Happened again

[Ouchmyback]

I am new to this "city-data/forum" area. I joined specifically to try and find a larger pool of people with whom I could identify with as I am currently in a small town in Wisconsin. Being an atheist illicits all types of difficult responses from all types of people.

I like June's reply...Grandmothers deserve piece. They can be nice and they can be sweet, but they still harber many of the prejudices and small mindedness of the era they grew up in. I don't think it's fair to ask anybody to hide who they are from the world (i.e. changing a facebook or myspace page) just to please somebody who is out fishing.

Point is, I think it is fine to not rock the boat at family reunions but Grandma is out hunting to find people to convert. If Grandma was born 8000 miles East (or so) she'd be a different religion. I vote for trying to have a quick heart to heart and let Grandma know that Atheism is based on observation and not rhetoric. If there is a god they certainly wouldn't require allegiance to the organized christian faith.

[moonsavvy]

Originally Posted by coosjoaquin

I'm being pressured by my grandma on my father's side to convert to Christianity again. First she started by asking me to remove all reference's on my facebook about me being an atheist, then she started going on about how she really wants me in heaven with her when, I told her that the simple fact was I just don't believe in a god and then I asked her to stop trying to change me. The conversation ended abruptly after that and it's left me feeling down.

I get along with my grandma perfectly so long as we don't talk about religion but lately she is become more and more overbearing and I just don't know how to deal with it in a manner that wont severely hurt our relationship.

My mom does something similar. I say politely as I can that her belief's and mine are somewhat different. I've told her that what works for her, doesn't work for me, and that I'm quite comfortable with my belief's. Short and sweet has been what works for me, try to shut down the religious communication as fast as you can, and do it with a smile.

Family members feel somewhat responsible for us (I believe in God, just not her religion) so it is quite normal for them to take on our "salvation" so to speak. View it as an act of love, even though it seems controlling and manipulative, and it might not be so bothersome.