My Grandmother thinks I should start reading the Bible to 'restore my faith in Christ'. I firmly don't believe in God, but she is constantly trying to get me in church. How can I tell her that my beliefs are my own without hurting her feeli

Tell your grandma that you're really not ready to take that step in your life just yet. If eventually you are to become a believer in christ, it will happen in its own time. Someone might eventually come into your life, and change the way you think about things. One thing is for sure, though. Even if you choose not to believe in Christ just yet, don't totally abandon the idea, as not to hurt your grandma's feelings. I am a Christian, and I think its totally up to you. Just let things happen in their own time, if it is to ever happen at all.

Your faith is totally up to you and will evolve on its own based upon your life and your experiences. Always remember, it is your life and your choice. I think you should let your grandmother know that you respect her beliefs and decisions even if you don't share them or agree with them, and that you would appreciate the same in return.

Edit: Exactly what is so wrong with my answer?

I think it would be smart to believe and live as if there is a God, then find out there isnt, than to believe there isnt, and at the end find out there is.

If you and your grandmother are close, what would be the harm in indulging her by going to church with her. I think it would be a nice thing to do. You don't have to "believe" to share this time with her. What you hear there might help you with finding topics to discuss your beliefs. Your feelings are yours just as hers are hers. If she is hurt by that, it is hers to deal with. Be respectful of her beliefs as she should be with yours. By the way, sounds like she is just concerned, Be thankful that you have her for that

My personal story: My cousin is gay. I am saved. My grandma told me I need to start living it. You know, get close to God. I asked her very polite like if she'd ever had this conversation with my cousin. (I PROMISE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST GOD OR GAY FOLKS, BUT THIS DID GET MY GRANDMA OFF MY CASE!!!!!!!!!)

I was brought up in a Christian home and have turned into a Buddhist. My Grandmother does the same with me, although I've read the Bible. I think it is fine for her but I wish she would stop trying to push her beliefs down my throat. I just politely tell her I'll think about it to quiet her. I tried to explain once that I was a Buddhist and didn't believe the way she did and she wanted to argue with me. Good Luck

What will it hurt you to read the Bible? You will read many works throughout your life for many reasons( eg school, work, pleasure). Why not as a source of information and to please Grandma? At the same time, let her know gently that, while you are doing this because you love her (which you clearly do), you do not want to take a step such as going to church while you are still learning about things.
Whatever you do, don't close your mind yet. You are young, and there is a lot to learn about everything. So learn. Read. At least you can say you have read the Bible.

So read the Bible, It won't hurt you. Biblical theology is an integral part of Western Civilisation. I've read the whole thing seven times, cover to cover, and it didn't convert me to Christianity. Or Judaism, for that matter.
Then you can tell Grammie that you're reading it. But you want time to think deeply about the Scriptures on your own. You don't have to go to church with her, though that wouldn't hurt you either. Just be pleasant, smile and nod and say, "Amen." It would make her feel good.

like some already said, what does it hurt to read the bible and go to church and spend some enjoyable time with your grandma? how can you make an informed decision about your faith or belief in God if you dont read the bible or go to church? (of course, i dont know what church your grandma goes to, so this go actually go both ways.. ) in any case, like the saying goes "seek and you shall find".. if you are interested in making an informed decision about your faith, (you might even end up going to a different church than grandma does) then this is the way to go..

You don't have to tell her. Just listen to her and tell her that you will when you are ready. She needs to know that you are listening to her and that you value what she says, she doesn't have to know that you don't agree with her. The realtionship is more important than being right. You will be showing her respect. Good Luck!

Set a boundary.

Tell her that you while you appreciate the concern she has for your eternal state it is indeed YOUR eternal state to choose. After all if she believes the Bible she will understand that even God Himself won't violate your free agency and power to choose.

Then tell her that you won't try to evangelize her to Atheism and that you would appreciate it if she wouldn't try to evangelize you to Theism.

Bugging you to read your Bible after you already probably know what Jesus did for us when He died for our sins is not going to do you a bit of good. More than likely it is going to turn you away more.

The best thing your grandmother can do is to pray for your salvation every day.

I saw a testimony on YouTube about this guy who was into drugs, drinking, and some kind of cultist who hated blacks. His mother prayed every single day for his salvation. He even plotted her murder because of all the hate he had in him!

But one day the mother's prayers were answered, and he became saved! Wow, what a change this guy had!! It was an awesome testimony that shows the power of prayer!

I'm so sorry that you don't believe in God, but I can tell you that God is real. How do I know? I was forty years old when I got saved, and I was the worlds biggest sceptic, especially when a saw a lot of things on t.v. that I questioned. Unfortenately there are a lot of foolisness that goes on, but in the almost nine years that I've been saved, I've seen cancer healed, blind eyes opened, cripped people get out of wheel chairs, but the most amazing thing that happened in my own life that really made me a believer in miracles was my husband. He started getting sick in the summer of 2001 with his heart. He had a heart attack in 1995, and the bottom 1/3 of his heart had died. December 7, 2001 he underwent bypass surgery. The doctors went in for five bypasses, but had to leave two of the blockages because two of them were too deep. The three that that bypassed were 100 percent blockages.
He almost didn't live through the surgery, and in 10 months just as he started feeling a little better, he started getting sick again. The doctors called him on a monday morning after a series of tests, and told him that his heart was getting ready to blow out of his body, and to get to the hospital as soon as he could. He looked at me and said he wasn't going. He knew that he wouldn't live through another surgery. He told me that his God saved him, and God was going to heal him, and if God didn't, he was a winner either way. He was taking 14 heart pills a day, and popping nitro glycerin pills every little bit to stay alive. At that moment he quit taking all of his medicine, which I wouldn't tell anyone to do, but he knew he was going to have to trust God or die. He started reading everything he could find in the bible about faith. He fought that for four days, and that weekend we decided to go to a church that was having a revival. When we walked in, we realized that we didn't know the evangelist who was preaching that night, it was a woman preacherl. She had never laid eyes on us, and had no way of knowing that my husband was dying.
We set two pews from the front. She began to preach, and we noticed that she kept looking at my husband. She was staring a whole through him the whole time she was preaching, and we couldn't figure out why. After she finished her message, she walked straight to my husband, took him by the hand, and said, "brother, take a walk with me, God said that He was going to give you a brand new heart tonight". When she said tonight, my husband knew that it was over. When they prayed for him, he said that he felt that go out of his body. Two days after they prayed for him, he took a hike up a trail that was about a mile up hill, and he beat the other guy to the top. Just a week earlier he couldn't even walk from the living room to the kitchen without resting, and catching his breath. I know that God is real. If what I'm telling you don't immediately make you believe in God, at least give it a thought. Things like this just doesn't happen without God. Your grandmother is right, but if you would give your heart to Jesus and ask Him to show you, you would understand just how real He is.

You can't really because the chances are that she just will not ever understand that you have no interest in any religous practice. All you can do, is just keeping saying 'no thanks' to each and every request. There's no point in getting into an argument with her about it because it will just cause friction and eventually you may find yourself losing patience with her constant demands. The best thing to do is keep your answers short and sweet and invite no further discussion to any suggestions. Something like 'No thanks, it's not for me' followed by you either changing the subject or walking away to bring the discussion to a halt before it begins. Persevere and she will, eventually stop trying and pestering you about it because she'll realise you always say the same thing and that is that.

just tell your grandmother that god is not calling you at this time,because god saids that his people hear his voice , if you have not the insiration to learn about god then for sure he is not calling you yet.

reading the bible, and your choice of religion are two different things. even though your grandmother wants you to come back to her religion, that is a very private matter. our choice of religion should not depend on someone else's decisions. as for you not believing in God, there must be a reason for that. many people have become disolusioned (sorry for the misspelling) with their religion because of all the hipocrisy they have experienced among the so called christian religions. unfortunately, this has caused some to stop believing in God. this is not his fault. for you to make an informed intelligent decision you do need to study the bible. it will enlighten you as to what the truth is. Jehovah's witnesses are very willing to help you make thate informed decision. this does not mean that you have to become a witness, that has to be your decision as i already mentioned. however, give them a chance to teach you the truth of God's word, the bible. better yet give yourself the chance to learn what the future holds for all who decide to follow in the steps the bible will show you. for more information you can visit our website at www. watchtower.org

By all means read the Bible, it will make Grandmother happy, and I have found no greater cure for the diesease christianity than disecting the Bible.

Sorry granny, but I be a heathen and don't believe the same bullshit you do...no offense grandma..
I wouldn't say it to MY grandmother, but neither of mine would have ever dreamed of trying to feed superstitions down my throat and both have been dead for over 30 years.. one died at 94..
My grandparents weren't superstitious that way and YES..believing in the bybull is a superstition...just like knocking on wood, tossing salt over your shoulders, stepping on cracks and the rest of that hooey.

Force the belief!! Force it!! :D

It seems apparent your grandmother is concerned about you .... and the state of your soul.
It seems contradictory that she wishes you to "restore your faith" when you state you are a non-believer, but perhaps the truth is that you have actually "fallen out" of religion .
Out of care, concern, respect and love for your grandmother what harm would it do you to honor her wish for you to attend church with her.
Or are you afraid you would possibly return to the church?

The wisdom that travels upon a road called 'Grandma' is often overlooked. For of her concern; knowledge of things you know not. For of her request to keep you from harm’s way. Of temptations many unto the fading of Christ from the eyes of youth who in their folly care not for the wounds of one who lost His faith not. Choice to the favor of Grandmother; for to step within the bounds of Church will 'hurt you not'. To listen to Words with love; will not bring you to destruction. Upon the blessings within your Grandmothers time to share, think not of yourself; never 'look back' unto the day when you had the opportunity to be so favored with Grandma's kindness and of that let sweetness and mercy walk with you.

Blaise Pascal, French philosopher and mathematician, is famed for his "wager" (Pascal's wager) Basically, he suggests that you should go ahead and believe in god anyway - if you die and there is no god, what have you lost? but if you do not believe and when you die, you find that there is a god, then you have lost everything.

Personally, I do not tend to agree with this notion - as it would represent a faith based on personal gain, rather than on faith for the sake of it.

Those who have a real faith, fear for the immortal souls of those who don't. Your grandmother genuinely believes that if you do not have faith, you will lose out on eternity. There is no way you can shake that point of view - and there is no way you will be able to tell her otherwise - it is what she believes, and that is that. The only thing you can do is to carefull avoid the topic, and gently change the subject any time she raises it.

tell her if it's forced on you .. its not a religion , its a cult .
tell her you were born into it (probably before you were born with your parents getting married and promising to raise any kids they have in the faith .)
you never had a chance to explore your own options .. say ... "let me look around .. you may be right ,, and i may settle with it or come back to it .. if you are right ... and it's the best ,,,, what are you afraid of. ? "

You can be spiritual without being religious. I'm not a Buddhist but when I go to Buddhist Temples, I feel a calm that's hard to emulate.

You can't. If she cares about you at all, she wants what is best for you. If you stand on your own two feet and tell her you don't want what she is offering, you don't respect what she believes or the wisdom she's gained over many more years than you've been on this earth, and you really think that you know more than she does, you are going to hurt her feelings. There is really no way around that.

Unfortunately, there may not be a way to do this without hurting her on some level. She is old school, and therefore believes that not a sentence canbe uttered without including the phrase "praise the Lord", of "Hallaluyah!". It's hard for two people who are this far apart to relate on anything, especially when she just won't let this go. Be gentle, and you may have to lie a little. Tell her you found another church somewhere or something. Good luck!

If you "firmly don't believe in God" , then you should firmly tell her that and to drop it.

However, you cannot do it without "hurting her feelings." To her, if you do not believe, you are probably going to burn in Hell. To her, there's nothing to be gained from turning away from God except the freedom to live in sin. To her, if God doesn't exist then life ends as a meaningless mess.

You may be better off asking yourself why do you insist on forcing her to accept you aren't Christian? Tell her you've started reading and going to a church across town with people your age, and you won't have to worry about it anymore.

It's really quite simple. Tell her:
"Fuck you and the horse that you rode in on."

There is a difference between being "religious" and being "spiritual". Those who follow various religions should be tolerant of those who feel spirituality is part of their lives. After all, regardless of your personal beliefs, all religions seem to believe there is an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-understanding god. If this be the case, then such a god would understand and accept all who hold in their hearts good feelings toward others. Isn't that what all religions preach? Isn't what is in your heart more important than whether you appear somewhere on Sunday? But I acknowledge that for some, appearance is more important than what you believe. Ask her if your presence in church is more important than what is in your heart? And what is in your heart only her god will know.

You probably will hurt her feelings. On the other side of the coin, is she considering your feelings and respecting your beliefs by hounding you to change them to suit her?

Say this"I am a Church in and of myself for God exist all
around me as I walk and talk He hears me" and then remind her lovingly the story of "Foot Prints"Lord why do you forsake me,in the darkest times in my life I look back and only see one set of foot prints,why?Child my child it was in those times that I carried you.
It is not the building that is the Church but the people that are the church.Your grandmother just being nearby is proof that "God truly is working through her"

I don't know about you but the more I read the bible, the less I believe in its stories. If she were my grandmother, I would do what she says (except for the church thing) and try to steer the conversations to other things. I used to love my grandmother's stories about growing up in our town. I sorely miss them and my grandmother.

Grandmothers are the greatest friend a child, even a grown child can have.

God is real. Think of all the creations and could have possibly built them. Who can possibly create the sky without pillars? I advice you to read the Holy Quran with a pure heart. Then you can know that there is a God, Allah. And that Jesus(PBUH)is NOT Gods son He is a prophet just like prophet Mohamed(PBUH) is. Then you can read the bible and compare. You will see that islam is the truth. After reading the Quran everything will make sense and hopefully your answers will be answered. Visit islamdoor.com or islamreligion.com. After you read about islam then read about other religions. Then compare and contrast them. From there you are free to choose. After you know there has to be a God. Then pray to God to guide you to the correct path and correct religion.

Tsk, tsk.

Tell her that she has fulfilled her responsibility before God, and now it's up to Him to speak to your heart. Also tell her to be patient, as God works on His timing, not ours or hers.

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me how many times I've heard "Christians" literally try to force the gospel down someone's throat, or DEMAND reasons why someone didn't go to church!!! Even Jesus, himself, was portrayed as someone who gave a CHOICE, whether or not to follow him--and not try to "force-feed" himself on others!!!

Perhaps a long heart-to-heart talk with her about your feelings about the subject is in order. And who knows--maybe the two of you can respectfully reach a compromise. Good luck!

im not good in answering question,,but if you think back,,,who's controlling your life?your own?the answer is no...who help you when you sick?your grandmother?your parent?if they die?the answer is no..must be 'someone'help you while others cannot..God!God cntrolling human life..think it properly..