How do you interact with people who disagree with your opinion on faith? Correct forum

[hrmjustin]

How do you interact with people who disagree with your opinion on faith?
Are you respectful or do you get defensive and say I am right and you are wrong?

I like to listen to to their views and discuss, usually with a drink or two.
On DU I try to be respectful and if I fail at that I am sorry.

got this in the correct forum dopey me.

[brewens]

1. Sometimes I point out that much of the religious doctrine was made up

by people that didn't know to wash their hands after they took a crap! Usually though, I just leave it alone.

[hrmjustin]

2. I like this answer.

[ZombieHorde]

6. Wait, we're supposed to wash our hands after we crap?

On an unrelated side note, I'm making sandwiches if anyone wants one.

[rug]

13. I've been a heretic all these years.

[demwing]

19. Try Hinduism- they "clean" with the left hand

And eat with the right (though I suppose switching might be fine for lefties), and bathe after defecation

Ignorant heathens...

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I'm non-confrontational

when the issue is strictly on the spiritual aspects of belief, which do not pick my pocket and I see as doing no harm. When it veers into political territory, however, the gloves come off. I tend to beg off entirely when the subject is purely faith, as I consider it a highly personal topic, but I don't encounter that type of discussion very often. In my experience, most of those discussions wind up dispensing a lot of unsolicited advice on how people should live their lives, then continuing on to how government needs to get involved - no matter how pure the original intentions of those broaching the subject.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Since I am very open minded about it (and on a lifetime journey of my own),

I either don't get into it or just let any differences go. I've not run into problems about it (like I do in political discussions!)

[southernyankeebelle]

5. Well especially with people I don't know I never talk politics or religion. Even the

people I do know there are some who I just think I'm better off not talking those things about. Its less stressful.

[longship]

7. If they ask about my beliefs, I tell them.

But I never ever attempt to convert people who are clearly imbedded with their own beliefs.

If they make scientific claims that I know to be falsified, I will challenge them on it. When they tread on my turf, I reserve that right. I do remain polite, however.

If somebody rings my doorbell and wants to talk to me about Jesus, or the Book of Mormon, of has a Watch Tower in hand, I am always very polite. I rarely engage them but always smile and wish them a pleasant day as they depart. I see no reason to be rude, although if they wake me up on Sunday morning I may be... ahem... brief with them.

In short, polite and respectful conversation is always preferable to chair throwing and defenestrations.

[goldent]

8. I suspect that nearly everyone I know disagrees with my beliefs in one way or another

In real life it just never comes up.

It's a whole different thing on the Internet.

[Notafraidtoo]

9. I avoid the topic

Unless they push me i avoid the topic altogether,now when i am pushed i do enjoy the back and forth debate although i go in knowing i wont change a true believers mind nor do i want to, its something that should be reached on a personal level, its still fun for me when the person feels the same way and just wants to debate or ask why i am a atheist and i am knowledgeable enough to ask tough questions of them that they never ask me again hehe.

At work i don't let anyone know cause in this red state it can be used against you and i rather not give people fuel against me when they can effect my life.

[JimDandy]

12. People that can effect a life

sound very frankensteinian!

[Crunchy Frog]

10. I leave them alone as long as they leave me alone.

Other people's spiritual beliefs are personal and none of my business.

[rrneck]

11. I don't confront religious belief.`

I confront arrogance and condescension.

[femmocrat]

14. Easy -- I never discuss religion or politics with aquaintances.

My family and friends are respectful of each other's beliefs.

I would never argue with anyone about either topic and would quickly remove myself from a confrontational situation.

[Adsos Letter]

15. 1 Peter 3:15-16

"Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear."

I don't push the purely personal elements of my spiritual/religious beliefs on others. If someone asks me about it, then I will usually try to explain it.

When it comes to issues of Church/State separation I am willing to take a more adamant stance.
My spiritual/religious beliefs effect, as far as I am aware, only myself. Church/State separation (an important aspect of my spiritual/religious beliefs because of what I believe is a fundamental right to individual freedom of conscience) effects everyone. Now, in writing this, I'm aware that there is probably a contradiction in my saying that my spiritual/religious beliefs effect only myself when my attitude toward Church/State separation is a fundamental part of those same beliefs. So be it. I'm willing to be adamant about the need to keep Church and State separate.

[LostOne4Ever]

16. Generally I try to avoid the subject

But when I do get into those type of discussion I try to remain respectful.

This is not easy when, as I was one time, Im called a god-damned atheist, and then that person goes into a huge tirade about how all we (atheists in general) do is distort and twist things people say, quote out of context and do nothing but attack others. Of course, this was coming from someone who did nothing but distort and twisted everything I said, quoted me out of context, and who would cuss anyone out if they disagreed with them in anyway. He hated political correctness and prided himself in being offensive but at the same type would cuss out anyone who did not pay him and his views the utmost respect.

I guess in his view hypocrisy only applies to others.

[dimbear]

17. I just say something respectful, like "Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you

Bethsaida! Woe to you Capernaum!"

I make a lot of new friends that way.

[Marrah_G]

18. I simply don't discuss it with them

If they insist, I walk away.

[uriel1972]

20. Cautiously...nt

[Iggo]

21. Usually under the radar.

I'm an atheist, and so damn near everyone I interact with is "people who disagree with my opinion on faith."

All day. Every day.

Back when I was 20-ish I liked to go a few rounds, but now that I'm 50+ I don't feel the need to bang my head against the wall.

I do like the internet, though...lol.

[okasha]

22. I had breakfast with one such friend Sunday.

We always say "please" following "pass the salsa guisada."