(September 1, 2015 at 11:53 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Seriously though, this is the route I choose with my parents/sister.
My relationship with them is more important than proving myself right, so when my sister posts ridiculous shit on Facebook, I let it go. When my mom says dumb shit about how she loves Ted Cruz/Marco Rubio, I let it go.
I have my boundaries, and I will defend them. They all know that if they don't want to have a serious conversation about why their beliefs are stupid, don't proselytize. I laid that out there years ago. Preemptively. We can have a genial conversation, asking questions, etc. As soon as it gets preachy, we're gonna get real. They tested those waters a couple of times and found them too warm.
The only other thing that will bring out my claws is when I am talking about an accomplishment and (generally my mother) will say something along the lines of "Praise God!" Nope, uh uh, not gonna fucking happen. I worked hard for that shit, my sacrifice, my effort, my diligence made that happen, and you don't get to tell me it was all Jesus. FUCK that. Mom tried that shit when I posted my Final grade for a summer course I was taking most recently. Like she forgot.
Draw your lines preemptively and leave that particular ball in their court.
Well said, and I agree with you about all of this.
As far as praising god for the outcomes of hard work, I am 100% on board with you there, too. It drives me nuts when sacrifices, hard work, and all that are summed up to "God did it!" Especially when someone credits god for medical work, as though doctor's didn't do a damn thing to help. I can't stand that. Almost as bad as when something tragic happens and someone says "It was God's plan." My friend's brother died in December, and at his funeral someone went up to her and said "His death was all a part of God's plan. Trust in it. This was supposed to happen." My friend—another atheist—snapped and said "If this was God's plan, then he is either a total rat bastard or doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!"
