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AIBU?

Evangelical family member

85 replies

LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour · 11/04/2021 17:18

How do you stop a family member proselytizing? There's not a snowball's chance in hell that they're going to change my mind, and it's just become irritating and rather awkward.

The latest is that his prayers have miraculously cured someone of cancer. Hmm Not sure if he actually thinks he's the Messiah...

OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

157 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
15%
You are NOT being unreasonable
85%
NeverDropYourMoonCup · 11/04/2021 17:29

Don't provide an audience for it?

Like most irritating and all consuming new hobbies/MLMs, you avoid being caught whenever possible and mute their feed on social media.

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LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour · 11/04/2021 17:33

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

Don't provide an audience for it?

Like most irritating and all consuming new hobbies/MLMs, you avoid being caught whenever possible and mute their feed on social media.

Oh I would definitely ignore all social media posts, but it tends to be directly targeted messages etc.
OP posts:
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pointythings · 11/04/2021 17:34

Mute them on social media. Shut them down bluntly in person. I won't be proselytised at by anyone and I'm not afraid to let people know that.

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balloonsintrees · 11/04/2021 17:37

Destroy all of their arguments with well informed scientific and philosophical concepts?
Or go down the psychology route and examine the ideas of Freud and Durkheim that religion is simply a human construct and therefore God is simply a subjective reality...

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NeverDropYourMoonCup · 11/04/2021 17:46

Rather like somebody messaging you about the big poo their PFB did this morning, obviously demonstrating how incredibly intelligent and advanced they are, then - glance at, roll your eyes and then don't respond.

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murbblurb · 11/04/2021 17:49

a couple of 'Life of Brian' memes should get you rapidly blocked from his social media. Problem solved.

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Goleor · 11/04/2021 17:54

Send their messages straight to the spam folder. Check it periodically If you need a good laugh.

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jessstan2 · 11/04/2021 18:16

Tell them that proselytizing is inappropriate. Not everyone has a gift for it and they definitely don't. They need to choose their audience carefully or they will push people away.

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LolaSmiles · 11/04/2021 18:19

If you don't want to be blunt, could you point out that right now their constant pushing of religion is actually switching you off, but should you want to know more you'll ask them.

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Carryonlikeaporkchop · 11/04/2021 18:22

A simple "fuck off" is often effective.

Or as nicer people than me have said above, just mute/block them.

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Whereiswarmth · 11/04/2021 18:23

It's probably a sort of mental illness... An imbalance and obsession that's latched on to this..

It's the same with any fantatics, on any subject, religion, money.. Politics...

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Uriahpeep · 11/04/2021 18:24

Why not just have a honest, no thanks conversation.

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Justmuddlingalong · 11/04/2021 18:26

Treat them the same as mlm bots. Be polite and if that doesn't work, block.

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LolaSmiles · 11/04/2021 18:43

Why not just have a honest, no thanks conversation
In my experience the no thanks conversations don't tend to be effective as the fanatic/pushy person will seek to challenge any issue or reason you give.

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Sexnotgender · 11/04/2021 18:45

@LolaSmiles

Why not just have a honest, no thanks conversation
In my experience the no thanks conversations don't tend to be effective as the fanatic/pushy person will seek to challenge any issue or reason you give.

Totally. Reason and logic will not work with someone like this.

Block and ignore is the only solution.
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Captpike · 11/04/2021 19:29

Yeah, I'd unfriend or block or whatever. If they ask why let them know. You can't argue or reason with these people.

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Hollywhiskey · 11/04/2021 19:44

We have relatives that push anti vax and other conspiracies. If it's by email, ignore any emails about that and engage only with emails about the weather, how was your weekend, the kids etc.
In person, relentlessly change the subject. Every single time. Have a mental list of 'safe' subjects you are happy to talk about even if it's just the weather or what you had for lunch. Keep changing back to those subjects. Cut visits short if they keep changing to the exhausting topics. It's really tiring and it has damaged our relationship but we aren't going to convince them and they won't convince us so there's no point debating it. But when we told them that they disagreed strongly (wanted to keep debating as they felt there was a lot at stake, like the future health of my kids, whether they would be autistic and more besides) so we just change the subject now, kind of like a broken record player.

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WoolieLiberal · 11/04/2021 19:46

Perhaps have the conversation, once.

We’re meant to be open minded after all.

If you’re not convinced after that, make it clear and block if they won’t give up, but surely it’s good manners to allow them to make their case without being shut down?

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Newnamefor2021 · 11/04/2021 19:52

No answers but you have my sympathy. I left a very conservative religion and still have a lot of friends and family in. So we are often bombarded with their feelings, opinions, memes, prayers etc! If we say anything contrary then we are attacking them 🙄 so we just ignore it! Pisses me off but it is what it is.

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Cherrysoup · 11/04/2021 20:00

I think I’d bite and tell them directly to stop sending messages about religion. Be very firm. I’ve had to tell family members that I’m not at all interested in religion.

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Wearywithteens · 11/04/2021 20:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

OrangeRug · 11/04/2021 20:08

I had a friend like this. I told him if he didn't stop preaching to me that I would end the friendship because I found it unbearable. It did the trick.

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JumpLeadsForTwo · 11/04/2021 20:12

Google the song Tim Minchin "Thank you God" and send it to him!!

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KoalaOok · 11/04/2021 20:13

Ignore
Do not engage in conversation
Change the subject everytime

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littlepattilou · 11/04/2021 20:13

@LolaSmiles

Why not just have a honest, no thanks conversation
In my experience the no thanks conversations don't tend to be effective as the fanatic/pushy person will seek to challenge any issue or reason you give.

This. ^
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