Comment by Gaytor on April 19, 2010 at 1:47pm

I found that I had to create a boundary, but one with small perforations. So if a friend were to ask me to do them a favor and pray to their god, I might say, "Sure, let's go do it at a Jehovah's Witness Church, or a Mosque..." or what have you to illustrate to them, what they are asking of you. The perforations for me come in the form of allowing others to be themselves. If my friends want to pray for me, have at it. Don't expect a thank you. If a stranger were to say it, I'd say, "No need, I don't even want your god."
Recently we had a family death. The person whom died was a non-believer. I did an Atheist service, but one person whom was a friend and a pastor got up and said that he believed through blinks that the person whom passed accepted Jesus. Many Atheists would be upset by this disrespect. But why let it bother you? Virtually every person in the room knew that it was BS, so at the end he only discredited himself and I came out looking like a bigger person for it. There is a pitfall in defending with great vigor what you believe. Picture how you view a Young Earth Creationist telling you about a 6000 year old Earth and remember that there are those whom would view you the same way, right or wrong. So pick your battle points with your friends and feel comfortable in letting a point go. That's one of the flaws that we have as a group, too many of us are battle ready at any given point. Being right doesn't have to be the long term goal, and you'll keep friends that way. But know the location of a Mormon Church next time so that you can invite her there to pray with you. You won't hear that from her again. Good luck!

Comment by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on April 19, 2010 at 1:59pm

Sorry Shanika, but I don't think there is a way to be an open atheist without being hurt... that is if you have theist friends and family. I understand what you're going through... I'm going through it myself. An old friend recently "showed her concern" about me. Apparently she thinks I'm unhappy because I post a little atheist stuff on facebook. My parents think this too... which is why they think I need some more "therapy" or something. Understand that your friends and family are doing this out of love. Yet, also understand that theists are impervious to logic so that they will NEVER understand your atheism, unless they WANT to. I have one friend - an "agnostic" [I think... she's confusing about what she says she believes in] - who is understanding. But everyone else is falling for the usual stereotypes about atheism.

Just hang in there.

Comment by Shanika on April 19, 2010 at 2:23pm

Yeah I agree. I pick my battles. Some things I just ignore, but it does hurt sometimes. I don't know if it's that I want them to understand my atheism or to just to understand that there are other ways to find strength than to do so through religion. But as Meghan said, theists are impervious to logic when it comes to religion. I'm sure if I had converted to another religion, they'd find a way of being more understanding or more "tolerant". I'm sure that then my Christian friends would certainly refrain from telling me to do them a favor by praying to their god, just as they would find it odd for a Muslim to tell them to pray to Allah.

Comment by Daley on April 19, 2010 at 2:28pm

Any conversation like this is some attempt for a 'believer' to reiterate their beliefs to you and find a chink in your armor to pull you back into it, start something or use you for some kind of "good deed of the day". If you said to your friend, "Do me a favor and don't pray this month. It's just a favor. I still love you" your friend would not agree to it and probably take offense of some sort. You might as well beg a vegetarian to eat a pork sandwich. It's disrespectful and manipulative.

I've had someone ask me to pray for them or their situation and what I say is something like, "I hope things get better for you, but I don't believe in things like that, thanks". If anyone tries to pressure you, they are trying to control you. Any respectable person would thank you for your kind thoughts and not try to get you to do some kind of ritualistic time waster like praying.

Comment by Shanika on April 19, 2010 at 2:49pm

Yes! It is manipulative! You hit the nail on the head Daley. That's what I think was upsetting to me. The manipulation. It's like being preyed upon in your weakest moment...or should I say "prayed" upon...lol

Comment by Beautiful Black Atheist... on April 19, 2010 at 2:55pm

Shanika, u aleeady know how entrenched and entangled the black comm is in regards to church and any other superstition. I think perhaps bcuz I'm naturally a no-nonsense type of person people tread carefully when speaking to me. Lol. I'm fortunate, that those whom I considered my bffs in church are still my friends lol every 1 of them said SO, I still love u lol My fam r a diff story. I told my 18y/o son my position and his eyes watered...bcuz he believes I'm going to hell lol. Then he said..well ma it was nice knowing-so I guess we better spend as much time together as possible...and we laughed. I didn't go n2 a long winded speech about my decision 2b free, but whatever ???s he had/has, I answer. My bro called me yesterday and I told him I'm a secularist aka Atheist and he went n2 denial-which is what he does with any uncomfortable topic/issue. Moments later he said he was disappointed but he understands-he doesn't. The positive thing is-he's going 2 tell the fam so I don't have to...the caveat: my fam will not talk about it w/me. With every1 else...yes. Me...no.

Be yourself Shanika, and don't believe u have to act as other Atheists around you. Be urself as this is your journey. I'm not here to recruit or convince, but simply to enlighten. We are not devil worshipping, amoral people. We simply ask to be respected just as Xtians ask of others. Don't resort to name-calling or condeming us to hell out of frustration. Its OK to say ' I don't know mr/ms/mrs xtian'
We have a network of Atheists on Twitter...even other BLACK atheists...a rare find indeed ;)

Look me up and I'll provide you with the List of Atheists on Twitter...over 3k strong!
Add me: @briabria

Love u sis,
Bria ;)

Comment by caleb daniel on April 19, 2010 at 2:58pm

I think everyone on here can relate to this. The part that struck me was "I feel the need to be "superwoman" before my Christian friends in order to prove somehow that I'm doing just fine without their beliefs."

I have found myself sealing my mouth on many occasions. The Church is constantly preaching about how the "lost" are sad, miserable and depressed without christ. So, when I share my troubles all it does is reinforce what they have been taught.

The uplifting side to this is that you can live a more productive life from a secular viewpoint. When a loved on dies it can be more painful because we have no delusion of seeing them again. We truly say goodbye. A believer will never say goodbye. They cling to the dead. Concordantly they cling to all good and bad events in life as proof of gods existence.

The greatest thing you can do is to kindly remind them of the times they were in a similar position. It will slowly become obvious that god doesn't grant leniency for the believers. Nor, does he punish the unbelieving. Tragic and wondrous events will happen through out ones life. It doesn't matter what you believe. You're not held to a cosmic destiny that you have no control over.

This was a major turning point in my loss of faith. It was very difficult to reconcile the blessed lives of the wicked and the cursed lives of the just. Then I realized that there was no guiding hand. And in a lot of cases the faith the "just" held on to so strongly was the in reality the anchor that held them under a cursed thumb. And the "wicked" used religion to bless there own lives on the backs of the faithful.

I hope that you can find some solace on this site when you have problems. But there is nothing like the kind words of a friend even if it is tainted with evangelical self-worthiness.

Comment by Shanika on April 19, 2010 at 3:00pm

Aww..thanks so much Bria!

Comment by Shanika on April 19, 2010 at 3:04pm

Thanks Caleb. You're right. I told one of my friends once that suicide amongst God-believers is higher than it is among atheists. Obviously belief in God is not a cure-all.

Comment by Beautiful Black Atheist... on April 19, 2010 at 3:05pm

Ur very welcome...and PLEASE go to Utube and watch Thinking Atheist vids and subscribe...they are thoughtful, informative without being antagonistic! Make sure u subscribe...and no I am not being paid to say that lol

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