Good morning. I may not be reading your post correctly but are you saying that you feel the need to have a comeback when there is a post or email referring to "him"? I happen to be a member of an organized religion and have no desire to "convert" you. On the other hand why would it bother you when others speak of their religion? Do you feel that when someone talks about their religion they are trying to"pull you in"? I believe more than anything that the way a person lives his or her life is what is important no matter what your spiritual or religious beliefs. Im sorry you feel that you have to defend yourself or your beliefs. Satine

Well said Satine. In answer to your question, if you feel someone is trying to preach to you, just say let's agree to disagree and not continue this discussion. As far as E-mails or posts go, scroll on by the posts and delete the E-mails. There is no need for an opinion.

All you'll gain from giving them a comeback is a rise in your blood pressure. Delete, delete, delete.

Or, if those emails really bother you, block the sender in your email program.

That was my thought, exactly, as I was reading your post, Michelle. Why in the world would you think you need to post a "comeback"? To me, a comeback means a wise-crack intended to put a person in their place. Sometimes lighter-hearted than others, and I love a good, well-intended comeback as much as the next person. But that's not the sense I got from your question.

Aside from a very occasional person coming to my door trying to sell their religion, I haven't run into people tyring to force their religion on me.

I guess it depends on who these people are that are trying to "convert" you and why they are. Are they friends, relatives, strangers?

I'm not sure if you are just bothered that people talk about "Him" in front of you, or if they are really having lengthy conversations that bother you.

I once had a boss who would have to talk about being saved before every company luncheon. I just tuned him out.

It almost seems (even by the fact that your subject says agnostic, not atheist) that you are open to talk about religion. So you probably need to present a different impression. If you don't want to engage in religious discussions, walk away from them, ignore them, etc. You may be allowing or even actively participating in the conversations and not really realizing it.

If people are telling you you are going to hell and you want a comeback... I would probably say something along the lines...well, if I did believe in God, I would probably think it's up to Him to decide if I go to hell, not you.

Living here in the bible belt, we have a large number of people who try to force their brand of religion on others. Some of the beliefs are quite different than what I learned in the church I grew up in. Sometimes I feel the people forcing their beliefs upon others are not quite the upstanding followers that they say they are. I tolerate or try to redirect the conversation. If that doesn't work, I tell them I'm not interested. If they refuse to respect that, then I am quite blunt. I don't appreciate being preached at. I respect people who live by example.

I know what you mean as well as everyone also assumes I'm an Obama hater apparently judging from all the HATE emails I get about Obama! It absolutely infuriates me! Those ridiculous anti-democratic hate mongering emails going around. So ignorant too!

There are no come backs to the religious based emails, just ignore them. You have to stop and think that the people sending them believe with all fibers of their being that Jesus Christ is the answer to all life's woes and blessings. You will never convince them anything else, they will never convince you of anything else. I just delete them and shake my head. Some people have to have something to believe in to get them through each day. That is the reason religion was created in the first place. Man is that only species that is aware of it's immortality...they need something to help them deal with what happens in the afterlife. Without it, what meaning is life...for many that is.

oh, michelle, if you are just talking about dealing with emails, and not people actually talking with you (just disregard my first post)... I'd just ignore the emails.

Ignore e-mails and/or posts; no response is necessary, even if directed specifically to you.

In person, politely explain that you don't discuss religion (or politics....insert hot button topic here) and change the subject. If the person(s) continue, remove yourself from the conversation; just walk away if needed.

Comebacks are not always productive.

Michelle, I share your spirituality. Personal peace should be a part of that spirituality. Please, please don't worry about effective "comebacks." It's negative and not worthwhile. Dees above has the right advice.

Now go for a walk and revel in the fall colors! :-)

Emails are easy, just delete.

One of my former neighbours is big with forwarding emails. She asked me twice, if there were emails I don't like getting. I told her anything religious and with jokes and pics of babies.

What do I get? Religious and babies emails. I can usually tell by the subject line what the email is about and I more often than not delete without opening.

I've only run into a couple of people.....some door-to-door and others on a more personal level. I'm just not interested, and have no problem telling them so....nicely.

I always find it curious when so many who have a strong feeling (religious or non-religious) about something, to the point of preaching, condemnation or otherwise never want a dissenting opinion to be stated or aired. It's equally interesting that the halleluah choir sings praises when someone sick gets better but doesn't acknowledge who according to their alleged beliefs must have made them so sick, broke the puppy's leg, caused the abduction of the child, etc in the first place! Contradictory & hypocritical and seldom if ever is explained. No wonder they want everyone to say nothing! LOL

With people like that, I often ignore but when appropriate, I'll occasionally just share something I've learned in my years on this rock. I have my beliefs and I'm secure enough in my beliefs that I don't need the need to preach to others about them. And I see no reason to not express a dissenting view when views are being expressed. I've always found the ones loudest about religion are the least secure in their beliefs, and televangelists are an excellent example. Seems to me they're often trying to convince *themselves* rather than someone else. A cult is a cult. And can be religion, politics, medical theories or otherwise. And each can be equally dangerous. How many wars are fought in the name of religious beliefs and trying to force ones beliefs onto another? They too do not want a dissenting opinion to exist, much less be stated.

There is no point in messing with people's beliefs. Or dis-beliefs! lol

(I know what you mean, though. It does get tiresome.)

What a fascinating thread.... and proof that we are big girls and CAN speak about a topic like this without needing to be supervised. I hope it will be here when we get off the road today as it bears reading again. What a treat. Nanny

BTW..I also agree about the deleting Some of the people in the groups we travel with, oftentimes can express political 'stuff' that could make one "take the bait" of getting into one of those undesirable arguments. We find that keeping those sentiments private keeps our civil friendships intact. Civil being the operative word here.

I agaree, this is a facinating thread...I also agree with the delete button and use it often...

I'm with Arkansas girl, I have a "friend" that constantly sends me anti president,political messages knowing I do not agree with her politics. The one that really got me, started out by calling all of a certain party, stupid...I responded, saying I am one of those stupid people and would appreciate not getting those message again...Since then, I just delete, don't even open.....
I think religion and politics are your choice....

I'm guessing it's too late for this but how I handle it is to not discuss or argue with people in real life about what my religious beliefs are. I come from a family that are Christians..everyone. If I told them I didn't believe as they do they'd all be trying to save me from myself. They'd mean well, they don't want to see you burning in hell for all eternity ya know...I just never tell anyone in my life that I don't believe as they all do. Their heads would certainly explode if I did! HAHAHA!

Tell them thank you for caring but your religion is your choice, not theirs.

"Will you be in charge of the tribunal that'll be deciding on my case when I arrive at the pearly gates (if there are such)? If so ... you'll have had to have died before this old man, right?

By the way, how often have your heard Christian folk refer to "God/She" - as a being beyond gender?"

If you must.

ole joyfuelled

well said ladies and gentlemen...I mostly ignore the political/sex/religion emails just as I do in real life...

Has anyone else seen the movie made from the book "Annie's Box", about Darwin's difficult decision to publish? Gosh, I just SAW it and now I can't recall the title! Grrr.

I loved the movie, probably because I have been like Annie Darwin for as long as I can remember.

I am a what I consider to be an Agnostic. I also am very spiritual in much the same way the OP is.

I am simply not bothered by those who believe differently. If someone wants to pray for me I am thankful for their thinking of me.

Now if someone get in my face and tries to proselytize it depends on my mood.

I either turn away or play.

DD had a great time at a county fair booth where a young man was doing his sell religion thing. She asked him about spider karma. She wanted to know if she would go to hell for killing a spider the other day. Would the spider go to heaven and on and on. When he couldn't answer she asked him if he had a higher up in his church that would know. He was so rattled. lol. Then she said do you have a computer. Maybe you could Google it. Her very Catholic friend and I were standing out of sight listening to the whole thing. We were laughing so hard I was surprised we didn't wet ourselves.

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Not their job to convert me nor mine them.

I enjoy listening to others viewpoints as long as the discussion is mutually respectful.

I think if someone told me I was going to hell for some reason, my response would be, "How ignorant of you to say so."

Here's the problem I have with so many of the *just delete* solutions:

to acquiesce: to consent tacitly; submit by silence & comply silently and without protest.

See my point?

So interesting! I think I really mis-worded my question, I wasn't looking for a "comeback" as much as a good conversation starter about how you handle something you take much more lightly than they do when I feel like discussing something like this. I am the queen of deleting emails from my aunt who sends every religious thing she can find and a very Republican friend who would probably kick a dog rather than see Obama re-elected (just an expression, I am the FAQs editor of the Pet Forum!), but they also send some pretty cool stuff too so I keep them around on my email list.

When anyone says they will keep me in their prayers, I really appreciate it, and when someone I love is hurting I tell them I will send positive thoughts and keep them in my heart.

I will say that one of the most spiritual experiences in my life was in a tiny chapel in Italy built around 350 BC. There were original statues of saints that stood in alcoves around the pulpit, each without a head. This was an era where Atilla the Hun was in power and invaded Italy and the Huns desicrated all religious figures in the churches. It was chilling and enlightening at the same time, how not much has changed on the war of religion.

Like in my "heaven/hell" post, it is awesome to see that people here aren't afraid to talk about deeper topics.

I don't communicate with my own sister because she would not stop trying to save my sole by sending me religious stuff. I asked her to stop she ignored me. When I finally got through to her, stopped, then started send it to my husband by US mail. She told me once she was afraid she would be in heaven with none of our family there.

If anyone should ask me about my religous beliefs I would say, "that's between me and God". If they don't shut up I would turn my back and walk away unless we were in my home.

The problem I have with organized religions is the organizations, the add-on rituals that eventually replace meaning, the cant, the dogma, the self-serving bureaucracies.

It seems over-reaching for Man to believe he is capable of comprehending or circumscribing 'the meaning' of Life. Is it even necessary -- or is it an attempt to think we have some 'control' (when we do not)?

I'm truly impressed with the posters here today; what a relief to discuss things without someone coming on to belittle their words. See, we can be adults sometimes, too.

To me ..I feel religion is private,to each his own,I do not discus how I feel about mine or your religion.Thats just the way I feel for one thing you & I may not believe the same thing,chances are good yours is different than mine.Do you get what Im saying?

It appears that ...

... ole joyful's big-mouth ...

... got him into trouble (again) due to his contribution to this thread.

o j ... "gently remind"ing you to watch your mouth, as well

to acquiesce: to consent tacitly; submit by silence & comply silently and without protest. See my point?

I do see your point, Lefleur, but I don't think it necessarily applies to this situation. The usual sort of religious statement or email doesn't warrant a protest, and those who respond with silence are not complying with anything, nor are they acquiescing. It's not as though the religious person had an agenda to do harm, and therefore needed to be stopped.

See my point? ;-)

So often, the best way to avoid conflict is to just not engage.

Live and let live. Politics and religion - I just don't get into discussions on these topics with people who have a different point of view. I've found too many to be extremely sensitive and offended and not open to an intellectual discussion of opposing views.

Exactly what gibby said...not agreeing with some peoples ideas is like walking through a mine field...no thanks...

I'm a christian and I ignore all the religious emails too...lol

I hate those that finish with "if you send out to ten people in ten minutes you will have good luck.

Or don't break this chain or you will have bad luck"