A woman told me that my atheism offends her.

[CassCade]

Earlier today, while I was volunteering at my friend's charity shop, the topic of religion came up and I was asked what I believe in and I said atheism, my friend then proceeded to ask my why I believed there's no God, while i was conversing and discussing my views, this lady overhead us and asked me to stop because I was offending her, I asked how I offended her and she said that my belief of their being no God is offensive to her Christian belief. I never said anything bad about Christianity or insult it in anyway. I just said okay and let it go, no point in arguing.

Later in the day, while my friend was on Facebook, she came across a post by that lady who was saying that she "encountered some guy in the store trying to denounce God and all his blessings" and she also said am an agent of Satan put on earth to lead her astray. I just laughed and let it go, my friend was a bit angry with my indifference to the whole thing.

TLDR: Literally what the title says.
Has something like this ever happened to you. How do people really find it offensive for others to hold views different from them? How do they justify that?

EDIT:Clarifying question.

 

[Deleted member 249]

Make sure to emphasize your lack of belief in a God in her presence every day now.

 

[Something Creative]

I'd imagine this is rare. Some people are just deeply insecure about their beliefs.

 

[Squarehard]

Never, but I'm in California, and one of the good parts, so I don't have to deal with this in public.

 

[Platy]

I am 2/4 LGBT living in south america so yeah, people more than once said that my "views" were offensive for them. They justified very poorly

 

[Heromanz]

Same thing happens at work almost everyday. Some girl keeps on talking about Jesus. And always ask me about religion stuff.

 

[ZeroGravity]

Never happened to me but "Fuck off" would be my immediately response if it ever does.

 

[Volimar]

"Sorry lady, I can't control what you're offended by, but I have the freedom to state my beliefs the same as anyone else."

 

[Transistor]

I take the high road and just brush it off when that shit happens to me.

 

[boredandlazy]

Just say that her belief in a false God offends you. It can go both ways.

 

[Skelepuzzle]

Not quite, but I was once called a smug atheist for saying the Earth was more than 5,000 years old and that carbon dating proved it.

Topic came up because they were grumpy that the state funding got cut for their church lead, young Earth dino digs. The conversation developed organically (I did not realize she was a young Earth believer) but it did end in her telling me that it is impossible for an atheist to have morals.

On second thought, I have been told that I will go to hell for not being baptised. Maybe that was their way of being offended.

 

[TheLetdown]

That door swings both ways.

 

[MisterSnrub]

Don't you feel like her beliefs are having a devaluing effect on your friendship?

 

[NinjaScooter]

Tell her that you'll say hi to her grandma for her when you get to hell.

 

[Sub Level]

Earlier today, while I was volunteering at my friend's charity shop

Click to shrink...

Agent of satan confirmed.

 

[Alucrid]

how much does being an agent of satan pay

 

[UtterlyPerplexed]

Nah, I'm very fortunate that I've never encountered anyone like this here in the UK and nor have I ever had to involve myself unwittingly or otherwise in any heated religious exchange.

The woman you encountered certainly sounds like a piece of work. There's being really insecure about your own faith and then there's aggressively confronting a stranger with some utterly batshit insane extremist nonsense. I'm not fully sure how I would handle such a situation besides just not engaging with that person whatsoever. Someone of that mindset is too far gone for me to dedicate any effort towards being reasonable to.

 

[Draper]

Probably just don't decree yourself to be Atheist.

 

[Deleted member 18360]

People unwilling to even contemplate that God might not exist lack even the basic understanding of what faith is. Any kind of faith worth having goes well beyond a blind obstinacy of belief, at least so says Kierkegaard, who is on the short list of legit christians actually worth listening to.

I'm in a Christian country and my vocational interest is in Buddhist philosophy, and I have thoughts about becoming clergy. Mentioning that I'm a student, what I want to do, and that I've converted to a foreign religion, is a pretty hard conversation to avoid, and one that is pretty awkward too, lol. Saying anything that could be considered even mild criticism of the dominant culture will always seem to present a problem for some insecure and nosy people.

 

[platocplx]

Whew my dad asked me the other day when im making it to church. I was like uhhh lmao

 

[Heromanz]

how much does being an agent of satan pay

Click to shrink...

30 bucks an hour

 

[Eros]

Ask her to forgive you.

 

[Deleted member 19066]

I don't know how I'd respond to that. I'd want to just call her a weirdo.

 

[Galkinator]

Your indifference is honestly a great reaction.
This woman deserves no attention at all, she sounds like weird psycho and any attempt at explaining yourself would have probably lead to her losing her mind at you.
The only people who think these sort of things are offensive are the ones drowning their mind in religion and extremism, therefore their opinions or behavior should be ignored.

 

[TheGreatDirector]

What do agents of Satan do in their spare time?

 

[Digital Dinosaur]

Some people are that insecure about their religion. It's not enough they believe something, others must believe it as well else it's taken as an active attack on their beliefs.

Just think about how neurotic this person is every day, looking for and waiting for anyone different from themselves to appear so they can have a new enemy.

 

[CassCade]

"Sorry lady, I can't control what you're offended by, but I have the freedom to state my beliefs the same as anyone else."

Click to shrink...

Never happened to me but "Fuck off" would be my immediately response if it ever does.

Click to shrink...

This was what my mental response reached to but the factor that she was a paying customer in my friend's shop made me to not say anything.

 

[riotous]

Avoid telling people you are an atheist; that's what I've done for some 30 years, it's really not worth it.

 

[Squarehard]

What do agents of Satan do in their spare time?

Click to shrink...

Put children in cages.

 

[Secret Fawful]

Uh, why was your friend angry at you for being indifferent?

 

[C.Mongler]

As an agent of Satan, you should now attempt to lead this lady "astray" at any point possible. "Sssssssss hey lady, want to try some drugs...want to try some...adultery??"

 

[Skelepuzzle]

Probably just don't decree yourself to be Atheist.

Click to shrink...

Explain what the OP should say when asked what their belief system is and why you feel that way please.

 

[Podge293]

she was a paying customer

Click to shrink...

The customer is always right (until they're wrong)

 

[Strangelove_77]

That's not a thing that normally happens.

 

[Deleted member 16025]

"Sorry lady, I can't control what you're offended by, but I have the freedom to state my beliefs the same as anyone else."

Click to shrink...

Nailed it.

 

[Everybody Lies]

Should have told her that her anti-Americanism is offensive to you.

 

[Zeno]

Uh, why was your friend angry at you for being indifferent?

Click to shrink...

That's normal. Friends get pissed when stuff like that happen and can sometimes get a bit miffed that you're too calm about someone wronging you.

 

[Nassudan]

If meeting an atheist is causing her to "stray", she was never on the path to begin with. A LOT of so called Christians in the midwest/south act this way (some of my extended family included). They'll put on the act of being a spiritual, good christian but it doesn't get much farther than that.

 

[Beartruck]

Watch out OP, if movies have taught me anything, she'll run you over with a car and then the Newsboys will run in for a musical number.

 

[Cwyll]

Remind her that her Satan only exists because of her judgmental God;
an Atheist doesn't have a Satan to constantly blame for stuff.

 

[Notaskwid]

Did you tip your hat at her?

 

[Kirblar]

I've seen it happen on these forums.

 

[Polk]

I'd imagine this is rare. Some people are just deeply insecure about their beliefs.

Click to shrink...

Which is absurd, as you should be prepared that your faith will be tested.

 

[GodofWine]

Should have hit her with you actually being a Pastafarian.

 

[BobLoblaw]

"Your atheism offends me." - Some random lady

- OP

 

[riotous]

Also, how in the world did your friend come across this lady's Facebook?

 

[UtterlyPerplexed]

Watch out OP, if movies have taught me anything, she'll run you over with a car and then the Newsies with run in for a musical number.

Click to shrink...

Not just that. Two pastor bros will run up to you while your battered, broken self is on the cusp of fading and they will proclaim that this is a joyous moment!

 

[gutter_trash]

i find it odd that non-believers use the word "ATHEIST" out loud lol

I just say non-religious or non-practicing

the A word sounds too rigid.

*I'm not religious, LOL

 

[BlackGoku03]

As a Christian, it's not offensive. She just didn't want to hear it.

What is offensive is when people snicker and laugh when you pray over your food but whatever.

I used to take offense when atheists I spoke to called the Bible fairy tales and tell me I believe in magic and shit. But I realize they're just trying to get a rise out of me. It happens here and the old place pretty often too.

 

[iAmPossum]

Yikes. Lady's gotta chill.