How to handle extreme bible thumpers?

[horsegirl100]

So my husbands family is Pentecostal he left the religion a long time ago, and im pagan, I’ve never met his aunt, but she sent us a late Christmas gift when we opened the box there was a 4 pages typed letter to my husband how she’s been crying and feels compelled to get us bibles and why we need Jesus etc. We open gifts and there bibles and she marked pages for us to read in each bible with money on each page 😬 to me I was understanding the thought of it and the Bible’s where pretty but also very disgusted about the jester at the same time.. and the disrespect of never meeting me and throwing religious beliefs at me, then came the children’s bibles. Same thing pages where marked for them too, my one year olds bibles pages that was marked was about telling wicked people to obey Jesus and about hell, What’s some peoples thoughts on this?

[Telekinetic-Potato]

I'm sure she means well. I think a lot of people like that are just oblivious of how out of pocket their gestures seem to the other person.

I find people like that, your best bet is to tell them what you think about some of the parts in relation to the story they're a part of or the rest of the Bible.

Most of those people just read the individual verses and have almost no idea what the actual message is. So as soon as you say something that:

Makes sense

Conflicts slightly with their view of the text or you individually

Is communicated almost as if you're oblivious to the fact they see themselves as an authority on the Bible over you.

They'll usually shut up without becoming standoffish or holding anything against you because you're showing respect for their concern, not demeaning their beliefs, showing an attempt at genuine connection and giving them the opportunity to stay on their high horse without disrespecting your family.

[slatyb]

There's no point in saying anything. She's going to do what she's going to do, and you don't have to follow her wishes in any way. If she asks, be honest -- that neither you nor your husband are religious and that is not going to change. Then raise your children as you see fit. If you want community, checkout the Unitarian Universalists -- lots of very nice non-believers there, no dogma, excellent youth education programs. My wife and I, both atheists, attended for a while in Dallas. I loved the people and the message but the service was too traditional for me.

[Sirenboobzilla]

My dad's side of the family is kind of like that, which is why I don't communicate with them as much. I do love how religious people will try to force feed you their beliefs are are insanely quick to reject and ridicule other beliefs.
While it is annoying, I try to just ignore it as best I can. When they tell me "God bless you" or something during a conversation, I just say thanks and move on. Last thing I want is to get in to a heated argument over sky daddy nonsense.

[Agape93]

Honestly you won't get them to respect you or your beliefs

[sean1234]

Pentecostal? Lol. Speaking in gibberish tongues? Tongues are spoken languages people speak, but are not their own.

https://youtu. be/Kcd1a68YQq0? si=sbd-4el0eVBLM9BZ

Tell them to open up the bible instead of just "thumping" it around.

1 Corinthians 14:21-22

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

https://breakeveryyoke. com/245/46/14/21/22/

[sean1234]

https://youtu.be/Kcd1a68YQq0?si=sbd-4el0eVBLM9BZ

[Jersey2]

In her mind she is trying to save your life, your eternal life. It is done out of a deep desire to help you. You should take it that way even if you don’t believe it. Also people change and evolve. Kat Von D did and she was pagan but now if covering up such tattoos and has become Christian. She doesn’t want or feel equipped to be the poster child for this but she did say:

“It’s never been more clear to me that there is a spiritual battle taking place, and I want to surround myself and my family with love and light.”

Anyway, live your life but try not to return the disrespectfulness you feel to her, that will just cause problems for you in the end. I am guessing you were baptized? Most in US were. If thats so, let her know that as would be big for her. Maybe you could baptize the kids as it’s just water to you which seems pagan enough and that would help. But don’t let personal pride throw gas on a fire.

[horsegirl100]

No I’ve never been baptized never will I just said thank you for thinking of us

[Jersey2]

I hope it goes well for you and your family.

[exitseven]

That is tough. My brother and I were raised without religion. My father came back from WW2 and after that he did not believe in it anymore. So my brother married a girl who was Catholic. He converted to Catholicism and took all the sacraments'. A few years later his wife became a Jehovah's Witness. I think she spent some time in the but house and decided to do this when she got out. So they do not believ ein Christ and do not celebrate Christmas. We used to send her kids Christmas presents anyway. I figured it was not their fault they had a crazy mother and a wimpy father. She used to send the packages back telling us not to send anymore. We did this for 3 years and she kept sending them back.

[VikingWarLord]

Start reading it and then begin asking the aunt / family members tough questions about it and how it contradicts.

Start by looking at the evolution of the Bible canon.

1. Marcion's Bible Canon from 2nd Century AD (the first ever Christian canon only had 2/3rds of Luke and 10 Pauline Epistles, nothing else, no OT and no other NT books)

2. Latin Vulgate which had 76 Books

3. Catholic Bible with 73 Books

4. Protestant Bible with 66 Books

Can this really be the "Word Of a God" with that much redaction and tampering? GTFOH

[purplepoppy]

Invite her over and make her sit through a pagan ritual. If she doesn't show respect show her the door.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Sam way I handle extreme vegetarians or extreme atheists. Say thank you for the nice gifts and go on your merry way.

[Zestyassmf1997]

It’s a little weird, and annoying, and a little pushy. But it doesn’t really cross the line into disrespectful territory. I guess telling your kids about hell is one way to make them behave.

[normalice]

Unless they have a plan for how to tolerate you, there will be no getting through to them.

[jahaims]

They have been brainwashed and are in a cult. Just cut them out

[BarryLiverstone]

Think she felt lead to be generous. Just thank her and invest the money