're trying to be nice and break the ice with me. I appreciate that. However, not everyone is of the same religion in this country. Some are nonbelievers of any faith. Tell me, how would you feel if a Muslim bestowed Allah's blessing upon you? What if a Wiccan said she'd light a candle for your benefit? Or an Atheist --well? Just wish you a good day--now, that one's not too bad, is it? Anyone can wish you a good day. But would the others offend you? If not, then that's fine. But, if you do not wish to have the blessings or love of a deity you do not believe in, how do you expect others to take your well-intended phrase?"

Then again, there's the good ol' "Jesus saves! He shoots! He scores!!"

I might reply with, "It's a great day to be alive. The Universe is grand and unfathomable. We're along for the ride. Isn't that awesome?" I'd otherwise ignore the religious aspect of their speech. I feel the woo stuff. It's just emotional highs. I don't attribute it to the supernatural. Nature is super enough without deities, fairies, or giants.

I don't know about other places, but in the South, such things are said as social lubricant... Every society has them... It's the bless yous after sneezing, please, thank you, hello, etc. It will take a long time to weed out the religious SLs. I know in my family, the "Jesus loves you!" phrase is often said to pick you up when you're down. How could you feel sad when the king of the universe LOVES you? (Nevermind that he'd be more of the prince--and wait, isn't Satan the prince of the world? LMAO Oh, xianity...) Why not say, "I love you?" --except that it is too much of a big deal in English. "Jesus loves you" needs a replacement SL phrase... That or people need to get over feeling awkward when someone's down. Bad moods and depression can't be solved in a phrase. It's not your place to do so. "I care" might be better... It's simple, direct and not loaded with religiosity.

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Permalink Reply by Joe on July 18, 2012 at 11:04pm

I say “Oh no thanks”, and give them a smile. It’s technically a polite response, but gets the message across.

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Permalink Reply by Pat on July 19, 2012 at 9:10am

"He told you he loves me? Is he still spreading that shit around? I told him I'm not interested. Damn. I guess I need to get that restraining order."

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Permalink Reply by Idaho Spud on July 19, 2012 at 10:20am

You guys all have responses I like. Love the humor in most of them. I need all the smiles I can get, because I tend to get way too serious.

My response would depend on who said it too me, how they said it, and why they said it. I've never had anyone say "Jesus loves you" to me, because I'm in Mormon country. Mormons are way too pushy with their religion, but they're a little more subtle (and smart) than to say that.

A month ago, a new older couple moved in next door. When I talked to the man, he said he was not much into religion, but after talking to his wife, I'm a little concerned about how religious she is. We didn't talk about religion, but as we finished and I turned and walked away, she said "God bless you." I didn't say anything, but thought "Oh, no! Not one of those people!"

I don't think she's Mormon, because they don't use that phrase either.

Phrases like that annoy me quite a bit, so if she does it again, I'll likely respond. If I get the idea she's trying to push her religion on me, I'll probably be fairly strait-forward and tell her I don't believe in fairy-tales since I grew up, or something like that. If she doesn't seem preachy, but just friendly, I'll thank her for her kind thought, but tell her I'm a non-believer, and see how things play-out from there.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on July 19, 2012 at 2:31pm

Great responses, all. Religious people need their feathers ruffled. I like the empirical approach: "Oh, yeah? Well, how do you know? And why doesn't he show it? He never calls or writes. If he loves me, how about a Porsche waiting in my driveway when I get home?"

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Allan H. Clark on July 22, 2012 at 6:26pm

The best response is no response at all, even when pressed for one. The reason is that any negative response will get you embroiled in a conversation you do not want to have—some people feel a need to evangelize when they discover a non-believer in their midst. If absolutely required to give an answer, I would say, "I'm sure you mean that kindly, but that's not part of my beliefs."

I always respond honestly when someone asks a direct question, but the persistence of some is unbelievable. We get a lot of Jehovah's Witnesses coming to the door here and I begin by telling them I'm not interested, but if they persist, I ask them to leave and they do.

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Permalink Reply by James Boring on July 22, 2012 at 6:49pm

Years ago, (before the internet) I read a funny story in which the author was having issues with continual visits from youngish JW's. He did as you did, until he finally got frustrated and told them basically, that "if they were so confident about these beliefs of theirs, they would not be so desperate to try to get other people to agree with them."