Comment by Cara Coleen on March 8, 2013 at 11:01pm

I've never been called an idiot by my family. I think, if they were to call me an idiot, I'd have to seriously consider how important it is that they remain a part of my life. Maybe that's extreme, but I don't know how much I could handle that level of disrespect.

I'm not suggesting you cut them out of your life, but I'd be really, deeply hurt by that. Some level of respect is important to me. I get my family is worried for me, and they think I'm rebelling, or misled by Satan, or angry about things that happened as a child... but they don't think I'm an idiot. They at least know I'm intelligent and thoughtful. I get frustrated they don't seem to know enough about my personality and character to know I wouldn't turn my back on the "God of the Universe" just because I was angry at him or feeling rebellious. But if they just thought I was an idiot? What kind of relationship could I have with people who thought I was an idiot?

Well, needless to say, it wouldn't *just* frustrate me. I'd be livid. And I might not have anything nice to say to them thereafter.

Comment by Nate Lundgren on March 8, 2013 at 11:11pm

I like to turn it around on them and be sarcastic. I say stuff like, yes, I'm an idiot for for thinking what all the smart people think. Or evolution isn't real because you would have a better brain if it was. Darwin was a fool for just looking at reality and being honest about it. Weird stuff like that. hahaha Makes them think for a little while at least. hahaha

I can be a jerk like that sometimes. hahaha I try to keep it light-hearted and just laugh at their silly claims. It works better than fighting over it in a serious tone. There is a reason that some of the smartest atheists are also comedians. (It is insanity prevention therapy from being around some really crazy people sometimes)

Laughter is better than frustration in my opinion. I have been plenty frustrated sometimes but then I remember that humans are still evolving and then I just laugh at the silliness of it all. (or cry for all of humanity) hahaha I had a crazy uncle send me a book that he didn't even read to try to "prove" that god exists.

It gets so insanely absurd when dealing with theists/christians sometimes that all I can do is laugh so I don't scratch all the hair off my head trying to figure out the fluff in their heads. hahaha  

Comment by Ray R. on March 8, 2013 at 11:17pm

I would consider it the equivalent of having apes or monkeys throwing feces against their glass enclosure at the primate house in the zoo . It's just an instinctual reaction by smaller brained primates frustrated by their captivity . In your family's case , their minds are captured by religion , and they are flinging metaphorical mental feces at you . My suggestion is to pat them on the head , and give each of them a banana .

Comment by Angela Evangelia on March 9, 2013 at 5:50am

You could remind them of Timothy 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I always think its best to throw their own book back at them and call them out on it.

I hope things get better for you.

Comment by RobertPiano on March 9, 2013 at 7:04am

Next time, tell them it's your turn and they have to check out a Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins video on YouTube!

Comment by Unseen on March 9, 2013 at 9:45am

Time to divorce your family, except for any members who are tolerant.

Comment by Jorita on March 9, 2013 at 9:59am

This is why I joined this group to have normal people to talk to, people that think! It does get lonely not having someone totalk to, share your thoughts with or have a logical debate with. So thank you for this group.

Comment by Doug Reardon on March 9, 2013 at 3:14pm

Pot calling the kettle black.

Comment by Mo Trauen on March 9, 2013 at 3:27pm

I have never had that happen, but I have experienced with "friends".  I don't associate with them anymore.  I hope these family members are not people that you actually have to live with on a daily basis.  Either way, start preparing some little comebacks that will provoke thought.  Deliver them and walk away.  Don't argue because you can't win.  They have rejected reason and evidence.

Comment by Gallup's Mirror on March 9, 2013 at 6:00pm

I have long since explained to my family that I am satisfied that the scientific method is the most effective tool we have for evaluating what is true and what is not true. The results are all around us, including modern medicine, agriculture, aviation, space travel, automobiles, climate control, computers and the internet, atomic theory, engineering, organic chemistry, gene therapy, and the list goes on and on.

Ask your family: Why do they accept science without question on countless thousands of discoveries but reject science on evolution? Science has found evolution to be true using the same standards of evidence that produced all of these other things. Natural selection as the explanation for that evidence has withstood every attempt to disprove it in the last 154 years.

Tell them you're satisfied based on this amazing record of success that the scientific method is sound. And it fully supports evolution. Add that when it comes to critical thinking skills within the family, you're making some judgements of your own about who has room for improvement.

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