Evangelical family member

[LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour]

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. Not sure if he actually thinks he's the Messiah...

"One thing that puzzles me is that if the Christians in my family believe that I, as a non-believer, won't get to heaven, how can heaven be a paradise for them knowing that a member of their family is in hell?

There's a certain brand of Christian that has cognitive dissonance down to a fine art. I suspect your brother is one of those."
Well Thomas Aquinas had an answer to that which I expect you wouldn't like...

If you want to think all Christians are stupid and have never considered the answer to any New Atheist talking points then go ahead, but don't expect "HOW GOD REAL WHEN BAD THING HAPPEN" to be a silver bullet. And I'm not an Evangelical either, I'm a boring high Anglican who finds them misguided but less annoying than people who think a Tim Minchin song will overturn my entire belief system

One thing that puzzles me is that if the Christians in my family believe that I, as a non-believer, won't get to heaven, how can heaven be a paradise for them knowing that a member of their family is in hell?

Well my understanding is that some people believe earthly relationships no longer exists, that's why marriage is "until death us do part", so he can have heaven as he won't be aware of you as being a sister, but obviously he doesn't want you to experience eternal hell. I try not to think about it all too much, far too much stuff that can or cannot be proved and better to let people experience their own journey. I'm guessing he's a born again and they are usually the worst for wanting to preach and convert, most cradle borns are more easy going on the whole, purely in my experience. If he's a protestant evangelical and you really want to upset him tell him you're looking into becoming a Roman Catholic.

A Guy goes to Heaven and gets a tour by St. Peter. He points out a group and Peter says "Those are the good Hindus"....points out another "Those are the good Protestants"....points to another "Yes, those are the good Jews"....points to another "Those are the good Muslims."
Then they come upon a giant 20 foot high wall.
"What's this wall, St. Peter?"
"Shhhhh, keep your voice down"
"Why?"
"Behind that wall we keep the Catholics"
"Why do you keep the Catholics behind this wall?"
"Oh, well...they like to think they're the ONLY ones up here."

@Mmn654123 I love that

@Mmn654123 though surely it's the evangelicals who should be behind the wall, the ones who believe they are pre destined to be saved even before time began

If you want to think all Christians are stupid and have never considered the answer to any New Atheist talking points then go ahead, but don't expect "HOW GOD REAL WHEN BAD THING HAPPEN" to be a silver bullet.

Er - projecting, much? Neither the OP nor I think all Christians are stupid. We just don't want you to preach at us or try to convert us. We want believers to respect our lack of faith and accept is as a position that is equally valid to your belief. Not a lot to ask, is it?

I once had a believer tell me that I was only an atheist because nothing bad had ever happened to me. This was after a period of several years during which my father developed Parkonson's and dementia, then died, my BIL developed cancer and died, my mother after losing my dad became an alcoholic, my husband became an abusive alcoholic who then died and my aunt died. Somehow I managed not to do this man an act of violence.

I would not be able to tolerate this.

I would just be really honest with him, OP. Tell him that you don't want to cut him out or block him, but that you find the constant proselytising intolerable, and if he doesn't stop, he will leave you with no choice. Acknowledge that he probably has good intentions, while pointing out that his attempts are actually pushing you in the opposite direction from the one that he intends. Give him permission to pray for you privately as much as he likes, but make it abundantly clear that he is not to discuss this matter with you again.

@JumpLeadsForTwo

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

Such a great song.

I'm a Christian but this kind of behaviour really hacks me off. Definitely block / unfollow / ignore. A family member (by marriage thank god) posts some awful crap. Anything along the lines of "if you pray enough...", "if you believe in God enough..." is crap. There is no such thing as a "better" Christian. All it does is expose them ignorant and immature in their own faith.